Sometimes, hiring a videographer or photographer is not in the budget. But what if we told you that you don’t need one. 

Sure, it’s nice to have professional photos for those big-time events, but what about the volunteer night you’re hosting? Grab your phone and get ready to capture with our four tips for using your phone for content creation. 

Know which orientation 

The first step to capturing content with your phone is understanding what you’re capturing content for. Are you creating a Reel with your photos and videos? Make sure to shoot in portrait orientation (phone should be vertical). Are you pulling together a YouTube video to celebrate an accomplishment? You’re looking for content that is landscape orientation (phone should be horizontal). 

By understanding where your content is going, you can capture content in a way that makes sense for the user. 

Decide video vs. photo 

We also suggest thinking through what should be a video and what should be a photo. For example, if you’re looking to create a Reel, you probably want to capture a lot of vertical video and not a lot of photos. If you’re looking to create a carousel post on Instagram and an album on Facebook, you probably want to capture a lot of imagery. 

When prepping for an event, consider creating a quick note in your phone with a shot list so you know what you’d like to capture before you leave. When in doubt, capture a little bit of everything. 

Understand the rule of thirds 

Consider the rule of thirds as a rule of thumb for shooting photos and videos. The rule of thirds suggests that placing your subject in the left or right third of an image and leaving the other two thirds more open is the best composition for a photo or video interview shot. 

And while we have to agree that they really are the best, consider at least having your subject in the left, center or right third. This will help you have a more balanced photo/video (and make you look even more like a professional!).

Invest in some (inexpensive) tools 

We know what you’re thinking — we were just talking about how expensive photographers and videographers can be, so why are we talking about buying things? But a few inexpensive tools can go a long way! 

Consider purchasing a phone tripod stand to help stabilize your photos and videos. Many tripods also come with a remote to help with taking group photos without a photographer present. Also consider purchasing wireless mics to attach to your interview subjects. This will help enhance the audio of your videos. What’s next? Pulling together content from your photos and videos can be a challenge. That’s where our team comes in! Looking for a partner to support your storytelling efforts? Catalyst Collective can help! Contact us here to learn how.