Unboxing videos are popular because viewers get to experience opening a package along with you. For brands, they're a great way to show packaging, product and first impressions. A good unboxing video needs a little more than just opening a box in front of the camera.
Preparation
- Don't open the package in advance. Your first reaction is the most authentic. Leave the product sealed until you start filming. Check in the brief whether the brand wants a genuine first-impression reaction.
- Prepare your space. Choose a clean, calm surface, such as a table with a plain tablecloth or a wooden worktop. Remove anything that distracts.
- Make sure the light is good. Daylight from a window or a ring light makes the details of the packaging and product clearly visible.
- Set up your camera. Film from above (top-down) or at a 45-degree angle. Use a stand or a stack of books so your hands are free.
- Clean hands. Your hands are in the picture a lot. Make sure they look neat.
The structure of a strong unboxing video
- Hook. Show the closed package and build anticipation. "I've been waiting for this for weeks" or "Let's see if this is as good as everyone says."
- Opening. Open the package calmly. The sounds of opening, tearing and unfolding are part of the experience.
- Reveal. Take your time to show the product for the first time. Show special details of the packaging, such as the design, a personal card or sustainable materials.
- Close-ups. Show the product up close from different sides. Let viewers see the texture, color and details.
- First impression. Share your honest reaction. How does it feel, smell or look? What strikes you?
- First use. Show the product in use. This makes the video much more valuable than just showing it.
- Close. End with a short conclusion or the call to action from the brief.
Tips
- Let the sound do its work. The crackle of packaging, peeling off a sticker or opening a lid make unboxing videos satisfying to watch. Avoid loud music over these sounds, and record clear audio.
- Film from multiple angles. Combine top-down shots of your hands with shots of your face and your reaction. This makes your video more dynamic.
- Cut the boring moments. Struggling with tape or searching for scissors can go. Keep the pace high.
- Show what the brand is proud of. Brands often put a lot of thought into their packaging. Pay attention to details such as the design, the materials or extra items in the box.
- Stay genuine. Exaggerated enthusiasm comes across as fake. Your honest reaction is what makes an unboxing convincing.
Common mistakes
Watch out for a cluttered background, opening the package too fast so the reveal is lost, products that are out of focus because the camera is too close, a video that's too long because of slow moments, and not showing the product in use.
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