Do you know how to film better with your phone? Terry VerHaar offers the answer. According to him, whether you’re a casual smartphone user or a professional filmmaker, the key to great video production lies in the details.
Apart from learning how to use settings and tools on your phone for videography, Terry also covers simple issues like why do videos appear hazy or lack clarity after filming with a smartphone camera. If mastering phone videography is something you’d like to take on as a creative challenge, Terry VerHaar’s article is not to be missed!
How to film better with your phone? Why do videos appear hazy?
Why do videos appear hazy?
Recording with a phone camera can be tricky, especially when it comes to zooming or scaling. Whenever you scale or zoom footage bigger than the original size, it tends to become blurry. Although content-dependent, you may be able to get away with scaling your footage slightly greater than 100%.
The displays have improved so much, and ultra-high definition monitors such as 4K and 8K are now available to view clearly all of your footage!
If you’re looking for tips on how to film better with your phone, remember that staying within the frame limits is key.
Why do videos appear hazy?
How to film better with your phone?
Put your phone in Airplane Mode
If you want to get the best out of your phone’s camera and film like a pro, then switching it to airplane mode before filming is essential.
Doing so will maximize your phone’s performance and ensure that you won’t be interrupted by unwanted calls or notifications during filming. It also gives you an uninterrupted view of what you are shooting and allows for fluid movements when panning or tweaking the camera frame.
How to film better with your phone?
Charge your phone and check storage
It’s essential to be prepared before you start filming with your phone. Make sure your phone has enough battery and storage before the shooting, so you don’t lose any footage. You can also free up storage space by deleting old apps and photos.
Before pressing record, it may help to ask yourself what you want the main focal point of your video to be. Many phones let you lock focus on the subject by simply tapping on it, helping with composition and avoiding distractions in your shot.
Knowing how to film better with your phone may take some trial and error but should ultimately make all the difference to your final work!
Charge your phone and check storage
Set up landscape mode
Don’t ruin your footage by having black vertical bars along the side! For a better-looking and more enjoyable video experience, make sure to record in landscape mode.
This will give you a wider frame and more details in the shot while also avoiding any unpleasant visuals. Plus, since most screens today are widescreen or HDTVs, recording in the landscape is almost always worth it. So remember: think twice before shooting vertically!
Make sure the lighting is strong
Good lighting is essential for smartphone videos; it can make or break your footage. To ensure your video looks great, avoid shadows and overexposure by shooting in bright, even-lit areas.
Stable light also helps with exposure control and focusing on the important parts of your composition. If all else fails, work with the backlighting and white balance settings to get the best results. And don’t forget: You can always film better with your phone!
Make sure the lighting is strong
Consider sound and video quality equally
High-quality audio is more important than video when shooting with your phone. To reduce environmental noise, shoot indoors when possible and stay close to the source of the audio you want to capture.
You can also use a hand to cover the phone’s microphone (but not completely)—this can help reduce unwanted noise that may affect the final result. If an external recording device isn’t an option, then using a directional microphone may be a better solution.
Want to know how to film better with your phone? Invest in good audio before anything else!
Frame properly
Get creative and frame your shot with the rule of thirds! If your phone camera has a grid option, turn it on for easy composition. Position your subject off-center in order to create a more eye-catching scene. Experiment with different angles and keep moving until you find something that looks great.
Zoom in carefully
Zooming in on a video without losing any detail is key to capturing that crisp, vivid quality. The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra’s optical zoom capability makes it great for recording fantastic footage.
To get closer to your subject, you can also use clip-on lenses like those from Moment, which reveal details such as freckles and fine lines. For even better results, learn how to film better with your phone and make the most of these features!
Zoom in carefully
Use flash if necessary
To make better videos with your phone, you need to know how to handle light. Smartphone LED lights are often too bright and can give skin an unnatural look. Night mode or a flash will still leave a video poorly lit, so it is best to use external light sources when available.
Ring lights, LED panels, and even small battery-powered LEDs will produce more even lighting with fewer ‘unnatural’ effects, making for better footage than the LED flash on phones alone can provide.
A ring light distributes light evenly across a subject and helps you focus
Source: nfi.edu
Learn how to film better with your phone and unlock higher-quality video content!
Stabilize shots and footage
Smartphones have seen many advancements in recent years, such as electronic and optical image stabilization. It significantly reduces the level of a handshake when shooting handheld.
However, if you want to achieve truly smooth movement, filming with a physical gimbal such as the DJI OM-4 is your best bet.
When attached to your phone and the app loaded, you’ll be able to access its powerful video capabilities, all with super buttery-smooth stabilization for that coveted cinematic look. Plus, Pocket-lint offers price comparison across thousands of retailers so you can always get the best deal!
Stabilize shots and footage
Accessorize or upgrade to a stand-alone camera
If you’re looking to up your vlogging game, look no further than the range of accessories available for phones nowadays. By adding a few pieces of hardware, you can give your phone more capabilities and take the quality of your videos to the next level.
With these tools, you’ll be well on your way to creating cinematic-grade films with just your phone. One tip? Don’t forget that mastering how to film better with your phone is still integral to getting great results.
Have fun editing!
Create a showreel with free tools! iMovie for Apple devices, DaVinci Resolve (among others) for computers—see our ‘How to Make a Showreel” page for more info. For those under 18 and parents filming with kids, make sure the footage isn’t automatically uploaded to the cloud. It’s easy to film on phones (or SIM-free phones), tablets, and other devices with similar features.
Have fun editing!
FAQs: How to film better with your phone? Why do videos appear hazy?
Which app improves video quality?
Videoshop is an efficient app that increases video quality and helps you trim, and apply slow/fast motion, and voiceover videos.
How do I make a video with my Android phone?
To create content on an Android device: prepare your material, choose a spot, decide if you’ll use the front or rear camera, clean the lens, frame your shot, and adjust the lighting. Connect a microphone and check phone settings. Voila – you’re ready to start filming!
How do you make a professional video with your smartphone?
To get the best recording possible, start with a proper setup. Check your camera settings and orientation; make sure you’re not zooming in too much; improve lighting; and use a tripod to keep your video steady. Don’t forget about the audio—it’s just as important as the visual!
How can I improve the video quality on Android?
- FlimoraGo – Video Editor & Maker.
- InShot – Video Editor.
- VivaVideo.
- Videoshop – Video Editor.
- VideoShow Video Editor & Maker.
- PowerDirector.
Conclusion
In conclusion, filming better videos with your phone doesn’t have to be a daunting task. By following the simple tips recommended by fvanstry.com, you’ll be able to learn how to film better with your phone and capture amazing memories. So don’t delay—start filming stunning videos today!
