For someone who has a production company and always uses professional crews on our shoots, why have I been using my phone on these last few shoots – and why am I admitting that to you?
We were filming sit-down interviews on Monday in front of a white backdrop. The crew had spent 90 minutes getting everything perfect. The client wanted to capture natural banter between two of our interviewees in another space. Moving one of the professional cameras off the set would’ve taken too much time and thrown off our schedule. So, I whipped out my phone and filmed them. Was it as good as what my cinematographer could’ve gotten? No. But is the footage usable? Absolutely.
One of the guests brought in pictures he couldn’t part with but that we wanted to use in the film. So again, I took out my phone and quickly scanned them with the phone. Would I have preferred to use an actual scanner? Yes. Can I still use the photos I scanned? Absolutely.
The most professional tools aren’t always available to us, and that’s OK.
When I have projects or clients who don’t have the time or budget to use all professional footage, we rely heavily on other people capturing photos and videos with their phones.
While it’s not ideal, I would rather have real images so the audience can see and feel the actual thing that’s being discussed, rather than generic stock photos or seeing someone talking on camera the whole time.
We worked with USAging this summer to produce a video that promoted their unique vaccination partnerships for older adults. They only had the time and budget for one day of professional filming with one partner and we knew we needed to show more than just one site. We relied heavily on other partners to share photos and videos of their events to contribute to the film. Though every image was not professionally shot, watch the professional video we were able to put together for them.
This is great news for all of us who have smartphones – which I’m guessing is most of us. We have these amazing tools in our pockets that can do so much.
But after several back-and-forth emails yesterday coaching a client trying to capture images at her event for our film, I realize not everyone will know the best way to use them.
Here are some of the tips I shared with her yesterday. As you think about what you might want to capture for your organization – or for yourself – I hope they are helpful.
For filming action shots with video:
- Unless you’re filming something for Instagram or TikTok, hold your phone horizontally. Not only is it the preferred aspect ratio for most films, it allows you to hold your phone with both hands squarely on either side, to get a steady shot.
- Brace yourself and the camera so it’s steady. Film with your elbows on a table if you’re sitting, or hold your phone closer in towards your chest if you’re standing.
- Get a variety of shots and hold them for longer than you think (at least 10 seconds). Film a wide shot (so we see the entire room), get some medium shots (so we see emotions and reactions of people’s bodies and faces), and get some close-up shots (so we see details, like what someone is pointing out in a picture).
- Go into your Settings menu before you start filming and ensure you have the right resolution setting. For Video, we film at 4K, 24p to match our professional cameras for a very high resolution.
For taking photos with your phone:
- For the most flexibility, use Portrait mode on the iPhone (Android has something similar) so you can adjust settings like the exposure and focal length. (Yesterday, my client was trying to get pictures in a dark conference room with a bright main presenter’s screen. By using Portrait mode, she could adjust the exposure to brighten the shots and get more of what she wanted.)
- Again, take wide shots, medium shots, and close-ups to get a variety of action.
- Try to capture people doing something active that is relevant to your story. Take pictures of them engaging in an active conversation, looking at something, handling an object – rather than all posed shots of people looking at the camera.
There are so many great tips for using your phone as a camera and video camera. Here are links to a few articles to learn more.
The Correct iPhone Camera Settings for Amazing Photos
9 Android Camera Features That Will Help You Take Way Better Photos
How to Take Good Photos with a Phone
I hope you’ll find ways to use your phone in your organization or in your life to capture amazing things!
