Green screen? Light diffuser? Mask? Don't worry, you don't need a professional studio to make a decent video. Creating videos with your cell phone is easier and more accessible than ever these days.
Nevertheless, there are a few small tools that can help to raise the quality of your videos to a professional level. Here are some tools that we at StoryBox particularly recommend to get the best out of your recordings.External microphone - essential⚠️for clear sound
Your phone's internal microphone is rarely good enough for high-quality video recording, regardless of its price range. The sound is often muffled and unclear and captures all kinds of ambient noise, especially in rooms with other people or machines, which can significantly reduce the professionalism of the video. 🙉 In our opinion, an external microphone is therefore not a nice-to-have but a MUST!
Bluetooth lavalier microphone: A compact clip-on microphone connected via Bluetooth immediately improves the audio quality and is easy to use. For outdoor recordings, we also recommend a small windshield🌬️ to minimize background noise. These are also available in the double-digit price range - this investment is always worthwhile!
Additional option - club microphone: In interview situations, a club microphone 🎤can be useful as it not only improves the audio quality, but also helps to reassure the interviewee as they can hold something in their hand. This also means it is always clear who is speaking.
Ring light - Optimal lighting
Light is one of the most important factors for a high-quality video. A ring light💫 ensures even lighting and prevents unsightly shadows. Whether small for on the go or large for studio recordings, a ring light immediately improves the image quality by illuminating the speaker's face perfectly.
Tripod - for stable recordings
A tripod is an indispensable tool if you want to achieve shake-free recordings.🗿 A tripod ensures that the camera remains steady and the image section is constant, especially if you are working alone and recording yourself or during longer recordings or interviews. There are compact tripods that are easy to transport and suitable for any filming location.
Gimbal - for smooth movements
If you want to shoot scenes where the camera is in motion, it is worth using a gimbal. This electronic stabilizer compensates for vibrations and jerky movements and ensures smooth, flowing shots 🏞️.
Teleprompter for the cell phone
A small teleprompter can be helpful when longer texts need to be spoken fluently. 🧾 However, we advise you to speak freely as often as possible. The viewer quickly notices when the text is read out and this can come across as less authentic. For people who feel insecure in front of the camera or have to make complex statements, a teleprompter can be a useful aid at the beginning.
Selfie mirror
If you're shooting alone but still want to use your phone's high-quality rear camera, a phone mount with a small mirror🪞can be helpful. This allows you to check the framing and composition without having to constantly turn around. But make sure you're still looking directly at the camera* and not at your own reflection!
Prepare your voice
The voice is an essential part of every video. To guarantee clear and pleasant voice recordings, we recommend using a product such as GeloRevoice®. 🗣️ This oil helps to relax the voice and thus improves voice quality during recording.
Powder - for shine-free skin
Especially in front of the camera, it can quickly happen that the face becomes shiny. A light dusting of powder prevents this and ensures a professional appearance. There are special mattifying powders that refresh the skin without weighing it down. 🎭 Therefore, always have an emergency baby powder in your drawer.
Additional tips
- Additional batteries or power bank: An additional power source is very useful for longer shoots. Nobody wants to run out of energy in the middle of a shoot.
- Sufficient storage space or cloud storage: Videos are heavy data! To have enough storage space and reduce the load on your phone, you can save videos directly in the cloud ☁️ or save them on an external storage device.
- Light diffusers: If you are already using a light source such as a ring light or softbox, a diffuser can help to make the light🕯️smoother and therefore provide more pleasant lighting.
Conclusion
With these small tools, you are well equipped to produce high-quality videos with your cell phone. The right technique and the right equipment can make a difference and raise your video to a professional level. If you have any questions or need support, the StoryBox team is always on hand to help - we look forward to your creative projects!