Shooting vertical video for Reels, TikTok and Shorts
Vertical video dominates social media. Learn framing, camera setup and how to shoot for both vertical and horizontal formats.
Photo by Taine Noble on Unsplash
Instagram Reels, TikTok and YouTube Shorts are watched vertically on phones. Video shot for 9:16 performs better than horizontal video cropped later.
Option 1: shoot vertical
Mount the camera vertically with an L-bracket or a gimbal in portrait mode. The DJI RS 5 supports native vertical shooting.
Option 2: shoot wide and crop
Shoot 4K horizontal and crop a vertical 1080 × 1920 section in editing. Leave room around subjects so both formats work.
Framing for vertical
- Keep the subject centered or slightly high.
- Avoid placing important elements at the very top or bottom, where app buttons and captions cover them.
- Use vertical subjects: people, palm trees, doors, columns.
Hook in the first second
Start with motion or an intriguing image. Viewers scroll away quickly.
Text and captions
Most viewers watch without sound. Add captions and on-screen text in the safe zone.
Light and sound
Phones and cameras alike need good light and clear audio, even for short clips.
Want to put this tip into practice with pro gear? Rent cameras and lenses in Mérida, or hire us for the shoot. WhatsApp →
