Smartphones are powerful tools for newsgathering and storytelling. The devices can connect us to a world of information and data, capture high-quality video and audio, and even live stream events as they unfold. However, technology is only part of the equation; you need to know how to use these smartphones efficiently and effectively to produce quality work.Â
So, here are a few tips for creating short news videos on your smartphone.
#1 Practice on Your Own
The first step in creating short news clips is to practice. You can do this with a friend or family member by having them act out different scenarios and playing them back.
Or, you can simply film yourself walking through your neighborhood, sitting on the beach, or walking into a store. The point is to get all of the camera settings right so that when you have real news stories to film, you’ll be ready for anything!
Here are some more things to think about as you practice: How will I hold my phone? Do I need an external microphone?* What kind of light source do I have available? Is it bright enough for what I’m filming?* Where will my focal point be (i.e., where am I going with this)? If it’s not clear from the start then how long should each clip be before someone understands what they just watched? Are there any other people around who might want their voices recorded too?
#2 Think about What You Want to Capture
Think about what you want to capture. Take a moment and think about the story you want to tell, the message you want to convey, and how your audience can benefit from this information.
Think about the people you’re reaching. Think about what kind of mood or feeling it is that you need to create for each piece of content for them to be most effective at engaging with your audience.
#3 Set the Right Mood
The next step is to consider the mood of your video. This can be tricky because it’s hard to predict what you’ll find when you’re shooting, but there are a few things you can do to help ensure that the clip has the right feel.
Let’s start with the background and lighting. Are there any windows in or near your shot? If so, think about whether they would provide an interesting view of a cityscape or other landmark. You could even try filming inside at night to capture some extra darkness and create suspense around what will happen next!
You may also want to think about where you’re shooting: what’s nearby? What landmarks are out there? Does this place have special meaning for anyone involved with creating this news clip? For example, if someone recorded their own story while they were abroad on vacation, then where they were traveling might help add context and intrigue to their story—and make them seem even more relatable!
#4 Do Not Forget the Captions
While you can certainly get away with not including captions, it is important to consider the importance of captioning your news clip. Captions are essential for accessibility, SEO, and social media sharing.
- Captions help people with disabilities understand what’s being said in videos.
- Adding captions to your video content helps search engines understand what’s being said in a video and improve search results. This is particularly helpful if you upload videos onto YouTube or Vimeo that have voice-over narration but no subtitles (which some viewers prefer).
- Many social media channels require that uploaded videos have closed-captioning so that they can be shared across platforms like Facebook and Twitter.
You can also generate automatic captions using apps like BIGVU. BIGVU’s teleprompter app also acts as a teleprompter, which is a vital necessity for newsreaders. So, having the app will let you work on both areas at the same time.
#5 Look for Interesting Details
The next step is looking for interesting details that you can show in your video. You should be looking for details that will help you make your video more interesting. For example, if you’re filming an interview with a person who talks about their love of dogs, look for ways to add dogs into the scene. If your subject is sitting on a bench outside of their house, have them show off their pet dog as they tell you about it.
#6 Emphasize the Sound
The next tip is to make sure you are capturing the sound you want in addition to the images. It’s best to use a microphone and get as close to your subject as possible, but if you don’t have one, try recording audio with another device and sync it up later on your computer. You can also use a tripod for both your smartphone camera and microphone. This will help eliminate any shaky clips from being recorded by hand.
Finally, remember that each of these tips applies more so when filming longer segments rather than short news clips; however, if you follow all seven tips above then your videos should turn out great either way!
We hope these tips will help you improve your smartphone news video creation.