How do I make a reaction video on iPhone?

Use an iPhone XS or newer with an app that records the front and back cameras together, such as Lookout. Point the back camera at the moment and the front camera at the people reacting, then start recording before it happens.

Can I record reaction video without a second phone?

Yes. Recording both cameras at once replaces the second phone.

Do I need to edit a dual camera reaction video?

Usually not. Both views are recorded in one synced take.

Reaction Video iPhone Guide: How to Record Reaction Videos

A good reaction video shows two things at once: what happened and what it did to the person watching. With the right app, one iPhone can capture both in the same take. Here is how to make a reaction video on iPhone, from live moments to reacting to a screen.

Two kinds of reaction video

Live reactions happen in the room: a surprise, a gift being opened, a goal going in, a baby's first steps. You cannot repeat them, so both the moment and the faces need to be recorded at the same time.

Screen reactions are you reacting to a video, a trailer or a match on a TV or laptop. The screen and your face both need to be in the recording.

Reaction video iPhone setup with one phone

On an iPhone XS or newer, the front and back cameras can record at the same time. That is all a reaction video needs: the back camera on the moment, the front camera on the reaction.

Install Lookout (free).
Put the phone between the moment and the people watching it, upright on a stand or a table.
Check both previews: the back camera sees the gift, the TV or the pitch; the front camera sees the faces.
Start recording before the moment, by voice ("Hey Lookout") or from your Apple Watch, so you do not give the surprise away.

How to record reaction video to a screen

Sit the phone below the TV or beside the laptop, with the front camera on you and the back camera on the screen. Dim the room a little so the screen does not blow out, and add a lamp in front of you so your face is not in shadow.

One warning: if you plan to post the result, the content on screen may be copyrighted. Keep the clip short, add your own commentary and check the platform's rules.

Light for two directions

The trick with reaction videos is that the moment and the audience are in different light. Keep the brightest thing (window, TV) off to the side of both cameras, not directly behind either one.

Sound

Reactions are mostly sound: the gasp, the laugh, the shout. Place the phone closer to the people than to the TV speaker, or turn the TV down a little. If there is music playing, it may be muted on some platforms when you post.

Reactions worth recording

Gender reveals, surprise parties, proposals
Opening exam results or acceptance letters
Big matches with friends: see our watch party setup
Kids meeting a new pet
First listens of an album or first watches of a trailer

How to Record Reaction Videos on iPhone