For most of us, the need to shoot video is in recording day-to-day activities with our family and friends.
That being the case, there really isn't a need for most people to invest in high-end cameras, lenses, and lighting gear.
Instead, if you have an iPhone, you can take some pretty good video footage. You can even edit your videos and create something quite beautiful right on your phone!
Here's a few of my favorite tips for shooting video on your iPhone.
iPhone Video Tip: Never, Ever Use Your Phone's Digital Zoom
This is a great tip for shooting video and still photos as well.
Though the digital zoom on the iPhone is handy (and much better than it used to be), it still produces very poor quality images and videos.
Instead of a clean, noise-free picture, you one that's totally pixelated and looks just plain bad.
The reason for this is because when you zoom in on your iPhone, it's just enlarging the picture, not actually zooming in optically.
iPhone models since the release of the 7-Plus have dual lenses that mitigate this issue somewhat, but even so, as a rule of thumb, it's better to physically move closer to the subject than use the digital zoom.
Learn More:
- Avoid These Common Beginner Videography Mistakes
- Why Videography is Important for Every Photographer
A Good Video Needs Good Audio
Just like the iPhone's digital zoom has limitations, so too does its tiny microphone.
While it works great for picking up your voice when you're talking on the phone, it's not so great for picking up the voice of a subject that's a few feet away.
But when shooting video with your iPhone, it's not like you can hold the phone up to the subject's mouth to get the clearest audio. What to do instead?
Perhaps the easiest trick is to use another phone as a microphone.
Simply position the second phone near the subject - ensuring that it's out of the frame of the video - that way you can shoot video on your phone while also getting clearer audio from the second phone.
Another option is to add an aftermarket microphone to your iPhone.
The options are virtually endless here, with more expensive models that plug into the Lightning port on your phone and provide directional audio recording to less expensive options that look like a shotgun mic you would use with a traditional video camera.
Regardless of which of these methods you choose to record video, each is a much better option for getting clear, sharp audio than simply relying on your phone mic to pick up sound as you record.
Learn More:
- How to Create Professional-Looking Videos (Without Being a Pro)
- Video Composition Tip: What Angles to Shoot at (and Why)
Use a Video Editor to Give Your Video a Professional Look
As I noted in the introduction, you can edit your videos right on your phone. What's easier than that?!
If you use the right tools, you can create something that's beautiful and professional-looking too.
I came across a video editor a few months back called Kizoa, and it certainly fits the bill for helping you create videos on your phone that truly impress.
Not only does Kizoa have an ultra-powerful online video editing platform where you can edit video, store your video and photo files, and easily share your creations, but it also has a free iOS app for creating incredible videos on-the-go.
In fact, with just a few taps in the Kizoa App, you can generate amazing videos in just a few minutes.
You can add as many photos or videos as you want, and Kizoa will detect faces automatically, that way your video will be framed beautifully with optimized effects.
The app allows you to create videos in portrait, landscape, or square formats, and Kizoa's innovative technology gives you the option to apply multiple 3D effects, slides, fades, sound effects, text effects, different fonts, and more.
In other words, you have all the tools you need right at your fingertips to create and share incredible videos!
What sets Kizoa apart from other video editors is that it's so incredibly easy to use whether you're on your iPhone or on your laptop.
They provide you with tons of beautiful pre-made templates that allow you to create your videos in short order.
Not only that, but Kizoa also enables you to add texts, transitions, music, and other features to your videos that give them a completely polished look.
Perhaps best of all, Kizoa is affordable - get a lifetime premium membership for under $30.00. There's no recurring fees. No cost to upgrade from your plan. Just a one-time fee and you've got access for life!
In that regard, Kizoa is head and shoulders above its competitors. It's easy to use, has powerful video tools, and inexpensive. I wouldn't use anything else to create videos on my iPhone.