Three Ways to Make Your Cell Phone Video Better

Sometimes, you just have to shoot a quick video on your cell phone. I get that. But please, for the sake of my sanity, keep three things in mind.

#ProTip: For cell phone video: 1) Landscape 2) Stabilize 3) Microphone

Let me explain. No… let me sum up. Hold the phone landscape (sideways, not up and down) when you record. This makes the video automatically appear more professional and able to be posted on more platforms. Use a tripod or find something to stabilize the phone while you shoot (rest your phone against a tree, a wall, a friend or at the very least, hold the phone with both hands) to reduce shake and seasickness in your viewing audience. Finally, if anyone is speaking, keep a microphone within a couple feet of their mouth – either shell out $15 for a cheap microphone on Amazon or use those free microphone-equipped earbuds that came with your phone – and instantly make the audio 10x more understandable.

Do those three things, and both I and your audience will be eternally grateful.

Katie Rutter is the executive producer of Thing in a Pot Productions. She has received multiple awards for her videos and the overall quality of her work, including being honored as Video Producer of the Year in 2018 by the Catholic Press Association. Subscribe to our newsletter to receive our video Pro Tips in your inbox every month!