How to Take Good Videos With Your Phone: 15 Easy Tips and Tricks

Your phone shoots better video than a lot of the cameras pros used not that long ago. So why do so many clips end up dark, shaky, muffled or sideways? It's not the phone. It's a few small habits.

Here are my favourite tips, iPhone and Android, for engagement nights, weddings (as a couple or a guest) and the rest of life too.

Before you hit record

1. Wipe the lens

Seriously. Your phone lives in pockets and hands, and a smudge turns every light into a foggy glow. A quick wipe with a soft cloth (or a clean corner of your shirt) is the easiest upgrade there is.

2. Pick your settings once

• iPhone: Settings > Camera > Record Video. 4K at 30 fps is a great everyday choice. Pick 60 fps if you want smoother motion for dancing and action, but it takes more space.
• Android: open the camera app, switch to Video, and tap the settings or resolution icon (on Samsung it's usually right on the screen, on Pixel it's in the settings menu). Pick 4K and 30 or 60 fps if your phone offers it.
• Want slow-mo for the confetti toss or the bouquet throw? Use the Slo-mo (iPhone) or Slow motion (Android) mode.

3. Check storage and battery

4K video fills a phone fast. Clear old stuff or back it up before a big day, and start fully charged. A small power bank in a pocket or purse saves the night.

4. Turn on Do Not Disturb (or Airplane mode)

A call or a buzzing notification can interrupt your clip or spoil the sound. Two taps, no drama.

Getting the shot

5. Light is everything

Face the light, don't shoot into it. Put windows, string lights or the sunset beside or behind you, not behind the people you're filming. Golden hour (the hour before sunset) makes everybody look amazing.

6. Keep it steady

• Hold the phone with two hands and tuck your elbows in.
• Lean on a wall, a table or a chair back.
• Move slowly, and walk with soft knees if you're following someone.
• Turn on stabilization: Action mode on newer iPhones, or Enhanced / Super Steady stabilization on many Androids (great for walking, a bit softer in low light).

7. Don't pinch to zoom

Pinching zooms digitally and makes everything mushy. Use the lens buttons instead (0.5x, 1x, 2x, 3x and so on, depending on your phone), or just walk closer. Your feet are the best zoom you own.

8. Lock focus and exposure

• iPhone: tap and hold on your subject until AE/AF Lock shows up. Slide your finger up or down to brighten or darken.
• Android: tap your subject, then use the brightness slider. Many phones (including Samsung and Pixel) let you lock it with a long press or a lock icon.

Now the phone stops "hunting" every time someone walks through the frame.

9. Horizontal or vertical?

Easy rule: vertical for stories and Reels, horizontal for anything you'll watch on a TV or edit into a longer video. Decide before you start. Flipping halfway through looks messy.

10. Frame it on purpose

Turn on the grid (iPhone: Settings > Camera > Grid; Android: in the camera settings) and put people on the lines, not dead centre. Leave a little room above heads, and watch for poles and exit signs growing out of anyone.

Sound people forget about

11. Get close for good audio

Your phone's mic hears what's closest to it. A few steps closer beats any setting. Keep your fingers off the mic holes, and turn away from the wind outside. If you're the one filming, try not to narrate (or laugh right into it, which is half the fun, but still).

Shooting like an editor

12. Short clips win

Shoot lots of 5 to 15 second clips instead of one ten-minute video. They're easier to share, easier to edit and way more fun to watch back.

13. Grab the details (b-roll)

The rings, shoes, your hands, the flowers, the table setup, the first sip of champagne, people's reactions. These little clips are what make a video feel like a film. Hold each one for a few seconds before and after the action.

14. Count to three

Start recording a beat before the moment and stop a beat after. That way you catch the kiss and the laugh right after.

Editing basics

15. Keep the edit simple

• Use the built-in editor: the Photos app on iPhone or Google Photos / Samsung Gallery on Android. Trim the start and end of each clip.
• Free apps like CapCut or iMovie let you string clips together with music.
• Cut on movement, keep it short (under a minute is a sweet spot for sharing), and add music last.
• Back up your clips the same day. Shared albums are a great way to collect everyone's videos after a wedding.

Quick answers

Should I film in 4K or 1080p?
4K if you have the space. It looks sharper and gives you room to crop. 1080p is fine if storage is tight.

What frame rate should I use?
30 fps for everyday clips, 60 fps for fast movement, slow-mo mode for those big moments.

Are the tips different for iPhone and Android?
The menus have different names, but the ideas are the same: clean lens, good light, steady hands, no digital zoom, locked focus.

What about filming the whole ceremony or speeches?
That needs a slightly different setup. My step-by-step guide on filming the ceremony and speeches on an iPhone is coming soon.

Your phone for the little bits, me for the film

Phone clips are perfect for the bits you want to grab yourself: the getting-ready giggles, your friends on the dance floor, the after-party. If you want a cinematic highlight film of your whole day, that's what I do. My films start at $695 and are delivered within 3 weeks. See the wedding videography page, read more about how my wedding films work, or check the photo packages and pricing.

Got a date in Chatham-Kent or Windsor? Get in touch.