How to make your iPhone videos look like Hollywood movies?

July 31, 2018

As we've noticed, iPhone has the ability to take unique photos. Its camera, for example, has the ability to shoot 4K resolution video, which is truly exceptional, helped by the optical image stabilizer that turns "shaky" shots into cinema shots.

Note that it's just as easy to take a bad video from your iPhone. In this article, we'll look at some tips as well as some gadgets that will turn your shots into movie-like clips.

Quick tips for shooting video from iPhone

First, the easy part. There are a few clues that indicate the shot was made by a novice. One of them is the zoom. In movies, you'll see a long, slow zoom from a wide shot, but beyond that, you'll never see zoom in the sense we know it. There will be zoom but on something that you actually have to focus on.

The other is the focused focus. This rarely happens with the iPhone, but if the camera's autofocus starts looking for an object while you're "shooting", it's understandable that the result will be bad. To avoid this, use manual focus by trying to focus on what you really want before you start shooting.

Also, don't shoot vertical videos. Just don't!

Plan your movements and use a tripod or a stabilizer

Unlike zooming, moving the camera while shooting is a "valid" technique. You can get closer to the subject instead of zooming in on it. You can also hold the camera steady. Whatever you choose, you need to support it properly. If you want the camera to stay "locked" in a particular position, then use a tripod. If you want a shot on the move, then use a platform. Otherwise, you can hold the device in your hand if you find it so stable.

The iPhone's built-in optical image stabilizer is indeed amazing, but if you really want something really smooth, you'll have to buy some stabilization tool that acts as a counterweight to keep the camera steady.

Use a microphone

Good films are accompanied by the appropriate sound. You have not noticed this because you simply take it for granted. To get the best possible sound for your own films, you should use a microphone. There are microphones that plug directly into the iPhone's lightning port. It is also possible to use the pre-installed microphones on the device and later adjust the sound "picked up" by another iPhone through the external microphones when editing the video. So simple!

But once you get into the process, you have to take care of the sound as much as the picture. You might even give more weight to the sound. To understand what we mean ask yourself this question: "Would you want to watch a movie with bad shots but great sound, or would you prefer to see a good picture but with interruptions in sound, distortion, etc.?" Generally speaking, bad sound is recognized and is more annoying than correspondingly poor quality video.

Use a well-known video application

The pre-installed camera app is pretty good, but if you want even more control, including manual focus, you should use an "established" app such as Filmic Pro. This is an app used by professionals, as it contains all the tools for all the functions such as exposure, colour balance and focus. It can also shoot video (syncing the audio as well) at 24 FPS.

Note that there are many apps to choose from, but Filmic is an excellent app. It is currently priced at 16,99 € in the App Store and can be downloaded from here.

How do we process iPhone videos?

When we say editing, we don't mean cutting the clips and then putting them together to get a result. We mean that we need to make those clips as short as possible. If the short film is one take, we should edit that and that alone. We don't need to linger on one scene unless it's something special. Otherwise, the only is to bore our audience.

A good idea is to start editing before you press the record button. Take a look at the box. Ignore your subject and look behind it. Is there something that you feel "spoils" the effect? If so try to scroll so you don't see it.

You are starting the download. After you have completed it, you notice that the duration is longer than you had originally calculated. You can easily through the pre-installed iPhone app, trim the part you find unnecessary by tapping on the "Edit" option. Simply move the edges to the bottom. The piece that is inside the frame will be saved, while the rest will be cropped.

Make sure you have a plan

In the end, it's all about good planning. You don't need to have a whole production in the background, or a list of things to do. Just think about what you want to film before you hit the record button.

As a matter of fact, even if you don't have the extra equipment mentioned above, you can still shoot great videos with just your iPhone. Perhaps practicing your shooting techniques is the secret. That is, how you approach the element you want to capture, the way to avoid unnecessary elements in the shot, etc.

So when you decide exactly what is the topic you want to focus on, then pull it up. Besides, you can remove the unnecessary ones in the editing process. Difficult on the one hand, easy on the other, but not impossible.