How to shoot aesthetic content to land brand collabs and UGC

If you want to stand out as a creator and land paid brand collaborations or UGC deals, your content needs to look the part. So yes, you want to learn how to shoot aesthetic content to attract brand deals. And no — you don’t need a $5,000 camera or a film degree. High-quality, aesthetic content is more about technique than expensive gear.

Better quality videos don’t just help you grow on Instagram and TikTok — they help you get paid. Brands are more likely to hire creators who can produce visually appealing, on-brand content… sometimes for videos you don’t even have to post on your own page.

Here’s how to instantly improve the quality (and aesthetic) of your content — starting today.

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✨ 1. Clean Your Lens (Seriously)

It sounds simple, but it’s a game changer. A smudged lens can make your footage look hazy or dull. Before you shoot, give your camera lens a quick wipe with a microfiber cloth or your (clean) shirt. You’ll be shocked at the difference in sharpness and brightness.

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✨ 2. Change Your Camera Settings

Go into your phone settings and make sure you’re shooting in 1080p or 4K at 60fps. This ensures smoother motion and sharper detail. If you’re filming content you might repurpose for brands, the higher resolution will make it more versatile for different platforms.

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✨ 3. Use Better Lighting

Lighting makes or breaks a shot.

• Best option: Stand facing a window with natural light pouring in. Window light is soft, even, and flattering.
• Golden hour magic: Shoot outdoors an hour after sunrise or before sunset for that warm, glowing vibe.
• Ring light backup: If you don’t have great natural light, invest in a ring light or softbox for consistent, professional-looking lighting.

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✨ 4. Use the Back Camera

The back camera on your phone is usually much higher quality than the front-facing one. Use it whenever possible for crisper shots. Can’t see yourself? Set up a mirror behind the camera so you can frame your shot without guessing.

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✨ 5. Adjust the Exposure

Tap and hold on your subject to lock the focus and exposure. Then slide the little sun icon up or down to brighten or darken your shot. This simple adjustment can instantly make your footage look more polished.

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✨ 6. Frame It Like a Pro (Angles & Alignment)

Aesthetic shots are all about how you position the camera.

• Eye level or slightly above for flattering talking-head videos.
• 45-degree angles for food, beauty, or product shots to add depth.
• Flat lay overhead for an organized, curated vibe — perfect for skincare routines, workspace setups, or outfits.
• Leading lines & symmetry: Use countertops, tables, or even door frames to guide the viewer’s eye into the shot.
• Rule of thirds: Place your subject slightly off-center for a more cinematic look (you can turn on grid lines in your camera settings to help).

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✨ 7. Keep Your Background Clean & On-Brand

The background should match your personal or brand aesthetic. Remove clutter, straighten objects, and add small details that elevate the vibe — a coffee mug, a plant, a textured throw blanket. Neutral, bright, or softly blurred backgrounds work beautifully for most niches.

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✨ 8. Get the Movement Right

Even in still shots, movement makes content feel alive. Try:

• Slow, intentional pans or tilts.
• Pulling the camera back to reveal the full scene.
• Handheld “lifestyle” clips with a slight, steady sway.

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✨ 9. Test Different Heights

Shooting from waist level for full-body shots, eye level for sit-down videos, and slightly above for a slimming, lifestyle look can make a big difference in how the viewer experiences the content.

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✨ 10. Capture More Than You Need

Shoot extra seconds before and after the main action. Take multiple angles of the same scene. This gives you flexibility when editing and makes the final video feel dynamic and intentional.

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Make aesthetic content easy with my step by step video templates

I just added new AETHETIC VIDEO TEMPLATES to my UGC & Collaboration starter kit – so you can follow my exact step by step for content and how to shoot it for your own aesthetic videos (using video templates APPROVED by brands! So I know that brands LOVE this content!)

I have all the templates you could need in my collaboration kit which you can download here to make it easy for you to create, pitch brands and join all the platforms I’m on! These are my exact templates I’ve used that have helped me build my six-figure business as a content creator and land 4 and 5-figure brand collaborations and UGC deals.

You can grab the whole kit and templates here! It includes ALL the best platforms to join as a creator to apply to campaigns for UGC deals and brand collaborations and get inbound invites and offers to create content for brands. You get my portfolio site template for canva (free to launch your live website!), media kit template, over 10 email pitch templates, and an invoice template inside. Everything you need to start working as a creator now!

The Bottom Line

You don’t need a film crew to create scroll-stopping, brand-worthy content. With the right lighting, angles, and attention to detail, you can produce aesthetic, high-quality videos that help you grow online and get paid as a creator.

So next time you hit “record,” clean that lens, find your light, frame your shot like a pro, and watch your content go from casual scroll-past to brand deal worthy.e, make MORE money than in my 9-5, and have a flexible schedule to be home as a mom.

It’s amazing what you can do if you decide to start NOW, start this week. Grab some products in your home and start filming a few videos. Make sure you download my FREE guide here for the content to make for your portfolio. Then grab the collaboration kit for all the templates you’ll need!

And if you’re really serious to take the next leap, join the waitlist for the Collaboration Guide course to join the other creators learning directly from me how to creating a 6-figure content creation business!

Sending sunshine!

Kelly

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