Rehearsing for Success. The best video is the one you practice

Smartphones make it easy to capture video of life’s important moments. From concert footage of your favorite band to milestone events like graduations and weddings, there are so many special moments worth recording. Don’t risk the results by being unprepared.

In advance

The video camera on your phone is an amazing tool. And like with any tool, you need to practice to get the most out of it.

Familiarize yourself with the settings and features to use them effectively. Do test shoots to learn and adjust.

Holding a phone steady is harder than you think. If you notice your practice videos are shaky, try using a selfie stick, gimbal stabilizer or tripod.

Take your videos up a notch with editing apps. These apps allow for color corrections and audio adjustments, as well as transitions, cuts and captions to produce an enhanced video.

Be as prepared as possible by thinking ahead. Start with a full battery. If you are planning to shoot a long video or multiple videos, consider a portable battery pack. Check your phone’s available storage capacity. During a shoot is the wrong time to realize you are out of space.

In the moment

Once the camera is rolling, be aware of your phone’s settings and your surroundings.

Switch your phone to airplane mode to avoid interruptions from calls or notifications. Make sure your lens is clean.

Position yourself in the optimal location. It is better to be closer to your subject than to use the zoom function. Remember, while filming in landscape mode is best for traditional video, some social media platforms prefer vertical formats. Choose the best approach for your end goal.

Think about the lighting and sound. Pick a spot that is well-lit and close to the sound. If possible, use a microphone to improve sound quality.

Tap the record button, then double-check that you are recording.

Storage options

Now that you’ve shot that great video, you’ll want to store it somewhere safe.
Physical external storage options include USB-C flash drives, SD cards and external solid state or hard drives. External storage means a one-time purchase of a device that gives you full control of your files.

Using a cloud storage service means that your videos and other files are stored with a third party. Some may offer a small amount of storage free of charge to their users. For example, Google provides 15 GB free for Google accounts. Additional storage is available for a monthly fee, maxing out at 2 TB for $9.99 per month.

Amazon Prime members have access to 5 GB of free video storage from Amazon Photo. The free level also includes unlimited storage for photos. Additional video storage plans start at $1.99 a month. iPhone users start with 5 GB of free storage through iCloud. They can upgrade to iCloud+ options, which range from 50 GB up to an impressive 12 TB.