The easiest trick for shooting better video on your cell phone – and anyone can do it

Even a novice can take their video storytelling to the next level with this one easy-to-remember, easy-to-implement trick.

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Many school systems are fortunate to have at least one person partially dedicated to taking photos and shooting video.

However, those folks can’t be everywhere at once, and if you’re a smaller school system, the position may not exist at all.

So if you’re an inexperienced videographer who finds themselves suddenly thrust into the job of shooting video at your next school event, here’s a simple trick that is easy to remember and easy to implement, even on your cellphone.

1. Shoot a wide shot.
2. Shoot a medium shot.
3. Shoot a close-up shot.
4. Repeat.

Here’s what that might look like at a robotics competition:

1. Wide shot: View of a busy school cafeteria with lots of activity.
2. Medium shot: View of team of students controlling their robot from the “sidelines.”
3. Close-up shot: View of actual robot in action.
4. Repeat ..
   1. Wide shot #2: View of audience waiting to hear judge announce award winners.
   2. Medium shot #2: View of winning team celebrating.
   3. Close-up shot #2: View of fist-bump.

When a video is sequenced this way – wide, medium, close – it creates an unspoken mental storytelling device for the viewer that helps them understand what is happening and connect. Each scene has a beginning, middle, and end, before going into the next scene.

Another way to think of it is …

1. Wide shot: Where we are.
2. Medium shot: Who is involved.
3. Close-up shot: What is specifically happening and/or reaction.

Happy filming!

P.S. … And don’t let me catch you filming in vertical mode!

Do you have a neat tip creating great video for your school? Share it in the comments below!