DIY Smartphone Videos, Part 2: Enhancing Video Quality

Reality check: not everyone has the cash flow to buy a high-quality video camera and equipment to record a video for their profession. However, chances are you already have an incredibly capable camera available to you: your smartphone.

Maybe you’ve already gone down this road and were sorely disappointed with the results. Don’t fret, you’ve come to the right place. We’re here to help you record professional-looking video on your smartphone – the do-it-yourself, budget-friendly way. If you want to review a couple of product recommendations from our team check out this blog: ‘Product Recommendations for Simple DIY Smartphone Video‘.

This blog features the best methods for enhancing the quality of your smartphone videos and includes a few low-priced pieces of hardware that will help.

After reading this blog, you should feel confident in capturing excellent footage with your smartphone in nearly any circumstance. By following these three big tips, you can create videos that wow your viewers time and time again.

Shakiness is the Enemy

One of the most crucial aspects of capturing quality footage on your smartphone is how you’re holding it.

If nothing else, remember this: whenever you’re recording, hold your phone horizontally. Videos recorded in the portrait orientation can become a bit stretched-out and pixelated (due to screen ratio changes) when you upload them to YouTube.

The other benefit to holding your phone horizontally is it allows you to hold your phone stable. Otherwise, if your video image is shaky and unstable, viewers will quickly lose interest.

Practice makes perfect, so the more you can get out there and practice stabilizing your phone, the better your videos will look in the long run. Position your hands in a comfortable way that allows you to hold it steady while making sure you keep those fingers away from the lens. Always try to make your movements as smooth as possible – no quick or jerky motions.

For an even more professional look, you don’t need to even hold your phone! Consider completely stabilizing your shots with a tripod.

The JOBY GripTight GorillaPod Video is a mighty miniature tripod designed specifically for smartphone videographers. It allows you to accomplish smooth pans, tilts, and shake-free movement with ease thanks to its flexible legs and magnetic feet. For $40, this is definitely something you want to add to your video arsenal.

Don’t Forget the Audio

Sound can often be an overlooked element of videos. Don’t be fooled though, the sound quality is even more important than video quality.

Unfortunately, the mics built into smartphones are notoriously bad and can leave you will hollow-sounding audio. The key to capturing pristine audio is a microphone.

The video below perfectly illustrates how helpful a microphone can be for enhancing the voice of your subject and reducing background sound, whether it’s a fan, chatty bystanders, or any other distracting noise.

Now that you can see, or rather hear, the difference a microphone makes, you should strongly consider getting one, especially for your practice’s testimonial videos.

Lavalier mics are some of the most amazing tools for recording superb sound on your smartphone. A smartphone-compatible lav mic can plug directly into your smartphone and includes a clip so you can secure it to your subject (near the collar/neck for best results). There are many on Amazon for around $20 – well worth it for a tool that adds such professionalism to your videos.

Look into the Light

Always be aware of the lighting in your surroundings when shooting video. You should always have the subject of your video facing the light instead of having their back turned to it. This helps illuminate their features better and avoids creating a dark silhouette of them.

And if you really want to get fancy, take a few minutes to learn the basics of three-point lighting. There’s a wide range of small, handheld LED lighting options out there that won’t break the bank.

Another cost-effective lighting solution is to utilize the light you already have with a disc reflector. You can find them online for about $15 or less.

Now Get Out There and Hit Record!

As with all skills, taking video with your smartphone requires practice. The more you do it, the better you will become.

By following these tips and practicing often, you will continue to increase the quality of your videos and make your viewers forget they’re watching a video that was recorded with the same device you use to make phone calls, surf the web, and play Angry Birds.

Technology is amazing, isn’t it? Click the following link if you would like to learn more about custom video for your dental practice.

Please share your thoughts with us about our dental marketing blog:  Have these tips helped you? Do you another suggestion for improving smartphone video?