In short
- Most retakes come from three things: something private on screen, sound that doesn't work, and not knowing what to say next.
- Close what the client shouldn't see, turn on Do Not Disturb, and record a window instead of the whole screen.
- Check your microphone with a ten-second test before the real take.
- Write three bullet points, not a script: what this is, what changed, what you need back.
A pre-recording checklist takes about a minute and saves you most retakes: close what the client shouldn’t see, silence notifications, check your microphone, set up the first screen, and note the two or three things you want to say. Here it is in one block, then a line on why each item is there.
This is for the everyday client video: a design review, a bug report, a quote explained in three minutes. Not a YouTube tutorial. You don’t need a studio, you need nothing embarrassing on screen and a voice the client can hear.
The checklist
Before you record a client video
- Close your inbox, chat apps and any tab from another client.
- Turn on Do Not Disturb.
- Use demo or test data, not a real customer’s account.
- Open the screen you’ll start on, at the zoom level you’ll use.
- Decide: whole screen, one window or an area.
- Select the right microphone and record a ten-second test.
- Check the light on your face if the camera is on.
- Plug in the charger.
- Write three bullets: what this is, what changed, what you need back.
Pin it next to your screen or copy it into your notes. Each item is there to prevent a specific retake:
| What goes wrong | Item that prevents it |
|---|---|
| A private message pops up mid-sentence | Do Not Disturb, apps closed |
| Another client’s name is visible | Tabs closed, window instead of whole screen |
| The video is silent or echoey | Ten-second mic test |
| You lose your thread after a minute | Three bullets on a note |
| The client can’t read the screen | Zoom level set before you start |
Hide what the client shouldn’t see
Close the inbox, chat and other clients’ tabs. One second of a Slack sidebar with another client’s name is enough to make a video awkward. Quit the apps instead of minimizing them, because a switch of windows can bring them back into view.
Turn on Do Not Disturb. In the menu bar, choose . A banner with a private message in the middle of a review is the most common reason to record again. Our guide on hiding notifications while screen recording covers Focus schedules and the exceptions that still get through.
Use test data. If you’re showing an admin panel or a CRM, log in as a test user or use a staging site. Real names and email addresses in a video are personal data, and that video can be forwarded. The full list of what to hide is in our screen recording privacy checklist.
Set up the screen
Open the starting screen. Have the page, file or prototype open where you’ll begin, already scrolled to the right spot. Watching someone hunt for a tab is the slowest ten seconds of any video.
Set the zoom. If the client will watch on a laptop or a phone, small text becomes unreadable. Zoom the browser or the app in a step before recording. For websites in particular, see how to record a website in the browser without the clutter.
Pick what to record. A single window or a selected area shows only the work. The whole screen shows your desktop, your dock and whatever pops up. Record the whole screen only when you need to move between apps.
Check sound and camera
Test the microphone. Select the input in , then record ten seconds and listen back. You’ll hear at once if it’s the wrong mic, too quiet, or picking up the dishwasher. For room tips and headset trade-offs, read mic setup for client videos.
Check your light. If your camera bubble is on, face a window or a lamp, not away from it. A bright window behind you turns you into a silhouette. Lighting and framing for your camera bubble has a two-minute setup.
Plug in the charger. Recording, encoding and uploading all use battery. You don’t want a low-battery warning mid-sentence.
Know what you’ll say
You don’t need a script. You need three bullet points:
- What this is: “Round two of the homepage.”
- What changed or what you found: “The hero is shorter and the pricing table moved up.”
- What you need back: “A yes on the new order by Thursday.”
Keep them on a sticky note or in a small window outside the recording area. If you lose the thread, glance at the note, pause, and carry on. Mistakes and restarts are covered in how to record a client video in one go.
After you press stop
Two checks before you send:
- Watch the first and last ten seconds. That’s where the fumbling is. Trim it off.
- Write a one-line message with the link. Say what the video is about and what you need back, so the client knows why to watch it.
Hi Anna, here’s round two of the homepage: the hero is shorter and the pricing table moved up. Could you give me a yes or no on the new order by Thursday?
https://justrec.app/v/k3f9Qa
For the bigger picture on when a video beats a call or an email, read our guide to async video for client communication.
Sources
- Apple Support: Turn a Focus on or off on Mac, checked November 2026.
- Apple Support: Change the sound input settings on Mac, checked November 2026.
Frequently asked questions
What should I check before recording my screen?
Close apps and tabs the viewer shouldn't see, turn on Do Not Disturb, choose a window or area instead of the whole screen, test your microphone, and prepare the screen you'll start on. Then write down the two or three points you want to make.
How do I stop notifications from showing up in a screen recording?
Turn on Do Not Disturb or another Focus from Control Center before you start. Some recording apps can also hide notifications from the video itself.
Should I write a script for a client video?
Usually not. A script makes most people sound like they're reading. Three bullet points in the order you'll show things are enough for a two- to four-minute client video.
How do I test my microphone before recording on a Mac?
Check that the right input is selected in System Settings, Sound, then record ten seconds of yourself talking and play it back. That catches the wrong microphone, a muted input and a noisy room in one go.
