At a time of school closures, schools and districts are looking at how they can engage their stakeholders from a distance—especially through digital video. This can be as simple as grabbing a smartphone and recording some footage or a video message to students and families. 

Recording video with a phone can be a little challenging at first, as mobile devices were not designed for this specific purpose. They do not have an easy place to grip or optical zoom, for example. However, it is possible to use them to record professional video that helps you get your messages across. 

Here are some quick tips for maximizing the quality of your smartphone-captured video:

 

1. Keep the phone as steady as possible

 

Try to keep your phone as still as possible while recording video. If you need to capture a subject that’s moving, try to do so with smooth, gradual motions. Keep both hands on the phone at all times.

An ideal solution is to purchase a gimbal stabilizer or tripod. If you don’t have either of these, you can help keep your phone steady by keeping your elbows in, close to your sides. You’ll be surprised how much unnecessary movement you can prevent with this simple tactic. 

Of course, you can always try resting your phone on a chair, desk, table or other surface while filming. This can work well in some situations, but does not provide much flexibility or the easy capture of movement. 

 

2. Shoot horizontally, not vertically

When shooting video using a smartphone, your instinct might be to hold the device vertically, just like you do when using it for most other things. However, this can be limiting if you want to edit your video and share it online and via social media.

Instead, hold your phone horizontally when filming. The result will be more professional-looking video and a better experience for the viewer.

 

3. Avoid back lighting

The source of light for your video should be above or in front of the subject. If the lighting is behind the subject, it will have a silhouette effect. If the subject is a person, you may not be able to see his or her face very well. 

 

4. Lock the camera’s focus

You can set the camera to focus on your subject as you film. On an iPhone, you can do so by holding your finger on the subject on the screen. You can do the same on Android devices by tapping the screen. This will automatically keep the focus of the recording on the subject, even if he or she moves around. 

 

5. Audio quality is important

Although smartphones today can capture high-quality video, the microphones are not always at the same level. They also tend to be located in a place that makes sense for phone calls, but not necessarily for recording quality audio while shooting video.

As a rule of thumb, avoid filming outdoors if there’s a lot of wind, as it can distort the audio. You can also purchase an external microphone that drastically improves the quality level of the audio you record.

If you’re using the phone’s internal mic, hold the device as close to the subject as possible. When recording a teacher who is sitting at a desk, for example, you would not want to hold the phone on the other side of the desk—that’s too far away. Get about 3-4 feet away from the subject to maximize the audio quality. 

With these simple tips, you can record exceptional video footage that allows you to make a more personal connection with parents, students, staff and other stakeholders. 

The Donovan Group offers digital video creation and editing services for schools and school districts across the United States.