Learning Center | Long Sleeve

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Record better videos on your phone. Navigate your video settings with ease. Learn how to record basic and b-roll and interviews. See our favourite accessories. All in the Smartphone Learning Center!

WHAT WE COVER:

Navigating your video settings

Resolution and Frame Rate

Aspect Ratio

Main Camera Settings

Microphone type

White balance

Focus

Exposure

In Android and iOS, gridlines and level can be turned on in Main Camera Settings.

How to read your specs

MP - Megapixels - The bigger the number, the more detail that can be captured.

#.##µm - Micrometers - The bigger the number, the larger the pixel and more light that can reach the sensor.

f/## - f-stops - (size of the aperture opening). The smaller the number the more light is able to reach the sensor.

#of mm - the smaller the number, the wider the field of view.

##fps - Frames Per Second - Standard broadcast in North America is 30 fps (25 fps in UK & Europe). Half speed slow motion is 60 fps. Slow motion at 25% is 120 fps.

Your Smartphone Camera and Recording Specs:

iPhone 15 & 15 Plus

2 MAIN CAMERAS:

48 MP, f/1.6, 26 mm (wide), 1.0µm, dual pixel PDAF, sensor-shift OIS
12 MP, f/2.4, 13 mm, 120° (ultrawide)

Features:
Dual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR (photo/panorama)

Video Resolution and Frame Rate:
4K@24/25/30/60fps,
1080p@25/30/60,
10-bit HDR, Dolby Vision HDR (up to 60fps),
Cinematic mode (4K@30fps), 3D (spatial) video, stereo sound rec.
Action mode up to 2.8K@60 fps

FRONT/SELFIE CAMERA:

12 MP, f/1.9, 23 mm (wide), 1/3.6", PDAF SL 3D (depth/biometrics)

Features:
HDR, Cinematic mode (4K@30fps)

Video:
4K@24/25/30/60fps, 1080p@25/30/60/120fps, gyro-EIS

Choosing which camera to use

Wide, Ultrawide, Telephoto, Selfie

Popular settings:

Wide or Selfie is the default camera depending on which side you are recording.

Telephoto or Periscope will achieve better quality when zooming in on a subject.

Ultrawide will capture a vast landscape or a large space.

It's challenging to get a smooth zoom with smartphones. To quickly zoom-in or out during recording, switch between cameras or touch the onscreen zoom factor you want. These factors are what your smartphone is able to capture optically through lenses. Zoom beyond these factors is digital and will degrade quality.

Pro Tip:

If your subject is beyond your optical zoom capabilities, record in a higher resolution such as 4K or 8K which will give you higher quality image and then zooming in in editing.

Check your optical zoom capabilities

Choosing frame rate and resolution

Popular settings:

FHD 30: For interviews, or any long form video recording. Also a good all-round default choice.

FHD 60: For quick moving sports/action videos, or for half speed slow motion.

UHD (4K) 30: For short b-roll clips and lots of flexibility in editing.

UHD (4K) 60: For shorter quick moving sports video clips, or for slow motion at half speed and flexibility in editing.

4K vs Full HD - 4K resolution but 4X the file sizes!

4K & 8K are amazing quality, but most office computers cannot handle the file sizes in editing and many internet connections cannot handle streaming in this resolution.

Best practice is to record your b-roll in 4K because they are shorter clips and won't take up too much space, however, they will give you lots of flexibility in editing. You can zoom in and reframe your shots and virtually get a few different options with one video clip!

Locate your recording options

iPhone video and recording settings are found through the main settings menu

Choosing focus

Popular settings

Automatic Touch a subject anywhere in the frame to select your focus point. Hold it down to lock focus in place.

Multi Select this option when there are multiple people or subjects in the shot.

Manual Adjust the onscreen focus wheel until you see green fringing around the subject you want in focus.

Looking for nice background blur? Place your subject with lots of separation from the background, and record in good lighting conditions. Make sure your focus is locked on your subjects face/eyes.

Focus wheel

Choosing Aspect Ratio

Popular settings

16:9 (landscape) for long form corporate videos, website videos and YouTube.

9:16 (portrait) for short form Stories, Reels and YouTube Shorts

1:1 (square) for social media posts and ads, also work nicely on websites optimized for mobile.

16:9 vs 9:16 - Be mindful of your choice because they can lock you in to a specific format for your final video. If you're stuck, you can crop your video file to 1:1 and add graphic to either the sides or top and bottom.

Choosing Microphone type

Popular settings

Phone - Defaults to internal microphone

USB - Will automatically recognize a USB connected microphone.

BT - Will recognize a Bluetooth connected microphone.

BT Mix - Bluetooth connected mixed with internal microphone Get background audio and interview audio at the same time.

For smartphones that have multiple microphones:

Omni directional picks up sound from everywhere, great if you're capturing background noise.

Front and for capturing sound from the screen side of the smartphone (person holding the phone).

Rear for capturing sound from a subject facing the back side of your smartphone.

Smartphones have "stereo" sound, meaning a left channel and a right channel, which you can monitor onscreen. It's hard to pinpoint audio levels by viewing, so it's always best to record test clips to ensure you are hearing your subject clearly.

Audio levels

Microphone direction

Press and hold on your subject to lock in AutoFocus and AutoExposure. This way your camera won't "hunt" for focus and exposure if light is changing. Works the same in Android and iOS.

Choosing Exposure (ISO, Shutter Speed & Aperture)

Automatic recommended

ISO, shutter speed and aperture work together to control the amount of light that hits your sensor and your smartphone does a good job of automatically adjusting them.

If you can tell that the picture is too dark or too bright, on Android you can adjust the EV value up or down to compensate but bumping it too much either way can degrade the quality of the image.

Achieving the right exposure is a complex mix of sensor and lens capabilities, shutter speed and available light. Smartphone technology is better than ever at achieving this automatically.

Choosing White balance

Automatic recommended

In automatic mode, your smartphone will adjust the white balance for you.

White balance helps the camera sensor know how to read the colours, in different lighting conditions by measuring light temperature (in Kelvins), using white as the reference. Light temperature that looks warm and glowy like candlelight measures between 1000 - 2000 Kelvin. Light temperature that casts a blue colour like overcast skies and reflective snow measures between 6000 - 8000 Kelvin.

If you are recording indoors there can be multiple light sources (fluorescent bulbs, light from windows) so it can be hard for the camera to detect true white. In editing, if the colours are off, you can "tell" the software what is white. But it's helpful to bring along a piece of white cardstock to hold up before an interview to help you get it right. This is especially important in achieving accurate skin tones.

Touch the "i" within any setting in Android Pro Video and you will get a pop-up with a quick reference. However, in this explanation, the reverse is true!

Preparing for an Interview checklist:

Capturing feedback directly from participants, employees and leadership about your programs can be powerful promotional material, and powerful insight for you!

1. Seek Permission. Speak to your interview subject in advance to seek their permission and review the goal of your interview.

2. Choose the location Try to do a site visit in advance, or ask (or search online) for photos and have a clear idea of what backdrop you want behind your subject. Remember the backdrop also tells a story!

3. Provide theme, not specific questions. Provide your subject with the theme of the interview, not the specific questions, and it helps to put them in the right frame of mind for the interview, ie: "I am looking for you to share your thoughts and experience with our program so that others can hear the benefits." Or, "I am looking for you to share how easy it is for people to join the program." Yes,

4. Prepare a model release. If the person you are interviewing does not belong to your organization, prepare a model release. If the interview subjects are either employees or "clients," check to see whether your organization has a photo/video release already signed.

5. Prepare a list of questions. Jot down a few questions for yourself that will help you get the content you need for your objective. Keep in mind the video length when deciding on the number of questions you have for your subject.

6. Stand up or sit down? If you want the interview and subject to be more lively and animated - a stand up interview is the way to go. If you want the interview to be more settled and thoughtful, sit down is best.

On the field Interview Checklist:

Interview and audio recording are important components to video storytelling. Follow this checklist to be more prepared and confident in capturing meaningful personal stories to support your video content.

Simple schematic for an interview set up.

Remember to record a test clip to make sure you've got your audio levels and framing correct.

Model releases are good practice to ensure you can use the interview material for as long as you need without risk.

1. Find a backdrop that suits the interview. Remember, the backdrop tells the story! Find a location that supports your story. Take the noise level into consideration. Ambient noise is okay, construction noise or noise that doesn't suit the scene can be confusing for the viewer.

2. Ensure the lighting is sufficient to see the subject clearly. If you have a video light, turn it on. Select the correct colour temperature and intensity for the scene.

3. Position your camera on your tripod. Position it at the subject's chin level, approximately six feet from them. Ensure they are at least six feet from walls or other background and there are no shadows on the wall behind them.

4. Check your settings, framing, and level with the subject in the frame.

5. Connect the microphone. Connect the receiver to your phone and place the transmitter on the subject's lapel, directly below their mouth. Ensure the both units have solid green lights.

6. Position your interview subject. Tell the subject which way they will be positioned and what they will be looking at (the interviewer, not the camera).

7. Set expectations. Remind the subject what you will be asking them about, approximate number of questions, expected length of their response. If your question will not be heard in the final video, tell them to re-phrase the question in their response, ie: "The reason I started coming to the [insert name here] program, is because..."

8. Record a test audio clip. Have the interview subject say their name, title, organization and get them to answer a short ice-breaking question, such as, "Describe where we are today." Record it, stop the interview, replay the clip to ensure everything is working correctly and then begin the interview.

10. Relax your interviewee. If the subject is nervous. Remind them that you are just having a conversation. If they want to start a response again, honour their request. Suggest they take a breath and shake out their shoulders.

11. Control the responses. If the responses are too long or too short, ask the subject to answer the question again with direction on length or the content you would like them to restate, ie "In a couple of sentences, tell me why you love this program."

12. Leave time after a response. Tell your interview subject to pause for a few seconds after a response and make sure you leave a moment before you ask the next question. You'll be thankful in editing!

13. Thank them for their time and get them to sign a model release!

Preparing to record B-Roll checklist:

Preparing your equipment in advance will help remove stress and uncertainty when you are on the field!

1. Check your smartphone operating system (OS). If it's not the latest version, update your phone's OS.

2. Charge and check batteries. Ensure your smartphone, audio devices (microphones), lights and any other tools you will be using are fully charged.

3. Check your available storage space. If you haven't, upload your existing video material to cloud storage to free up space. Free gmail accounts come with 15 GB of free cloud storage. Use it as a temporary storage until you can download on your desktop or laptop computer.

4. Make a plan. Make a list of must-haves for shots: scene setting shots, shots connecting the subject to the scene, detail shots. This will make you more efficient on the field. (see Recording B-rolls for ideas)

5. Pack your gear! And don't forget the lens cleaners!

On the field B-Roll checklist:

B-Roll is all the recorded video and photo material that is not the primary footage. Or it can be the storytelling clips you use with a voiceover or onscreen text.

1. Scene setting b-roll: Wide shots of a setting where your story is "set." People want to see the spaces and locations where your programs take place. Set your video cameras to wide angle (~20 mm is generally the focal length for wide). If the space is vast and you want to show that, you can use the ultra-wide camera on your phone. Just beware of distortion on either side of the frame.

2. Action shots: Medium shots of a few individuals playing or participating in an activity are best as wide shots can capture a lot of dead space and not look that action-y. If you're too zoomed in, it can be hard to keep the subjects in the frame and the shots may look too frantic and unstable.

3. Reaction/Detail shots: Close ups of participants, their equipment, their faces, a single action such as a hand dribbling a ball. Great for showing emotion, effort, skill.

Camera Movement - Tripod/Hand

1. The pan - Move the phone from right to left or vice versa in a slow, smooth motion for capturing landscapes and wide settings. Shots should be at least 10 seconds long with a pause at either end. Remember, people are processing what they are seeing. For best results, use a tripod or gimbal OR a super steady hand :)

2. The tilt - Tilt the phone slowly from low to high or vice versa, for capturing an object with height or scale OR to build drama to reveal a feature.

3. Zoom in/out - Difficult to master with a smartphone unless you have an accessory that helps with smoothness. For best results, switch cameras from wide to telephoto by tapping "1.5 x" or "2.0 x".

Level up your B-Roll

with motion

Smartphones are PORTABLE and have built in stabilization so you can easily move around while recording with them. And, if you have a handheld gimbal, the possibilities are endless, so have FUN!

Motion Movement - Handheld/Gimbal

Instead of a PAN - Try walking with your smartphone and scanning a scene by walking and moving to one direction, or vice versa.

Instead of a TILT- Put the camera down low and lift the camera up to reveal a person or a feature. Or start with the camera high up and move it downward.

Instead of ZOOM IN/OUT - Try the push in/push out by walking directly to the subject or away from the subject.

ADD IN:

WALKING shots - Moving with the smartphone in hand through a space is a dynamic way to explore or discover spaces. They put the viewer into the space.

For best results, use a slow, even pace when moving the smartphone. B-roll video clips should be at least 10 - 20 seconds in length with a pause at both the beginning and the end of the clip.

Remember to turn on gridlines and your level and follow the rule of thirds.

Tips for sharing videos direct to social media

Starting with short-form content, read below where we explore the benefits and drawbacks of each social format and how to maximize impact when your posting content.

Facebook/Instagram Stories:

Aspect Ratio: 9:16, 1:1 or 4:5 (with fill in)

Resolution: 1080 x 1920

Length: 15 - 60 seconds

Pros:

Appears at top of feeds
Great for upcoming events
Builds brand presence
Minimal production time
Can use copyrighted music

Cons:

Can only be seen by friends, friends of accounts you have tagged if their sharing privileges are turned on.
Disappear after 24 hours

Stories Best Practices:

Keep the individual story videos to 15 seconds or less.
Make the first few frames compelling to grab attention.
Ensure your branding is visible!
Post multiple stories per day to develop your narrative of the event or theme you are sharing. Keep it between 3-5.
Add engagement like polls, questions or call-to-actions.

Facebook/Instagram/TikTok Reels:

Aspect Ratio: 9:16, 1:1 or 4:5 (with fill in)

Resolution: 1080 x 1920

Length: 15 seconds - 3 minutes

Pros:

Can be shared across social channels
In-app video templates available
Audience-friendly format
Builds followers beyond your "friends"
On-trend
Can use copyrighted music
Long-lasting

Cons:

Must be timely content to gain traction
Can get lost in volumes of content
Difficult to control and track how it's shared and whether others are using or misusing it.
Lots of onscreen icons/distraction

Reels Best Practices:

Use on-screen text or captions.
Level up your editing skills or use popular templates.
Make your branding is visible!
Add hashtags relevant to your audience or content
Encourage and respond to comments to boost the algorithm.
Post your reels across platforms.
Experiment with trends. You never know, you might "blow-up!"
Incorporate trending music.

YouTube Shorts:

Aspect Ratio: 9:16, 1:1 or 4:5 (with fill in)

Resolution: 1080 x 1920

Length: 15 - 60 seconds

Pros:

Prominent position on YouTube feeds
Great for teasing content
Builds brand presence
Re-edits mean minimal production time
On-trend

Cons:

Not desktop-friendly
Lots of onscreen icons/distraction

Shorts Best Practices:

Use on-screen text or captions.
Make your branding is visible!
Add hashtags relevant to your audience or content
Encourage and respond to comments to boost the algorithm.
Post your reels across platforms.
Experiment with trends. You never know, you might "blow-up!"
Don't use copyright music.

Stories

Reels

Shorts

Best practices for uploading a video to YouTube

Long form

YouTube:

Aspect Ratio: 16:9

Resolution: Up to 8K

Length: Unlimited

Pros:

Optimized for Google searches
Most widely-watched streaming platform in the world
Built-in translation
Unlimited storytelling possibilities
Diverse content/wide audience

Cons:

Higher quality editing/content expectations
Only 3rd party video templates available.

YouTube Best Practices:

Write a clear, catchy title to describe your video with relevant keywords.
Make use of the description to include links and additional narrative you would like to include.
Add hashtags in the description that are relevant to your audience and also use keywords.
Under "Show More" in the YouTube Details window, add keyword tags if your title and description may have alternate interpretations, e.g. if you've used the word "smartphone" exclusively, you may want Tags that provide alternates to smartphone, such as "mobile phone" "cell phone" "mobile."

YouTube:

Aspect Ratio: 16:9

Resolution: Up to 8K

Length: Unlimited

Pros:

Optimized for Google searches
Most widely-watched streaming platform in the world
Built-in translation
Unlimited storytelling possibilities
Diverse content/wide audience

Cons:

Higher quality editing/content expectations
Only 3rd party templates available
Ads can break up viewing

YouTube Best Practices:

Write a clear, catchy title to describe your video using keywords.
Make use of the description to include links and additional narrative you would like to include.
Add hashtags in the description that are relevant to your audience and also use keywords.
Under "Show More" in the YouTube Details window, add keyword tags if your title and description have alternate interpretations, e.g. if you've used the word "smartphone" exclusively, you may want Tags that provide alternatives, such as "mobile phone", "cell phone," and mobile.

Tips for sharing videos in social media posts:

When you've created a video you want to share in a social media post, here are some tips to get better exposure and engagement.

Social posts

Best practices for creating a video social post

1. Write a caption or a question that captures your audience and includes key words people may be searching.

2. Use emojis to break up text and draw the reader in.

3. Add a call-to-action, people are naturally looking for how to take the next step.

4. Tag other accounts and locations, to improve which searches you appear in.

5. Add a cover image or thumbnail, to control how your video looks in the social feed.

6. Add a few hashtags that may expose your post to a wider audience.

7. Engage with comments to create connections and improve your reach.

Useful smartphone accessories & why we like them

Smartphone tripod 85"

Amazon

Best Buy

Nineigh Selfie Stick Tripod

Great height for flexible uses

Cold-shoe mount on smartphone holder for lights or shotgun microphone.

Adjustible "head" for tilting.

Flex head for lower angles.

Remote recording

$35 CAD

Bluetooth Lavalier Microphones

Amazon

OSA Lavalier Microphone (USB-C version)

Easy to use.

Easy to see battery life.

Quick connection.

Two transmitters for two-person interviews.

Clip on puffs for wind protection.

$50 CAD

*USBC Version Pictured. Also comes in Lightning Version for iPhone.

USBC Shotgun Microphone

Amazon

Memory Express

Rode Directional Shotgun Microphone

Easy to use.

Quick connection.

Clip on puffs for wind protection.

High quality sound.

Has 3.5 input for audio monitoring with headphones.

Comes with puff for wind protection.

$109 CAD

Bi-colour Video Light

Amazon

SmallRig RGB 120

Easy to use.

Excellent battery life.

Powerful light (1580 LUX)

Comes with silicone diffuser for softer lighting.

Comes with cold shoe mounting hardware

Can activate lighting effects like different colours, or settings.

$82 CAD

Handheld 3 axis Gimbal Stabilizer

It's fun to use!

Can be extended like a selfie stick for higher or lower shots

Tripod legs can be removed for mounting on a tripod.

Connects with DJI Mimo App, where you can use video templates (helps you master shots!) and edit.

Tracking feature works amazing. (It even surprised us!)

Lightweight

Easy to connect to your phone.

$205 CAD

Your Smartphone Camera and Recording Specs:

Preparing for an Interview checklist:

On the field Interview Checklist:

Preparing to record B-Roll checklist:

On the field B-Roll checklist:

Level up your B-Roll

with motion

Coming soon!

Tips for sharing videos direct to social media

Stories

Reels

Shorts

Long form

Tips for sharing videos in social media posts:

Social posts

Useful smartphone accessories & why we like them

Amazon

Best Buy

Amazon

Amazon

Memory Express

Amazon

Amazon

Best Buy

London Drugs

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Your Smartphone Camera and Recording Specs: