How To Film Better Videos on Your Smartphone

Contrary to what you think we might say, not all videos require you to work with a video production company. You read that right: you actually don’t have to hire us for all your business video needs. We know it can be impractical and costly to hire a team for every single project and your business can actually benefit from the current movement of posting more real and relatable content online.

Many of the viral videos that have sky-rocketed sales on platforms like Instagram and TikTok were filmed and edited on a smartphone. The camera quality on today’s smartphones means that, in some cases, it’s best to take matters into your own hands. Literally.

To help get you started, here are 8 tips to help improve the quality of your smartphone videos.

1. Film in the Right Format

The choice between filming vertical or horizontal video depends largely on where you plan to publish and how your viewers will be watching. For things like TikTok, Instagram Reels and Stories, we always recommend filming vertically as these are generally viewed on phones held upright. If you plan to publish your video on your website, YouTube or Facebook, horizontal may be best.

2. Prioritize Lighting

Lighting can make or break your video. If you’re filming indoors, look for a natural source of light like a large window or consider a portable light like a ring light. If you’re filming outdoors, avoid doing so at times when the sun is high in the sky as that can create stark shadows on your subjects. Overcast days or golden hour (the hour before sunset or the house after sunrise) usually offer ideal lighting conditions.

3. Consider Composition

Before you hit record, take a step back and observe what’s in your phone's frame. Are you filming against a plain wall? Sometimes a quick and easy rearranging of furniture can make a significant difference. By placing something in the foreground and background, you give your shot more depth and create a more dynamic scene.

4. Pay Attention to Audio Levels

After lighting, audio is something you should prioritize when filming videos on your phone. While there are programs and software that help edit out background audio, it can be very difficult to correct poor audio. Try to minimize background noise as best you can. You can also opt for a bluetooth microphone or consider filming audio on a second phone.

5. Remember to Pause (Before and After)

Filming a production of any size is exciting and the adrenaline often has us rushing from one scene to the next. Once you press record, remember to take a 1-2 second pause before speaking or moving. Do the same 1-2 second pause at the end of your scene, before you stop recording. This ensures you don’t cut off important audio or movement and the extra buffer helps when editing as well.

6. Use the Right Lens

If quality is important to you when filming videos on your smartphone, always use the rear camera as opposed to the front facing (selfie) camera. Once you have your shot set up, tap the subject to grab focus before you start filming. Even if your screen looks clear at first glance, a quick wipe of your camera phone lens could make a significant difference. We recommend using a microfiber cloth for the best results (although your t-shirt will do the trick just fine).

7. Keep It Steady

Shaky footage is not fun to watch and can be hard to correct. You can get smoother footage by filming with both hands and, if you’re filming on the go, walk slowly and with your knees bent (if it looks silly, you’re doing it right!). There are also a variety of smartphone accessories that can help achieve a smoother shot like phone gimbals, phone tripods and sliders.

8. Try Different Angles and Shots

When you want to shoot a more dynamic video on your phone, consider using a variety of shots to keep things interesting. Having a combination of close up shots with wide angle shots, timelapses and even some slow motion clips can often help tell your story better and keep your viewer engaged throughout the video.

Outro

Video is becoming increasingly more popular on social media platforms and is often favoured by both the viewer and the algorithms. We hope our tips give you the confidence to film better videos on your smartphone and help your business to reap the benefits of video marketing.