iPhone Video Best Practices for Capturing Footage

This guide will walk you through the best practices for capturing footage on your iPhone for your marketing needs.

Equipment Needed:

1. iPhone 

2. Tripod or stabiliser (If you don't have a tripod, can you use another object around you to hold the camera steady? (Table, chair, wall, shelf etc)

3. External microphone (optional for improved audio quality)

Preparation:

1. Clean your iPhone's camera lens to ensure clear, smudge-free footage.

2. Clear out storage space on your iPhone to avoid running out of storage during filming.

3. Make sure you have a full charge!

Updating Phone Camera Settings:

1. Open the Camera app on your iPhone.

2. Set the video resolution and frame rate to the highest available for the best quality (typically 1080p HD at 30fps or 4K at 60fps).

3. Enable gridlines in the camera settings to help with framing and composition.

4. Turn on HDR (High Dynamic Range) for better color and contrast in your footage.

Here's your cheatsheet on taking photos and videos on mobile:

1. Test video and audio - make sure you do a test recording of the video and audio to make sure it's recording properly. Don't rush, take your time.

2. The Foreground, Subject, Background Sandwich - can you position your subject with something behind it and in front of it? This creates a depth of field and will add interest to your shots. Tap the phone screen on your subject to make sure it is in focus. 

3. Rule of Thirds - The rule of thirds is a compositional guideline that divides the frame into a grid of nine equal sections with two vertical and two horizontal lines. Placing key elements along these lines or at their intersections creates visually appealing and balanced compositions. 

4. Shoot wide - If shooting someone, give them visual room in the shot. Don't come too close. The subject should take up only a third of the frame (remember the rule of thirds?). Also, try to keep the camera level with the subject.

5. Bright backgrounds are your worst enemy - If the background is lighter than your subject, the subject will either be out of focus or too dark. Make sure to turn your subject to face into some natural light. 

6. Watch shadows on the face - Easy to miss but check your framing...is your subject's face partially or fully in the shade?

7. Don't cut too quickly - When you begin to record, count to three in your head before signalling to the subject to speak or for the sequence to commence. Count to three when you cut also, this allows for cleaner sequence editing in-studio.