Iphone Cinematography Tips
As we already mentioned, cinematography is a very popular way to take creative pictures with your smartphone. There are many ways to add some depth to your photos by filming different scenarios or incorporating additional equipment into the picture.
With that being said, there are several tools you can use to enhance the look of your photo considerably. Some are free while others cost a few dollars. No matter what level photographer you are, these apps will help you expand your creativity.
Learn to use all of the different recording settings
Recording settings are an integral part of filming with your smartphone or DSLR camera. There are many types of recordings you can make with your device, and most smart phones have at least one setting that beginners should know how to use.
The first is what’s called “Snapseye” mode. This simply requires you to hold up your phone so someone else can video chat with you while you press the record button to start capturing footage.
There are several more advanced settings like time lapse videos or longer self-produced movies. By using these modes, you will be able to add some cinematic flair to your creations!
I hope this article inspired you to begin experimenting with mobile film production by learning the basics of recording settings.
Learn to use all of the different photo editing settings
One of the most important things is learning how to use the various photo editing apps effectively. There are so many options available now, with new ones being added every month!
Some of these apps have you create your own stories or films using their built in features, but lots don’t. What if there was an app that allowed you to add music? Or one that gave you the option to include text? Or one that let you add special effects? The possibilities are endless!
Luckily, there are no such limitations within Photoshop, for example. You can easily edit pictures down to the level where it is almost unrecognizable as a photograph! With all of those tools at your disposal, why not try experimenting with them?
There are several free resources online that can help get you started, so do some research first before diving into paid software like Photoshop or Lightroom.
Take pictures of your surroundings using natural light
As we mentioned before, lighting is one of the key components in cinematographic photography. When shooting with an iPhone, there are several ways to achieve this.
One of these is by taking pictures outside or use flash as main source of light. Both of these can be tricky when done wrong! If the sun is not at the right angle or if it is very bright, then using flash will not work.
Instead, take advantage of any available natural light that you can find. Use open windows or doors as cover for the shot so that it does not look too dark. Add some ambient glow from streetlights or other sources to give your photo more depth.
By being aware of local photoshoot locations and environments, you will have better chances of getting great photos.
Use the “sunlight” setting to your advantage
When filming in bright natural light, you have two main settings to choose from: Overcast or Sunny Day. While filming in sunny days can produce some beautiful shots, it also may require you to use more advanced camera techniques to get those beautifully blurred backgrounds.
When choosing between these two, I would suggest using the overcast mode first to get some initial footage that captures just how good nature is with its beauty. Once you get this, switch to the sunnier day setting for extended videos or even individual scenes.
By doing so, you will still get great photos but you won’t need to worry about getting that golden glow of sunlight when editing the video later.
Use a reflector to brighten up your subject
A cool way to add more depth of field is by using a bounce flash or even a regular flash with a white paper or tissue as a reflective surface. This will cause the light to bounce off the surface and be dispersed, adding some overall brightness to the image!
By having this extra exposure time, you can keep people in focus while also giving them some additional coverage. It is very important that you are able to test out your settings before shooting so there are no surprises!
You want to make sure everything functions properly and doesn’t overheat.
Get a good tripod
A good, sturdy tripod is a must for every cinematographer. You can pick up low-priced tripods at garage sales or thrift stores, but it should not be cheap! They are very expensive investments that really pay off in improving your film production quality.
A professional grade tripod will cost around $500-$1,000. The longer leg length settings are better than short ones because this allows you to use wider lenses which capture more of the scene being filmed. Lengt hight legs allow you to lower the camera closer to the ground which creates deeper depth of field (blurred background). This effect looks great when filming landscapes or still life scenes.
The ball bearing adjustment levers are much smoother than pin lock ones - they feel higher quality. However, do note that these require you to tighten each joint slightly tighter, so if you struggle with this make sure to practice before a big shoot!
We recommend BSA31080B as it has smooth engagement, does not need extra tightening, and is relatively inexpensive.
Practice making post-production edits
After you take your first few pictures with your new camera, switch it up! Take more photos, try different angles, and do not feel limited to only taking closeup or landscape shots.
Photographers edit their images in software such as Photoshop or Lightroom, so why not get familiar with these programs now? There are many free resources available online that can help you learn how to use them quickly.
Some of the things you will be doing include cropping, adjusting brightness, contrast, colors, and textures. All of these changes affect what final image people end up viewing your picture as.
Your initial pictures may also need some slight retouching to remove any distortion, clutter, or other problems.
Create a mood board
In addition to having fun with your pictures, what kind of photos you take also impacts how people perceive your photography. If you are trying to create romantic images, then there are some very specific things you should be aware of when taking photographs.
If you would like to add some natural beauty into your pictures, then knowing about light is an important thing to do. Just making sure your camera has good quality photo-taking tools such as a back-illuminator or shutter button de-clicker can help make beautiful nature shots.
Thinking about your phone as a tool for capturing beautiful scenes makes it more accessible to newer photographers.