Many people think that making good video with your smartphone is impossible. It’s true that professional cameras offer advantages. But you’d be surprised at how much you can achieve with a phone. Even the most basic smartphone camera is capable of recording high-quality, professional-looking videos.
Most videos you shoot with your phone, and that you see on social media, are made by average-looking people, on average phones. The difference between them is how the devices are used, not the devices themselves. Beginners tend to open the camera app and start recording right away. They don’t consider the framing, lighting, or movement of their videos. That is, after all, the reason why most videos on social media look unprofessional.
First things first, pay attention to the light. Your phone camera needs good light in order to record the highest quality video. Whenever possible, record near windows and outdoors on the golden hour. Softly lit videos tend to look the most professional and high-quality, but don’t stress too much about finding the perfect shot. In fact, in the wrong light conditions, even professional cameras would struggle, so make sure to record in the light whenever possible.
The next tip to consider is how you frame your video. You need to pay attention to how each subject or scene in your video is placed and framed. Try changing your position, your angle, and the height at which you place your phone to frame your subject better. These small tweaks can go a long way when it comes to improving how your videos look. The best way to make videos look professional, even when recorded with a phone, is to be mindful of your frames.
Another important tip is the stability of the camera. A shaky camera can ruin even the best videos. That doesn’t mean you need a tripod, or some fancy equipment that can hold your smartphone in place. You need a stable camera, and in order to achieve that, you need to be steady. Hold your phone with two hands when possible, rest your elbows on a table, or brace yourself against a stable surface when you shoot. That’s enough to achieve decently stable videos.
The same tip applies to movement. You need to move your phone in a deliberate and steady way in order to get a great video. A random shake and fast movement will ruin any videos, but a slow and deliberate movement can turn a video into something that looks like it was made in a cinema. Even a simple movement like a slow pan can help to improve a video’s quality, so keep that in mind the next time you shoot.
Finally, simplicity is key to creating videos. It’s tempting to want to shoot something in a way that shows everything, but a good video should focus on one thing. Just like in a photo, one element, one subject, one idea, one moment, is usually enough to make a powerful visual image or sequence. It’s much more important to shoot that perfect subject, in that perfect moment, in the perfect framing, rather than trying to shoot everything.
Editing videos can also help improve your videos. It’s easy to cut out unwanted segments and correct the white balance, contrast, and saturation slightly. And all it takes is adding background music to turn clips from your smartphone into an impressive video. You don’t need complex programs, but you need to use your judgment.
In conclusion, it’s all about how you make your videos, and not your smartphone. It’s all about how you see the world. It just takes paying attention to the light, your frames, and your intentions to turn ordinary videos from your smartphone into professional looking cinematic videos.