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Smartphones, with their ever-improving camera quality, offer a fantastic way to capture amazing videos.
While many people are constantly on their phones, they often overlook the powerful video capabilities at their fingertips.
Here are five tips to help you create a stunning video with your smartphone that many will love.
1. Keep it Short!
Keep in mind who your audience is.
While this may come as a surprise to you, the longer your video is, the more boring it gets. I’ve also made that same mistake with this 7 minute GoPro video. I bet you’ll be clicking away before it’s over.
While you are immensely passionate about your RIB and the trip you’ve been filming, viewers might not share the same enthusiasm.
Some may watch your video out of courtesy rather than genuine interest.
Unless you’re creating a documentary, it’s best to keep your video between 1 to 2 minutes, with a maximum of 5 minutes.
Research shows that only 45% of viewers are still watching a video after one minute, so it’s crucial to engage your audience within the first 30 seconds to keep their attention.
You know you’ve succeeded when your audience wants to replay your video. Effective advertising videos typically last around 30 seconds, during which they mention the product name at least three times.
2. Always Film Horizontally (Landscape)
We often see smartphone footage hastily shot in vertical (portrait) orientation, which doesn’t do justice to the subject at all.
Holding your smartphone horizontally (landscape) provides the much sought-after cinematic feel and makes it significantly easier to focus on the subject. It’s a more natural way to capture how we perceive our environment.
Imagine seeing a movie like Star Wars filmed vertically. It will make you sick and you will stop watching it.
3. Buy a Gimbal
So far so good but if you really want to make a difference, buy a smartphone gimbal. I found an amazing one on the DJI site. A good gimbal is independent from the smartphone brands and dimensions.
I find this device incredibly easy to use, and it significantly improves the quality of my videos.
When you’re on a moving RIB, keeping your smartphone steady is nearly impossible, resulting in jerky footage that spoils the experience for your audience.
A gimbal compensates for these movements and vibrations, ensuring your video looks stunning.
Additionally, remember that the selfie camera is usually of lower quality than the rear camera, so use the rear camera whenever possible for the best results.
4. Want More? Use Video Editing Software and Royalty-Free Music
Don’t forget to start your video with a title and eventually mention your name and the year.
End the video with music credits (my favorite place for good music is Pixabay), the year you’ve created the video and if you like it give a possibility to contact you. You can use an e-mail address for instance in the video or in a comment.
If you want to take your videos to the next level and truly impress your audience, consider editing your footage with video software.
There are free editors available, as well as options across various price ranges.
If you can afford it and are willing to invest the time to learn, I recommend using Final Cut Pro on a Mac or Adobe Premiere Pro.
Luckily there are other video tools like Movavi (Windows or Mac) and Pinnacle (Windows only) to get the job done, as well.
I now only use Adobe Premiere Pro on my MacBook Pro.
Be sure to save your video as an .mp4 file. This format is widely compatible and can be played on many devices.
5. Music
Sometimes music has added value if you use the right genre that enhances the image and takes the ambiance to a higher level. Know that ambient noise can also create that effect.
Always credit the artists in the end credits and description, and inform them that you are using their music.
Some artists generously offer their work with no copyright restrictions.
While it’s fantastic that you acknowledge their contribution, it’s essential to credit them. You can find such artists here, among others:
- https://ncs.io/music
- https://mixkit.co/
- https://soundcloud.com/
- https://pixabay.com/music/
- https://www.youtube.com/c/audiolibrary-channel/videos
If you want just that little bit more, check out Shockwave Sound. I paid gladly. One advantage is that you can select a full music track or even nicely derived shorter versions at a lower price. I was really impressed with the quality.
Remember to carefully read the license agreement. Just because music is labeled as “royalty-free” doesn’t automatically grant you unrestricted usage rights.
Extra: 7 actions absolutely not to do
Many pitfalls are easy to stumble into if you’re not vigilant. Make sure to steer clear of these avoidable mistakes:
- Talk a lot while filming (unless you’re interviewing someone)
- Pan from left to right and back
- Pan from bottom to top and back
- Lean on a railing while on board and filming
- Make sudden movements
- Use every video transition in the editor
- Use a lot of special effects available in the editor
I trust that these five tips will empower you to craft those unforgettable RIB videos for all of us to savor!
