Smartphone Video Production

Ensure your smartphone is fully charged and has enough storage space to record video. Clean your smartphone's camera lens with a soft, lint-free cloth to prevent smudges that can degrade the quality of your footage.

Plan your shots. Use the rule of thirds by imagining a tic-tac-toe grid on your screen to help frame your subject. Position the important compositional elements along these lines or at the intersections.

Avoid shaky footage by stabilizing your smartphone. Use both hands to hold your device or consider using a tripod, gimbal, or other stabilizing equipment for a smoother video.

Set the focus of your camera by tapping on the subject on your screen. If available, lock the focus by holding down the touchpoint until the AE/AF Lock indication appears.

Adjust the exposure as needed by tapping on the screen and swiping up or down on the sun icon that appears next to the focus box. Aim for balanced lighting to avoid overexposed (too bright) or underexposed (too dark) footage.

Set your smartphone to the highest video resolution and frame rate. This can usually be found and adjusted in the camera settings. For editing purposes, 4K is recommended if your smartphone supports it.

Consider using an external microphone if the audio quality is critical to your video. Good audio is as important as good visuals, so ensure any dialogue or important sounds are captured clearly.

Utilize natural light whenever possible, and avoid backlighting to prevent silhouetting. For indoor shoots, use additional lighting sources to evenly light your subject, reducing harsh shadows.

Record your video by pressing the record button. It is advisable to start recording a few seconds before your intended scene and continue a few seconds after to ensure smooth transitions during editing.

Review the footage to check for any issues in video and audio quality. Re-shoot if necessary. Look for issues with stability, focus, exposure, and composition that might detract from the overall quality.

Close any unnecessary background applications on your smartphone to ensure the camera app has sufficient resources and to avoid interruptions during recording.

Enable 'Do Not Disturb' mode on your smartphone to prevent calls and notifications from disrupting your recording session.

Consider recording extra 'B-roll' footage – supplemental video that adds depth to your story and can be used during editing to cover any cuts or to add interest.