How to Use Instagram Reels for Portfolio Mockups
Instagram Reels aren’t just for dances and trending audio—they’re also a powerful way to showcase your portfolio in a fresh, engaging format. Whether you're a designer, writer, educator, or small business owner, you can use Canva to turn your work into a dynamic Reels experience that stops the scroll and drives attention to your offers.
In this tutorial, I’ll walk you through how to create a seamless, beautiful portfolio reel in Canva, using a background video, screen recording, and a few creative tweaks. Let’s go!
Why Use Reels for Your Portfolio?
If you're not sure where Reels fit into your business, here's the scoop:
They get more reach than static posts
They let you show off your work without showing your face
They help you repurpose what you already have—like blog posts, courses, or website designs
So whether you're launching a new site, promoting a digital product, or just want to creatively display your services, Reels are a great format.
Step 1: Record Your Screen
This tutorial uses a scrolling website as the mockup, but you can screen record just about anything: a Canva doc, course slide, PDF, or digital resource.
On a Mac:
Press Shift + Command + 5 to open the screen recording tool.
Select the area you want to record (like a browser window).
Hit record and scroll slowly through your content.
Press Shift + Command + 5 again to stop recording.
This saves your screen recording as a video file to your desktop or designated folder.
Step 2: Choose a Background Video for Texture
To add visual interest, use a subtle video as your background. I love using dreamy, soft textures from Paxia (formerly Social Motion Packs).
Download a motion background (flowers, light leaks, grainy overlays, etc.).
In Canva, open a Reel-sized project (1080 x 1920 px).
Upload your background video and set it as the background.
You can crop and reposition the video so the texture fills the frame beautifully.
Step 3: Add Your Frame (Like a Laptop or Phone)
To show your work, drop it into a Canva frame:
Go to Elements > Frames and choose a device (like a computer or phone).
Drag your screen recording video into the frame.
Customize the color of the device frame to match your brand.
You can also adjust the transparency of the background video so it’s more subtle and doesn’t compete with your featured work.
Step 4: Add Text and Brand Elements
This is where you can really make it yours:
Add a headline like “New Site Launch”, “Now Booking”, or “Inside the Course”
Use your brand fonts and colors
Add your logo, subtle textures, or graphics for polish
Keep your text short and legible—this is a video, after all.
Step 5: Trim and Tweak
Don’t forget to edit your video:
Use Canva’s video trimming tool to cut out the beginning or end if there’s dead space.
Keep the final Reel under 15 seconds for best engagement.
Preview your Reel using the play button in Canva.
You can even adjust opacity, brightness, and contrast of any layer to make the visuals cleaner and more aligned with your brand.
Step 6: Download and Post!
Once you’re happy with your reel:
Click Download > MP4 video
Upload to Instagram Reels
Add a caption, tags, and maybe pin it to your profile
💡 Pro tip: This method works great for showcasing:
Website mockups
Course or ebook previews
Canva templates for sale
Services or resources
Educational content without needing to be on camera
Using Instagram Reels as a portfolio tool is a smart and stylish way to highlight your work. With Canva, it’s totally doable—even if you’re not a video editor. Whether you’re highlighting a website you built or a guide you wrote, this is a no-face-on-camera, scroll-stopping method to bring your brand to life.
✨ So—what are you going to turn into a Reel next?
