Video content dominates everything from social media to online learning and marketing, making the ability to shoot high-quality, professional-looking videos more valuable than ever. The good news? You don’t need a fancy camera or expensive gear to get started. Smartphones have evolved in many ways, and if you have one in your pocket, you already have a high-quality camera at your disposal.
The mobile phones of today are equipped with powerful cameras and editing capabilities that rival even some dedicated video equipment. Whether you're a content creator, entrepreneur, or someone who just wants to make their videos stand out, this guide will walk you through practical tips and techniques to elevate your video quality - all using your phone.
Top tips for making high-quality videos with your phone
Even if your phone has a powerful camera, if you want to make the most of the tool you have, then you have to learn how to use it properly. From the right settings to setting up the best lighting, all of these details will turn your phone videos from good to great. Below, we’ve included our top tips and best practices to help you create professional videos with your mobile.
1. Keeping your camera lens clean
This may seem obvious, but this is an often overlooked step that can have a big impact on the outcome of your video. Dust, fingerprints and smudges can blur your footage and lower the quality, so it’s important to check your lens is free of these things before you start.
In order to clean your camera lens, you’ll need the right stuff to ensure you don't scratch or harm the lens. A microfibre cleaning cloth is ideal for this, something like the Magic Cleaning Cloth, as it is made with ultrafine fibres that ensure no scratching or damage will be caused during the cleaning process. For tougher smudges or if you just want to keep on top of your camera maintenance, we’d also recommend using a cleaning solution like the Kenair Lens Cleaner that’ll polish and demist your lens for a more thorough clean.
2. Ensure you have good lighting
Good lighting is critical for a high-quality shot. Phone cameras have smaller image sensors and lenses than traditional cameras, meaning that lighting plays a huge role in the crispness of the film. Bad lighting can cause a dull, dark and grainy look. We recommend utilising natural lighting to your advantage, shooting in brightly lit areas, as this will add a touch of softness and depth. However, you should also be careful not to point the camera directly at bright light sources, which will cause the shot to be backlit and potentially even unusable if the lighting causes overexposed footage and lens flaring.
If you’re shooting indoors without natural lighting, then we recommend using studio lighting as an alternative, such as this Kenro Smart Lite 19" RGB Ring Light. Not only will it brighten your final image, but you can connect a Kenro Smart Lite Smartphone Holder to it and it will double as a tripod for your phone, making smartphone video creation easier than ever.
Kenro Smart Lite 19" RGB Ring Light Kit
Kenro Smart Lite Smartphone Holder
3. Master framing and composition
While cleaning your lens and working on your lighting can improve the quality of your shots, learning composition and framing can really enhance the visual appeal of your videos. There are a few principles to consider and research for creating impressive shots.
- Rule of thirds - this is where the screen is divided into nine equal segments by two horizontal and two vertical lines, and placing your subject along these lines or at their intersections can help to create a more balanced composition and add interest to your shots. You can learn more about this in our guide to photography composition.
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Perspective - understanding angles and perspective can help turn your video from good to visually captivating. Angles can draw emotions from your viewers, as well as add more interest. For example, low shots of your subject can make it seem bigger and more imposing, while high shots of your subject can make it appear smaller. You could also try experimenting with wide and close-up shots for more interesting visuals.
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Background - no matter if it’s for a film or a vlog, making sure your background is clean and clutter-free is essential for creating a good video. Clutter can be distracting and make your video appear more disorganised. We recommend spending a bit more time focusing on your background and how it can complement your subject for impactful videos.
4. Stabilising your shots
Shaky footage can be distracting for your viewers; we recommend getting a tripod or a camera stabiliser to help combat this issue. You can attach your phone to these by using a specialist adapter such as the Kenro Smart Lite Smartphone Holder. Some phones also have built-in stabilisers for moving shots, which can be found in your camera settings. This can be good for moving shorts, but we’d recommend investing in some dedicated equipment to ensure your footage is completely smooth, such as this Standard Video Tripod Kit. Equipped with spirit levelling, easy-to-adjust legs, and comfortable grips, this tripod is perfect for recording videos on your phone.
5. Upgrade your audio
Upgrading your video quality will seem a bit pointless without good audio to back it up. Clear audio is just as important as crisp video, and most phones don’t have a good enough mic built in to get the job done. We highly recommend using an external microphone like this Kenro Lavalier Microphone, which connects directly to your phone and can be attached to your clothes for an easy way to record your audio. It’s also a great choice for when the subject is further away from the camera, as it can be used at a distance.
6. Learn your phone's camera's advanced features
Many smartphones offer manual control when using the camera. When you’re on your camera app, you should see a settings tab, and in there, you will find the advanced settings for your phone. These usually include options such as focus, exposure and white balance adjustments, allowing for better creative control over your footage.
7. Make sure you’re prepared for your shoot
The last thing you want when you’re mid-shot is for your phone battery to die on you or for your storage to suddenly become too full to carry on filming. Before you begin filming, make sure your storage is cleared up and that your phone is fully charged. You can also take a power bank with you if you’re heading outdoors to charge your phone during breaks.
8. Editing your phone videos for the finishing touch
There are many different video editors you can get on your phone to help you edit your videos. Editing your videos can be the cherry on top of a high-quality shot. You can play with the brightness, contrast, temperature and more in order to create the desired effect for your video. You can also trim out unnecessary parts and add transitions for a more interesting final film.
Upgrade your smartphone videos with Kenro
Creating professional-looking videos with your phone is no longer just a possibility. With the right techniques, a bit of planning, and some creativity, you can produce high-quality content that stands out without breaking the bank.
From mastering lighting and composition to using lighting and maintaining good audio, here at Kenro, we stock everything a filmmaker or aspiring YouTuber needs to take their videos to the next level.
