Guide to Filming with an iPhone

Are you ready to shoot stunning content with your iPhone? Before you begin, here are several things you should consider: 

Should You Shoot in 4K? -  iPhones can record in various HD formats, including 720p, 1080p, and 4K. For the highest video image quality, 4K resolution is the best choice. However, be mindful that 4K footage will take up a lot of space on your device. Remember, you can also change your resolution by going to the camera settings app on your iPhone.  

Always Use a tripod - Although the newest iPhones have built-in optical image stabilization, which makes shooting handheld footage easy, there's nothing worse than shaky footage. Regardless of how steady your hands are, stabilize your shots by putting your phone on a tripod.

Lock​​​​​ Your Exposure and Focus - iPhones automatically focus and expose your shot. In some situations this feature is helpful, but auto-adjusting and refocusing can cause jittery-looking footage. To avoid this, use AE/AF Lock to ensure your focus and exposure stays constant throughout your video.

To learn more about the newest features, techniques, and equipment needed to create cinematic footage with your iPhone, join us for iPhone Cinematography on Friday, May 14th. Plus, visit mnn.org/learn to browse our upcoming free and low-cost classes.