If you want to capture stunning videos with your iPhone, you don’t need to spend a lot of money on fancy equipment or software. You just need to know some basic tips and tricks to make the most of your phone’s camera. Here are five ways to improve your iPhone video quality and impress your viewers.

1. Choose the right resolution and frame rate

Your iPhone can record at different resolutions and frame rates, depending on your model and settings. Resolution refers to the number of pixels in your video, while frame rate refers to how many frames per second (fps) your video shows. Higher resolution and frame rate mean higher quality, but also larger file size and faster battery drain.

To film good quality videos on iPhone, you can:

• Switch to 4K resolution to give your video a boost. 4K has four times more pixels than 1080p, which is the standard HD resolution. This means your video will look sharper and more detailed, especially on larger screens. To change your resolution, go to Settings > Camera > Record Video and choose 4K at 24 fps, 30 fps or 60 fps¹².
• Shoot at 24 frames per second (fps) for a cinematic look. You can also change the fps to suit your subject and where you post. For example, 30 fps is good for most situations, while 60 fps is ideal for fast action or slow motion. To change your frame rate, go to Settings > Camera > Record Video and choose your preferred option³².
• Turn off “HDR Video” and “View Outside Frame” to avoid distractions. HDR Video is a feature that automatically adjusts the exposure and contrast of your video to make it look more balanced and realistic. However, it can also cause flickering or artifacts in some scenes. View Outside Frame is a feature that shows you what’s outside the frame of your video, so you can adjust your composition. However, it can also make your screen look cluttered and confusing. To turn off these features, go to Settings > Camera and toggle them off¹.

2. Use the grid and macro control for better composition and focus

Your iPhone has some handy tools that can help you compose and focus your shots better.

• Turn on “Grid” to help you align your shots with the rule of thirds. The rule of thirds is a principle that divides your frame into nine equal parts with two horizontal and two vertical lines. The idea is to place your subject or points of interest along these lines or at their intersections, to create a more balanced and interesting composition. To turn on the grid, go to Settings > Camera and toggle it on¹.
• Turn on “Macro Control” to help you focus on close-up subjects. Macro Control is a feature that lets you adjust the focus distance of your camera manually, so you can get sharp and clear shots of small objects or details. To turn on Macro Control, go to Settings > Camera and toggle it on¹. Then, when you’re in the Camera app, tap on the flower icon at the bottom left corner and drag the slider to adjust the focus distance.

3. Lock the exposure and focus for consistent results

Your iPhone’s camera automatically adjusts the exposure (how bright or dark your video is) and focus (how sharp or blurry your video is) based on what it detects in the frame. However, this can cause problems if you’re moving around or if there are changes in lighting or movement in your scene. To avoid sudden shifts in exposure or focus that can ruin your video, you can lock them manually.

• To lock the exposure and focus, tap and hold on the screen where you want them to be set until you see a yellow box with AE/AF LOCK at the top³². This will lock both the exposure and focus at that point until you tap again to unlock them.
• To lock only the exposure or only the focus, tap once on the screen where you want them to be set until you see a yellow box with a sun icon (for exposure) or a square icon (for focus) at the top³. Then, swipe up or down on the screen to adjust them manually. You can also tap on another part of the screen to change them again.

4. Use natural light or invest in a lighting kit

Lighting is one of the most important factors that affect your video quality. Good lighting can make your video look more vivid, clear, and professional, while bad lighting can make your video look dull, grainy, and amateurish. Ideally, you want to use natural light as much as possible, as it gives the most flattering and realistic colors and tones to your video. However, natural light can also be unpredictable and inconsistent, depending on the time of day, weather, and location.

To get the best natural light for your video, you can:

• Shoot outdoors in daylight or in a well-lit room with large windows⁴.
• Avoid direct sunlight or harsh shadows that can create overexposed or underexposed areas in your video⁴.
• Use a reflector or a white sheet to bounce or diffuse the light and create a softer and more even illumination⁴.

If you don’t have access to natural light or if you want more control over your lighting, you can invest in a lighting kit that includes artificial lights and accessories. There are many types of lights you can use, such as LED panels, ring lights, softboxes, and umbrellas. You can also use different accessories, such as diffusers, filters, gels, and stands, to modify the intensity, color, and direction of your lights.

To get the best artificial light for your video, you can:

• Use at least three lights: one key light (the main light that illuminates your subject), one fill light (a secondary light that fills in the shadows created by the key light), and one backlight (a light that separates your subject from the background and creates depth)⁴.
• Adjust the position, angle, and distance of your lights to create different effects and moods in your video⁴.
• Experiment with different colors and temperatures of your lights to match the tone and style of your video⁴.

5. Use a tripod or a gimbal for stable shots

Stability is another key factor that affects your video quality. Stable shots can make your video look more professional and smooth, while shaky shots can make your video look amateurish and distracting. To avoid camera shake and motion blur in your video, you need to stabilize your iPhone while recording.

The easiest way to stabilize your iPhone is to use a tripod or a gimbal. A tripod is a stand that holds your phone steady on a flat surface. A gimbal is a device that uses motors and sensors to counteract any movement or vibration of your phone. Both of these accessories can help you capture smooth and steady shots without using your hands.

To get the best stable shots with your iPhone, you can:

• Use a tripod for static shots or slow pans³. A tripod is ideal for situations where you don’t need to move around much or where you want to capture a fixed perspective or angle. You can also use a tripod to create smooth horizontal movements by rotating it left or right.
• Use a gimbal for dynamic shots or fast movements³. A gimbal is ideal for situations where you need to move around a lot or where you want to capture a fluid and flexible perspective or angle. You can also use a gimbal to create smooth vertical movements by tilting it up or down.

There are many types of tripods and gimbals available for iPhones, ranging from cheap and simple to expensive and advanced. Some examples are:

• The Manfrotto Pixi Mini Tripod ($24.95), which is a compact and lightweight tripod that can also be used as a handheld grip¹.
• The DJI Osmo Mobile 2 ($129), which is a handheld gimbal that offers various modes and features such as ActiveTrack (which automatically follows your subject), Timelapse (which creates fast-motion videos), Motionlapse (which creates moving timelapses), Hyperlapse (which creates stabilized timelapses), Zoom Control (which lets you zoom in and out with a slider), Panorama (which creates panoramic photos), Slow Motion (which records slow-motion videos), Live Stream (which lets you stream live videos to social media platforms), and Story Mode (which lets you create short videos with music and filters)³.

These are just some of the tips and tricks you can use to get the best quality video out of your iPhone. Of course, there are many other factors that can affect your video quality, such as sound, editing, color grading, effects, etc. But by following these basic guidelines, you can improve your iPhone video quality significantly and impress your viewers with stunning videos.