Formats · Length 30-60s short, 5-12 min long · 9:16 or 16:9 · beginner
Unboxing video: how to shoot, edit, and prompt it
An unboxing shows a product being opened for the first time, with your real first reaction and a close-up of each thing that comes out of the box.
By Sulan Zhang, co-founder of Vyra · Updated 2026-09-24
- Platforms
- TikTok, Reels, Shorts, YouTube
- Length
- 30-60s short, 5-12 min long
- Aspect
- 9:16 or 16:9
- Difficulty
- beginner
- Gear
- phone, tripod, clean table, the box
Nobody wants ten seconds of tape peeling. Cut the packaging to a few seconds and spend the time on the good item.
At a glance
| Best for | Launches, gifts, subscription boxes, tech, affiliate content |
| Hook style | The best item held to camera, then back to the sealed box |
| Pacing | Fast on packaging, slow on the hero item |
| Caption style | Item labels, minimal speech captions |
| Music | Light, or none for ASMR |
| Shot list | Top-down of the box. Hands opening. Each item held up. Macro of the hero item. Reaction face if you want. |
| Common mistakes | Long packaging. Items too far from the lens. No idea what the product is for. |
Structure
- 0-3s: hero item to camera, or your reaction
- 3-8s: the sealed box, what it is
- 8-35s: opening, items one by one, labeled
- 35-50s: hero item, close, first impressions
- 50-60s: verdict in one line
How to shoot it
- Top-down on a tripod for the opening. A second angle at 45 degrees for held items.
- Bright soft light. Watch for reflections on packaging.
- Hold each item still for 2 seconds, close to the lens.
- Say the name of each item as you lift it.
- Clean ambient sound if you're going ASMR.
How to edit it
- Packaging down to 3-5 seconds total.
- One clip per item with a small text label.
- Slow down or hold on the hero item.
- Speed up fumbling 2x.
- Keep the real sounds if there's no music.
- Verdict on your face or a text card.
Prompt it in Vyra
Cut this unboxing to 55 seconds. Speed through the packaging, then show each item for 2-3 seconds with a small label naming it when I say its name. Slow down on the headphones and add a close-up. Keep the natural sound, no music.
Start with the clip of me holding the headphones up to camera, then cut back to the sealed box.
Variations
- ASMR unboxing, no talking, no music.
- Tech unboxing, labels plus spec cards.
- Subscription box, same format every month with a rating at the end.
FAQ
Talk or stay quiet? Talk for reviews and affiliate stuff. Quiet for ASMR and aesthetic accounts. Pick one per channel.
How do I get item labels without a designer? Describe the label once and ask Vyra to put it on each item when you say its name.
Should I show the price? If it's affiliate, yes, and say so. Price cards get saves.