Short-form content has become part and parcel of our lives. People not only rely on platforms like Instagram Reels to document their lives but also use them to reach a wider audience. Meanwhile, it is essential to ensure that the quality you put out stands out. Fortunately, phone cameras have improved so much lately that it has become easier than ever to shoot “cinematic” quality videos on your smartphone itself.
The good part is, there isn’t a big learning curve associated with shooting good-quality content. Instead, it is the basics that most people tend to ignore. Here, let’s learn about some of the basics of shooting good-quality video on smartphones so that you can capture beautiful videos this Diwali.
Use Cinematic Mode/Background Blur in Moderation
If you have an iPhone 13 or later, you would be accustomed to the cinematic mode for capturing a blurry background in videos. This creates professional-looking results, but overdoing it can result in a fake and unimpressive look. Everything is nice in moderation. Therefore, the background blur or bokeh achieved with the Cinematic mode should be used sparingly. Try to crank down the f-stop number (smaller the number, larger the aperture, and vice versa).
Don’t Overexpose Your Shots
If you are using a phone with a manual camera app, try not to overexpose an image—don’t clip highlights or kill the shadows. However, remember that the shutter speed should be double that of the frame rate (if you are shooting at 30fps, keep the shutter speed at 1/60), and since you can’t change the aperture on most phones, the only option to regulate exposure is to adjust the ISO.
If your phone doesn’t allow you to choose exposure manually, for instance, all iPhones, try and lock the exposure to a level that balances things out.
Remember to Film in 4K and the Correct Frame Rate
If you are shooting for Instagram Reels, it doesn’t mean you can get away with shooting in the default settings your phone presents you with. Always ensure that you are shooting the highest possible quality and choose a frame rate that suits your project. If it is a vlog, 60fps would be ideal; however, if you are filming cinematic style, film in 24fps. Yes, there’s also slow-motion, but personally, I’d use it sparingly since the quality drops down quite dramatically.
Moreover, phones like the iPhone 15 Pro also allow you to shoot in ProRes LOG. You will have to manually go into the settings and choose these options if you want to go through an in-depth workflow.
Camera Movement Is Key
Good camera movement is what separates good from great. A well-composed shot is something else, but when you couple that with simple yet effective camera movement, it could yield quite pleasing results. Yes, you could do these with a mobile gimbal, but nowadays, smartphones have excellent built-in stabilization. So, practice movements like fake dolly-ins, pans, fake slider shots, and whatever you deem appropriate. Work on camera movement and have a good time shooting reels this Diwali. Also, a bonus tip: visit the Instagram page of your favorite travel influencers and see how they execute their movements.
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