Tips for Shooting Video at Home

At the moment, most of us are stuck at home, can only use the gear we have with us or are a little worried about spending a ton of money on equipment. However, you can still create high-quality videos in a DIY situation. You just need to make sure you pay attention to the key features of shooting video.

Hardware (use the best you got)

Wherever you are, use the best equipment possible. The latest iPhone and Android phones have exponentially increased their video quality compared to earlier versions. So, even if it’s not your phone, use the latest model phone in your quarantine zone. Make sure to take advantage of every aspect of your phone’s video capabilities. All iPhones have the ability to focus on a subject by tapping on the screen and have some sort of color correction built in. The newest iPhones can shoot in 4K and even have a cinematic mode for very crisp images.

Cheap Hack – You can spend very little money and upgrade your phone’s video recorder using Filmic pro. This app is only $9.99 and it gives your phone tons of new parameters when shooting like frame rate, resolution, exposure, and color balance.

Framing and Stabilization –

Most of the time, the difference between a good and bad shot is framing, or how the subject is orientated in the shot. For most talking heads, the subject should take up most of the shot and be centered. Make sure that their face and upper torso are clear and visible. Also, make sure the shot is angled properly (not askew) and that the shot is stable. Not only does this look better, but it helps give a sense of personalization to the video and makes it clearer that the subject is talking to the viewer.

Free Hack – Getting a stable shot with someone just holding your phone is difficult. To solve this, the camera operator should sit down and be as stable as they can. Or better yet, you can get creative. Put your phone in between two small books or any other household object to make sure it stays upright. Just make sure they are out of the shot. Or, use a rubber band to pull it against a solid, stable object.

Cheap Hack – a cheap iPhone mount can be bought on amazon here.

Lighting

Good lighting is key to a quality video. If you don’t’ have any lighting equipment, you can use natural light from a window to make sure the subject is fully illuminated and there are no pesky shadows. If you don’t have any natural light you can use a lamp. The key here is to have the light source facing the subject and behind the camera.

Cheap Hack – a cheap ring light can be bought on amazon here. These provide a good glow to the face and are built for phone videos.  

Audio

Bad audio can ruin any chance of your video being taken seriously. Even in this crisis, viewers expect a video to be coherent and not a pain on the ears. Be sure to test your video to make sure your audio is okay, before you film the whole thing. Try to be in a room with good sound insulation and keep things around you quiet.

Cheap hack – you can buy a directional microphone adapter for the iPhone here.  

Free DIY hack (if you have post-editing software) – If you don’t want to buy anything new, and there is someone else around you, use their phone as a microphone. Simply record a second video simultaneously on a second phone and keep that phone closer to you. You can then use software like iMovie or Premiere Pro to replace and match the original audio with the second video’s audio.