Table of Contents
The world of technology has changed enormously when you consider what it looked like 25+ years ago. Today, we all have a phone with a camera that can document almost anything in good quality. In the 1990s, you had to invest in a VHS camera if you wanted something that even remotely resembled a good video recording. There was no such thing as a selfie, and we were all focused on taking photos in the moment without repeating the process to get the perfect Instagram picture. With this guide, we will give you insight into how you can use your smartphone to create professional video recordings without having to open your wallet and invest in all sorts of expensive camera equipment.
Use the right camera on your phone
A typical smartphone has two cameras - a front camera (selfie camera) and a rear camera. When you record yourself with a phone, you can use both cameras. Although the selfie camera lets you see yourself while recording, the rear camera generally has a higher resolution and better image quality. Many people naturally use the selfie camera when recording themselves, but it is recommended to use the rear camera, as it helps provide the best quality, provided the right lighting is also in place.
However, there is a challenge when using the rear camera. You cannot monitor and see yourself during the recording. This is crucial, as you want to ensure the video is in focus and recorded correctly. However, there are several solutions to this problem:
a) Use a mirror - this is a simple and effective method, and there is a good chance you already have a mirror at home. Place the mirror behind your phone and angle it either upward or sideways to see the reflection of the phone’s screen.
b) Mirroring the phone screen to a laptop / PC - this will vary depending on the type of phone or computer you have:
If you have an iPhone and a Mac computer, you can connect them with a power cable and open QuickTime on your computer to record a new movie and select your iPhone as the camera.
If you have a Windows computer and an Android phone, you can use the Connect app to view the phone’s screen, provided both devices are logged into the same Wi-Fi network.
If you have a tablet, iPad, Chromebook, or another mobile device, you can use a screen mirroring app such as Mirroring360 to mirror the screen between the devices.
If none of the above options are available, you can use Reflector - a screen mirroring software that will work with any phone or computer. However, the program costs 178 DKK.
It is important to monitor the video while you record to ensure that everything is in focus. In addition, it is important to look directly into the camera when you speak. This will prevent you from appearing to look slightly away from the camera while talking, which can be distracting.
Use a gimbal/tripod
You can use a tripod, which gives you a static image when recording, but you can also use a gimbal for more advanced shots and more movement. Two- or three-axis gimbals are essential for the smoothest, most controlled and more elegant video recordings. They are available for phone cameras, but also for heavier DSLR cameras.
Types of gimbals
A two-axis gimbal, in short, provides optimal stabilisation on the two axes, pitch and yaw. This means that when you mount your phone camera on your gimbal, it can be stabilised, which helps reduce shakes and vibrations in these directions.
A three-axis gimbal, on the other hand, adds an extra axis, so it has pitch and yaw, but also what is called roll. This makes three-axis gimbals more versatile and suitable for a wider range of tasks, especially for video recording where there is more movement and vibration.
Extra features
You can also get gimbals with extra features. Among other things, we offer gimbals with built-in light, so you have the option of adding some lighting directly to your face if you’re recording yourself in a video while still using your gimbal.
Applications
When you buy a gimbal, you can typically download a companion app to your smartphone. This app enhances your video recording experience by offering a range of features tailored to specific scenarios such as sports, action, panoramic shots or landscapes.
You can also use the app to edit your recordings, so you can easily produce polished and shareable videos quickly. In addition, you have the option to purchase additional gear such as microphones to ensure high-quality audio while recording when you’re on the go.
Use the right video composition
The composition of your recording is crucial to making your video visually appealing. It’s important to consider where you want to upload your videos. If you plan to upload the video to YouTube, you should record it in landscape mode (16:9 format).
If, on the other hand, you need to upload it to TikTok, Instagram or e.g. YouTube Shorts, it’s best to record it in portrait mode (9:16 format). If you’re not sure where it will be uploaded, you can record it in landscape mode and crop it later if necessary.
Remember headspace
When you record, you should also think about headspace. Leave a small gap between the top of your head and the frame, and make sure the top of your head is never cut off. To avoid unnecessary cropping, you can use the 3x3 grid on your phone when recording. With the grid lines, you can easily position your subject within the frame and make sure you don’t crop out anything that needs to be included in your recording.
Placing the object/person in the centre is also important for the viewer’s interest. Of course, that isn’t always what the video requires, but centring the person or object in the middle of the video creates symmetry, especially if the person in the video has a message he or she wants to share.
The background matters
When filming yourself, it’s important to have an interesting background. For a talking-head video, it’s best to avoid empty walls and cluttered backgrounds, and instead choose a minimal background with a few elements that add colour, act as backlighting, or relate to your story. This can also help add some depth to the image.
Manual camera settings
Most phones today have a built-in camera app, but that app usually doesn’t give you much control over your focus, shutter speed (shutter speed), aperture (aperture), ISO, and all the things you can adjust compared to a professional camera. Instead of using your phone’s camera app, you can download a third-party app such as Filmic Pro - Video Camera to control all these different features and have more control over the recording process.
Here are the standard video settings you’ll use when your camera is in manual mode:
- Set your frame rate to 24 frames per second, as this is the most commonly used frame rate in film production, allowing you to create smooth videos.
- Set your shutter speed to 1/50 second to ensure it’s not too fast or too slow, while still letting in enough light without causing flicker in the image. You will normally want your shutter speed to be double the frame rate you record in.
- Set your ISO as low as possible – so you get enough light in your shot without getting noise in your footage. The higher your ISO, the grainier your image becomes, and it’s not very flattering.
- Most smartphones today have good autofocus, but you may run into issues in low-light situations. In such cases, it’s best to have an external light source to ensure the camera sensor gets enough light to focus optimally. Alternatively, you can also choose to set the focus manually and have full control over it.
Note: To set your focus, you need an object in the spot where you will be sitting (use a cushion or a hat). Then tap the screen to focus on it, and then lock the focus.
Video lighting
Good lighting in an image or a recording is essential for high quality and clarity. In short, it simply looks better, and with the right lighting you avoid muddy images and spend less time in the process afterwards, when you need to edit and adjust colour correcting, exposure, white balance, etc.
There will never be a single completely correct checklist for 100% correct lighting, as it depends a lot on what direction you want for your photo or video. Lighting doesn’t necessarily have to be only warm or cold light; it can also include colours and create a completely different mood.
If you’re filming an interview, a product, or close to someone’s face—e.g. a makeup artist—then it requires different ways of lighting. Light also helps set a happy or sad mood. If you want a happy mood, you’ll probably want plenty of light, possibly with some colourful objects in the frame, whereas for a sad mood you should adjust the light’s placement so that darkness is also present.
If you’re doing interviews, recordings of yourself, or of others, we have some great ideas for your lighting setup and which video light you should use.
- Daylight is some of the best, especially if the sun is shining and there are no clouds in the sky. If there are clouds, you need to be aware of this, as the lighting can change if the sun goes behind a cloud.
- An LED light can help boost daylight, but everything in moderation!
- If you are filming outdoors, make sure the sun is behind you and shining onto the object or person being filmed, otherwise it can create black silhouettes of people’s faces, and this can make your clips unusable. Therefore, avoid filming into the sun.
- You can soften the light by placing a white sheet or baking paper in front of the lamp, but we strongly recommend our softbox equipment, which can solve this.
- Avoid ceiling lights, as this creates dark shadows under the eyes of the person standing or sitting underneath. It isn’t very flattering and has the opposite effect of highlighting the face.
- You can buy LED Ring Lights, which are quite effective, especially if you make videos as a hobby. In addition, they don’t cost much.
We also strongly recommend our LED Light Kit, which includes stands and a bag.
Angles for lighting setup
The angles in your lighting setup also play a huge role. You can have an expensive quality camera with an insane aperture or shutter speed, but light will always be crucial for a sharp image.
The three well-known lighting setups are
-
Key light
The key light is, in other words, the main light source. This is where you get most of the light for your recording. The light should be placed at a 45° angle to your face, as this gives the most natural image.
-
Fill light
Fill light is more or less light that fills in some of the shadows on your face. It is less bright than the key light and creates softness in the shadows so they don’t look unflattering. Again, you’ll want to place this about 45° from the key light on the other side.
-
Backlight
Backlighting highlights you from the background. This is used to separate you from the background and give the subject/person character. Again, it’s ideal to place this not directly behind you, but at an angle.
Audio and camera microphones
We all know the feeling of bad audio—especially when you can’t hear what someone is saying in a video, either because the person is at the wrong angle relative to the built-in microphone on a smartphone, or because the distance is too great. People will still tolerate average video quality, but they’ll click away quickly if your audio isn’t good.
There are countless options for optimising the sound in a video. The angle, your own output when speaking, the distance—and yes, in fact also whether you choose to invest in external camera microphones of significantly better quality.
Camera Microphones
As mentioned, it’s always a good idea to invest in microphones, as they are crucial for good sound. At SoundStoreXL, we offer, among other things, Røde Wireless Go ll, which are among the most popular with both professional videographers and everyday consumers.
They are everything you need for great-quality sound, and they’re extremely portable because they’re small and weigh practically nothing. They can also be clipped onto your shirt, so it picks up everything you say without you having to think about the distance to the built-in microphone on your smartphone when recording. There’s also an app for them, Røde Central, which is incredibly user-friendly and can transfer your audio files to your PC via USB-C in no time.
Another good alternative is the shotgun microphone Røde VideoMic Go ll, which is packed with a lot of great features. Here, however, you need to think a bit more about the distance, as you don’t attach this type of microphone to your clothing. They are either mounted on your tripod, gimbal, or perhaps your ring light. That’s why it’s essential to have the right distance to the microphone.
