27/01/2025
There are three things that matter most when trying to get professional-looking footage from a smartphone.
Note: I’m not talking messaging here. Only video quality.
So here’s what you need to keep in mind:
1. Audio.
Bad audio can ruin a show. I highly recommend grabbing a lav mic that works with smartphones. I have my favorite linked in my gear guide in the bio. But if you can’t do a mic, at least make sure the room is quiet from all ambient noise.
2. Lighting.
You want the footage to be bright and easy to see. If it’s dark, it’ll pixellate and look grainy. But also keep in mind there are various shades of light, too. Daylight is easiest to work with bc you can find a window or film outdoors. But if you have to work with the yellower indoor light (tungsten light), just make sure you have enough of it. And don’t mix daylight with tungsten light. The mix of blue and yellow light is wonky on video.
3. Framing.
Remember the rule of thirds. Keep the subject of your shot along one of the lines in your grid. Of course creatively these rules are meant to be broken but for simplicity sake, stick to the rule of thirds.
There’s more to know but generally speaking if you remember these three key points, your footage will turn out well.
Tell me, what other filming questions do you have?
