ZonaJakarta – Our iPhones are amazing tools for shooting videos. Whether you’re capturing your dog’s goofy antics, filming your weekend getaway, or creating content for social media, iPhones make it super easy to get started. But even with all the fancy camera tech, a few simple mistakes can mess up your footage.
Don’t worry though! Most of these are super easy to fix. Let’s talk about some of the most common iPhone video mistakes people make—and how to avoid them.
1. Shooting Vertically (When You Shouldn’t)
Unless you’re making content specifically for TikTok, Instagram Stories, or Reels, shooting in portrait mode (a.k.a vertical) can limit your video’s flexibility.
Horizontal (landscape) format is still king for YouTube, vlogs, or anything you want to watch on a bigger screen.
Quick fix: Think about where your video will be seen. If it’s for social media stories, go vertical. If it’s for YouTube or a project, go landscape.
2. Not Locking Focus and Exposure
iPhones are smart, but not always perfect. If you don’t lock the focus and exposure, the camera might keep adjusting while you’re filming—making the video look unstable and unprofessional.
Quick fix: Tap and hold on your subject until you see “AE/AF Lock.” Boom! Now your focus and brightness won’t change mid-shot.
3. Shaky Footage
We’ve all been there: walking while filming and ending up with a video that looks like it was shot during an earthquake. Even with iPhone stabilization, it’s easy to end up with jittery footage.
Quick fix: Use both hands, hold your elbows close to your body, or better yet—use a gimbal, tripod, or even rest your phone against a stable surface.
4. Poor Audio Quality
iPhone mics are decent, but they’re still small and catch a lot of background noise. If someone’s talking and it sounds like they’re underwater—or there’s wind blowing into the mic—it ruins the vibe.
Quick fix: Record in quiet places or use an external microphone (clip-on mics are cheap and work wonders). For voiceovers, record separately and add it in later.
5. Forgetting to Clean the Lens
This one’s so simple it’s almost silly—but also so easy to forget. A smudge on your camera lens can make everything look blurry or hazy.
Quick fix: Wipe the lens with a soft cloth or even your shirt (gently!) before you hit record.
6. Not Using the Right Settings
iPhones let you shoot in 4K, slow motion, cinematic mode, and more—but many people don’t take advantage of it. Worse, they shoot at 30fps when 60fps would be smoother for action shots.
Quick fix: Go to Settings > Camera > Record Video and adjust the quality and frame rate. For casual content, 1080p at 30fps is fine, but if you want pro-level stuff, try 4K at 24 or 60fps.
7. Zooming Too Much
Digital zoom on iPhones basically crops your footage and kills the quality. It’s tempting to pinch in, but it can make your video grainy and awkward.
Quick fix: If you need a closer shot, move closer to your subject instead of zooming (or use the iPhone’s built-in lens options if you have multiple cameras).
8. Not Planning the Shot
Sometimes we hit record and just wing it—but the best videos usually have a plan, even a rough one. Lack of planning = messy footage, weird angles, and shots you can’t use.
Quick fix: Take 30 seconds to think about your angle, lighting, and what you want to capture before pressing record.
9. Using the Wrong Frame Rate
Most iPhones default to recording at 30 frames per second (fps), which is fine for everyday moments and vlogs. But if you’re aiming for a more cinematic look, switching to 24 or 25 fps is the way to go. It gives your footage that classic movie feel.
Make sure to check your camera settings before hitting record and adjust the frame rate to match your creative goals.
10. Shooting in Poor Lighting (and Not Adjusting Exposure)
Low light can be tricky. The iPhone will try to brighten the image automatically, but this often introduces a lot of noise (graininess).
Instead, manually lower the exposure by dragging down on the screen after locking focus and exposure. It’s easier to brighten a slightly dark video in editing than to fix an overexposed, noisy one.
Quick Tips to Level Up Your iPhone Videos
- Always check your camera settings before you start filming.
- Use the highest resolution and appropriate frame rate for your project.
- Lock focus and exposure to avoid distracting shifts.
- Pay attention to lighting and adjust exposure manually.
- Invest in a simple external microphone for better sound.
- Use stabilization tools or techniques to keep your footage steady.
iPhones are powerful tools, but like any camera, they work best when we know how to use them. By avoiding these common mistakes, your videos will look cleaner, sound better, and feel way more professional—even if you’re just recording your cat doing backflips.
So clean that lens, hold steady, and go make something awesome. (*)
