5 Quick Tips for Better Mobile Videos

Tips for Better Mobile Videos

Years ago, a filmmaker or videographer wouldn’t dare shoot a video with their smartphone.

But that’s all changed.

Smartphones have improved their video quality capabilities so much in recent years that they are being used more and more in shooting high-end videos. With features such as 4K, raw, and slow-motion shots, this pocket-sized production device has a ton of potential.

Here are 5 tips on how to make high-quality videos with your phone.

 

1. KEEP IT STEADY

Because smartphones are so lightweight and small, it can be challenging to keep them stable when recording a video. Your audience can be unforgiving when it comes to watching a shaky video, so it’s important that you keep your device as still as possible. Always hold your phone with two hands when recording, and as close to your face as possible.  Also, consider propping your arms or phone on a fixed structure to maintain a better balance.

For even more stability, invest in a small tripod or handheld gimbal to lock down your shots. A gimbal is a stabilizing device that helps keep your phone steady during action shots. In other words, the gimbal dictates the movement of the object, not the one carrying it. While recording your video, the gimbal ensures that the motion of the camera is stabilized even if the one holding it is moving up and down or side to side.

2. LIGHTING AND EXPOSURE

Lighting can make or break a video, so it’s important to know how to get good lighting before you hit record. However, you don’t need all the fancy lighting equipment in order to get a professional-looking shot with your phone.

If you don’t have an adequate set of lights, consider shooting your video with natural light coming in through the windows. Position yourself facing a window with the natural light hitting directly at you. This will give you the best balanced-lighting without overexposure.

Avoid positioning yourself with a window directly behind you. The camera will pull the harsh lighting over the subject, creating dark shadows over your face. If you are filming outdoors, it’s important to avoid direct sunlight.  Opt for recording in the shade or during an overcast day to avoid shadows over your face, squinting, and sweating.

Finally, if you are shooting at night, you’ll most likely need to add a light accessory to avoid those grainy, low-quality shots. Smartphone cameras have small image sensors and low dynamic range, so shooting in the dark can be quite tricky. By adding portable attachments such as a selfie ring or a light cube to your device, you can easily illuminate your subject and create quality video at night.  Also, make sure you turn on the touch-focus and exposure features in your phone settings before you record. These features are designed to help enhance videos recorded in the dark.

3. ORIENTATION AND COMPOSTION

Vertical or portrait style video shooting should be intentional. Unless you are recording specifically for something like Instagram stories, most mobile recordings should be shot horizontal or landscape.  Nothing ruins a good piece of footage like having those 2 black vertical bars on each side of your video when uploaded to social media.

Not only does landscape-mode capture more of the actual video, but it makes it more aesthetically pleasing to watch. Additionally, landscape orientation (16:9 ratio) is universally accepted across all social platforms and can be easily viewed on wide-screen or television.

For composition, make sure you record as close to the subject as possible. It will result in a much sharper image, and by getting closer, you’ll gain a more narrow depth of field. You can use the zoom feature to get closer to your subject, but this will noticeably degrade the video quality. If you want more focal range, look into a device attachment like a telephoto.

4. DON’T FORGET ABOUT AUDIO

Audio quality is just as important as your image quality.  Smartphones typically have lower-quality audio, with built-in microphones that pick up any background noises like wind, traffic, and conversation. So, unfortunately, using the built-in audio on your phone may not cut it when you are in certain settings.

Audio may not be a big concern if you are trying to film the waves of the ocean, but if it’s something like an interview, audio can really impact the viewing experience.  Be sure to find a quiet location, or use an external microphone or a microphone that plugs directly into your phone.

5. GET CREATIVE WITH APPS

 There are many mobile-enhancing apps out there that can improve the functionality of your videos.  They can include image-enhancing tools like color correction and filters, specialty shooting modes like hyper-lapse and slow-motion, or even video editing or visual effects. They work by tapping directly into the capabilities of your camera and work to enhance the type of shot that you want.

There are tons of inexpensive or free mobile apps that can help create more professional-looking videos on your mobile device that will save you hours of time trying to make the improvements yourself.

CONCLUSION

The most important thing to understand when shooting a video with your mobile device is to understand your camera’s limitations. That way you can make up for any settings or features that are lacking and find the tools you need.

If you’re looking for more information on how to improve your video or other ways to optimize your business, contact us directly at https://fusiononemarketing.com/contact-us/