Social media is incredibly visual, which means your photos and videos can make a huge difference when it comes to whether your audience engages or just keeps scrolling. But, how exactly do you take better photos and videos? And what if you don’t have any fancy equipment? Fortunately, modern technology has made “fancy equipment” extremely accessible, and chances are most of your content team has it right in their back pocket. Here are seven tips for taking social-media-worthy photos and videos with your iPhone.
1. Keep it clean!
If you want to make your photos and videos instantly clearer, make sure you’re starting with a clean lens. In a pinch, you can quickly wipe your lens with a clean piece of clothing, like your sleeve or shirt, but using a lens cloth is ideal. Avoid using cleaning agents, which can result in damage to your camera lens.
2. Turn on the 3-point grid.
Applying the principles of photo composition can make your photos and videos more dynamic. The arrangement of elements in a photo or video and the positioning of your subject are crucial in making the visual appealing. Using good composition, allows you to direct your viewers’ attention to the relevant parts of the photo. A simple way to ensure good composition is to use a 3-point grid. You can position your subject at any intersection of the grid to create a visual that draws in your viewer. To turn on the 3-point grid on your iPhone camera, go to settings > camera > toggle on ‘grid.’
3. Avoid using digital zoom.
While it can be tempting to zoom in on the subject of your photo or video, avoid doing so whenever possible. Using digital zoom can make your visuals blurry and grainy. Instead, take the photo or video from where you are and crop it afterward. You can do this to any photo or video in the Photos app by tapping the visual > edit > crop icon. You can also crop photos within the Class Intercom platform by selecting the editor tool.
4. Use natural lighting whenever possible.
Natural lighting is your best friend when it comes to capturing high-quality visuals. When composing your visuals, position your subject with the light facing toward them. If the subject is backlit, their face will be too dark and the background too light. Whenever possible, avoid using flash, which can result in skewed colors and will be difficult to edit afterward. If you’re often finding yourself in environments with challenging lighting, it may be worthwhile to invest in a clip-on phone light.
5. Adjust exposure in the camera app.
Another way to help properly light your visuals is to edit your exposure within the Camera app while taking your photo or video. There are two ways to do this. First, select your subject and then slide the sun icon up and down to adjust the exposure. The alternative method is to select the arrow at the top of the screen and then the (plus and minus) exposure button. You can then use the dial on the bottom to adjust the exposure, which can be easier than using the sun icon.
6. Use the human tripod method.
Whether or not your team is fortunate enough to have nice equipment like tripods, spontaneous content opportunities mean you may find yourself without. Time to master the human tripod! Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart and hold your elbows firmly against your sides. Use both hands to hold your phone and your thumbs to stabilize it. Blurry visuals be gone!
7. Use the burst mode to capture clear action shots.
There is a ton of action happening in your school community daily, so it’s important to know the proper way to capture these engaging moments. On your Camera app, it’s simple. Instead of tapping the shutter button, slide it to the left to activate burst mode and lift your finger when you’re done. Now instead of taking a single blurry photo, you’ve captured the whole moment. When you go to the photo in the Photos app, choose “select” at the bottom of your screen and scroll through to save your favorite photo(s) of the burst.
Looking for more insights, tips, and guidance for taking your school social media to another level? Be sure to subscribe to the Class Intercom blog, where we cover everything from using Canva to create graphics for social to tips from a student social media team that amped up its school’s social media content engagement with class promo videos.
