To create a story, it’s important to know which shots are more likely to be used in vertical video and captivate the audience.
When shooting vertical videos and portrait photos, it’s important to know which shots work best and can captivate the audience. The taller orientation of the format is perfect for displaying narrow and tall subjects, such as towers or people, without distractions on the sides. The vertical perspective is more intimate and suitable for subjects that benefit from this orientation, such as animals, people, food, and plants. To improve the composition of these videos, applying existing rules such as the rule of thirds, which suggests placing the subject’s eye near the top intersection point, can grab the viewer’s attention. Nature elements such as trees and plants are also excellent choices for vertical-oriented compositions as they emphasize vertical lines. Strong horizons should be placed above or below the middle of the frame to make the shot more interesting. It should be avoided to crop a horizontal shot to fit the vertical format to prevent loss of quality and sharpness. Instead, shooting should be done in full-frame vertical, it forces the composer to think and compose the tall-screen framing natively, removing the need for post-processing.
There are several types of shots that work well for vertical video, including close-ups, vertical panning, symmetrical compositions, one-point perspective, and top-down shots. Close-up shots are ideal for this format, as they help the subject fill the frame and create a more intimate viewing experience. Panning up and down can be an effective way to create movement and draw the viewer’s attention to different elements of the scene. Vertical video can also be used to create strong symmetrical compositions, such as reflections in water or buildings with straight lines, while one-point perspective shots can create a strong sense of depth and draw the viewer’s eye towards a specific point. Top-down shots can be effective, especially when filming food or objects arranged on a flat surface. Overall, the best shots for vertical video are visually compelling and engaging and take advantage of the unique aspects of the vertical format.
Bibliography
Sébire, Adam. (2020, July 11). Vertical Film Festival 9:16 Tips & Tricks. https://www.adamsebire.info/vertical-film-festival/9-16-tips-and-tricks
Tran, Hannah. (2023, February 23). Vertical Video and Using Composition Rules . https://social.colostate.edu/best-practices/vertical-video-and-using-composition-rules/
