9 Pro-Tips to Create View-Worthy Videos with Your Smartphone

 

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Are you looking to share some product clips or BTS shots of an upcoming influencer partnership? See how you can maximize your shoot by listing down what kind of content you want, what kind of frames you should shoot, and how many clips you need.

This all sounds so simple, but planning ahead can actually save you time and effort — not to mention, ensure that you have enough content to share for the month.

Planning ahead can actually save you time and effort — not to mention, ensure that you have enough content to share for the month.

Most importantly, always plan the shoot location, time, and weather. All three can dictate how your video will turn out, especially with regard to lighting and composition.

#2. Install some software

Another way to prepare is to download all the apps you’ll need. Sure, your phone’s camera could have the best lens or sensors in the market — but all this is useless if you don’t have software to help you edit.

So before anything else, take a look around your phone’s app store for editing apps you can download. One worth checking out is Instasize, an editing software with several tools you can use to spruce up your video — from settings to play around with, to ready-made filters you can choose with a tap of your screen.

 

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#3. Get yourself a tripod

Aside from software, consider getting your hands on some hardware as well. A tripod, for example, can help you control the movement of your phone or camera — especially at night or in low lighting when you’re likely to get blurry, shaky shots.

There are so many kinds of tripods out in the market. The trick to getting the right one is knowing what kind of videos you want to shoot, then buying the hardware to match your objective.

• Tabletop tripods, just as the name suggests, are best for when you want to mount your phone on a flat surface and maybe shoot a vlog or do a livestream.
• Traditional tripods, on the other hand, have longer legs — perfect for outdoor use when shooting landscape scenes and timelapse videos.
• If you’re planning to get some pretty dynamic shots, your best bet is an octopus-type tripod. This tripod has flexible legs you can wrap around poles or branches when you need to shoot from dynamic angles.

#4. Pay special attention to lighting

Of all the elements necessary in creating a stunning video, lighting is probably the one that can make or break your shot. This is especially true for smartphone cameras because they tend to have smaller lenses and image sensors compared to actual video cams.

So when it comes to shooting videos with your phone, make sure you always have a decent light source. If you’re shooting someone’s face like in most make-up tutorials, one tip is to invest in a ring light. Not only does it create a beautiful catch light on your subject’s eyes, it also casts a diffused light that eliminates unsightly shadows from the face.

 

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If you’re shooting outdoors, remember that the sun is your friend — if you know what time of day to shoot.

• The midday sun will give you the most light, and because of its position in the sky, will most likely lead to energetic shots that are higher in contrast.
• The sun before dusk, on the other hand, tends to cast golden hues, which is perfect if you’re trying to achieve a more relaxed vibe and aesthetic.

#5. Sometimes vertical is better

A few years ago, shooting videos in landscape mode used to be the rule of thumb. This was especially true when the goal was to include as much of the scenery as possible in your frame.

Today though, with Instagram Stories, IGTV, and more recently, TikTok taking the social media scene by storm, vertical has become the orientation of choice.

So when it comes to shooting videos for social media, try playing around with a vertical framing, especially if you’re sharing these on your Stories or other vertical-favoring platforms. If you’re planning to upload your video as content, then you should make sure that your shots can be easily cropped into a square format.

When it comes to shooting videos for social media, try playing around with a vertical framing, especially if you’re sharing these on your Stories or other vertical-favoring platforms.

#6. Know your length limits

Social media platforms tend to come with unique viewing behaviors, which means people are bound to interact with your video differently, depending on the platform it’s on.

For example, research says that if you want people to view your videos on Instagram from start to finish, you should limit your length to 30-seconds, which is enough time to keep your audience’s attention before they scroll on to the next bit of content.

Instagram Stories, on the other hand, can run for up to 15 seconds — but it’s still best to keep it as short as you can, especially when people tend to tap on to the next Story once they’ve become disinterested in what they’re viewing.

When it comes to Twitter and Facebook, the ideal times are 45 seconds and 1 minute respectively — giving you a few more seconds to catch your audience’s attention.

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If you’re looking to create long-form films that run 2 minutes or more, YouTube or IGTV are your best bet. These two channels are people’s go-to for watching webisodes, music videos, and vlogs, both of which tend to run a bit longer than your average snackable content.

#7. Be smart with sound

A recent survey shows that 92% of people watch mobile videos with the sound off. So when you shoot your videos, especially when you’re planning to upload on Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter, try not to rely so much on audio. Create video content that can exist on mute by adding captions or subtitles when necessary.

 

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92% of people watch mobile videos with the sound off. Create video content that can exist on mute by adding captions or subtitles when necessary.

If your video doesn’t have any monologue or dialogue, try adding an interesting soundtrack or play around with sound effects instead. You could even try composing your own — in case you didn’t know, sharing original music as content is actually a great way to monetize Instagram.

#8. Get a microphone

If you’re planning on filming some video content with dialogue or a voice-over, getting a microphone is always a great idea. Unlike video cameras that come with an external microphone attached to them, your smartphone’s microphone is built-in, and will likely capture much more surrounding noise than you’d like.

If you’re planning on filming some video content with dialogue or a voice-over, getting a microphone is always a great idea.

For vlogs or live music sessions, a shotgun mic works best because you can just attach it to your phone and point it in the direction of the sound you want to capture. If you’re planning to shoot interviews, invest in lapel mics you can easily pin to the shirt of the speaker.

#9. Clean your lens

As basic as this sounds, this tip is actually a really important one that many tend to dismiss. Your smartphone’s camera doesn’t usually come with a lens cap, so every time you hold it, shove it in your bag or down your pocket, or even just place it on any surface, you’re actually dirtying up your lens.

The accumulation of dust, dirt, and fingerprints on your lens can result in blurry and cloudy shots with diffused lighting.

That’s why it’s always good practice to wipe your lens down before recording. Keep a microfiber cloth handy; using a tissue or your shirt can scratch your lens and lead to bigger problems.

Keep a microfiber cloth handy; using a tissue or your shirt can scratch your lens and lead to bigger problems.

Conclusion: Keep Exploring

The last and final tip is to have fun. Get creative. Keep watching videos to gain some inspiration.

Did a clip just go viral on social media? See how you can create branded content based on it. Stay on top of the trends to keep creating videos that are modern.

Feel free to seek inspiration from other video forms as well. Got some favorite movies? List down some peg-worthy scenes and try to replicate the composition for your videos. This could very much help you create long-form videos that are watchable till the last second.