When it comes to learning the art of Smartphone filmmaking all the equipment, apps and social media choices can be misleading when it comes to mastering the fundamentals. Having all the right gear can be good but it can get in the way of some basics that every Smartphone filmmaker should try to constantly follow and learn.
So this article contains some quick and easy advice for basic filming with any Smartphone camera no matter what equipment you may be using. I am sure that you’ll learn things that you’ve never knew before, so read it thoroughly if you are a photography enthusiast.
Airplane/Offline mode
First thing first, you should always put your Smartphone in Airplane mode when filming. A text message or a phone call will pick up on your microphone and the resulting sound can ruin your video. Vibrations can also add shake to your video so you should turn those off too. If you need an Internet connection when doing Facebook live you can always turn on the Do Not Disturb feature on the iPhone which will stop incoming calls.
Turn the phone sideways
So the second piece of advice is to hold your Smartphone sideways or in landscape position. If you want your video to fill up a 16:9, 4:3, or 4:4 aspect ratio you should film in landscape position. Some videos need portrait or vertical video like Snap Chat or some Facebook lives but most will benefit from landscape filming. If you want to get the most out of your video you should always shoot in landscape position. Even if you are shooting 4:4 for social videos you will still get most resolution from shooting landscape. You should always use as much of the provided resolution that you can.
In-build standard smartphone microphones are not reliable
The built-in microphone is not that good for recording quality audio. They are not professional quality microphones and are usually omni directional and pick up everything around them. They are also prone to handling noise when you move or use the Smartphone. So whenever possible try to use an external microphone attached to the Smartphone.
If you do have to use the built-in microphone remember to get close to your subject. You should be no more than three feet away from the person that is speaking. Also be aware of any other annoying sound that is around you that may ruin your recording. In other words film somewhere quiet. It may not look visually great but it is always better to hear someone clearly. Another tip is not to move the Smartphone unnecessarily. This will only create more noise that may pick up on the recording.
Hold the phone steady
Whenever you can, keep your shots static. Smartphones, because of there size, are prone to shake. This will often make your video look amateurish. If you don’t have a tripod or stabilizer, remember to have your thumb and forefinger on either side of the Smartphone. Pull your elbows into your body and that will give you some stability. If there is a nearby wall then lean up against it. You can even use a plastic or paper cup. Simply turn it upside-down and with a pair of scissors cut a slot in the base so your Smartphone can sit in. It makes for a great improvised tripod
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Lock Exposure and Focus
When you are filming with a camera app like Filmic Pro it is important to lock the Exposure and Focus. Nothing says amateur than having your focus shifting all over the place and the exposure of your image going to light and dark. There will be some occasions when you will need to use auto focus and auto exposure but in my experience, this is not often. So remember to set and lock these settings before you start recording.
Trace your data speed
Before going live on Facebook it is important that you check your data speed. By using an app like Speedtest you can see what your average upload speed is in Kilobytes. This is important. Often, on a Facebook live broadcast, Wifi is great or the phone reception is satisfactory. By checking the data speed before you start broadcasting you will know if you are going to have any problems. To do a Facebook live without any data speed problems you should have an average of 1000 kilobytes or above for your upload data speed. If you are below this you are going to have issues. Better to find this out before you start broadcasting so you can change location to get a better signal.
