In the past, multimedia production was arduous and expensive for many businesses. They had to purchase a recorder, microphone, camera, and computer for editing. Nowadays, businesses can enjoy these benefits and more in a single device.
Taking photos and recording videos has become easier with smartphones, making them very important creativity tools to own. The best part is that anyone with a smartphone can become a pro. All that’s needed is a little practice and access to a few great tips like those listed below.
Pay Attention To Lighting
Lighting is important when taking pictures and shooting videos. However, good lighting is critical to the overall outcome of your videos and photos. Smartphone cameras come with smaller lenses and image sensors, so it’s advisable to shoot all your videos in brightly lit areas for better outcomes.
You’ll easily avoid grainy areas or unnecessary shadows with good lighting; however, it would be best if you found a great balance; it needs to be steady and stable for a better effect. Avoid pointing your camera directly at light sources, which can flare up your lens and destroy any footage you create.
Also, note that many smartphones come with a “touch focusing” feature, so you can easily focus your camera on the right area of your composition with a tap on the screen. You can also set the focus each time you’re recording a video. All the necessary adjustments will be done automatically by your device in the event of a lighting condition change.
Be Mindful Of The Video Orientation
Ever noticed those two huge black vertical bars that run along the sides of some YouTube videos? These lines tend to ruin what could potentially be great footage. But have you ever wondered what causes them? The answer is by shooting with a portrait orientation.
When shooting, always use the landscape orientation for a more aesthetically pleasing video that appears well on various devices. Shooting in the landscape also allows you to capture more in your video for a better experience for your viewers.
This technique makes editing your videos easier and is especially important if you plan to work professionally in the creative industry. Many creators advance to work with more technical 3D modeling or editing software using more specialized 3D modeling workstation laptops.
Position The Subject Correctly
Most videos have a subject or a person to focus on, which fits into the overall storytelling process. It’s the subject that determines how interesting each video becomes. To tell a better story with video, ensure the subject is correctly positioned in the frame.
To create a more visually appealing scene, you can place your subject slightly off-center; the more you play around with the framing, the easier it is to find what works and looks better.
To make framing easier, activate your phone’s camera grid lines, where vertical and horizontal grids enable you to align your subject perfectly for a great shot. There are many framing tools, but the most common for viral videos and images is the “rule of thirds.”
All in all, taking videos doesn’t have to be boring or strenuous. Smartphones are a great way to boost your creativity. They’re affordable, easy to carry around, and exceptional with their output.