The Secret Formula for Cinematic iPhone Videos

Summary

This video offers a comprehensive guide to capturing cinematic footage with just an iPhone 15 Pro Max. It covers camera settings, including ProRes Log, frame rates, and resolutions, as well as filming tips like using the main 1X lens and leveraging optimal lighting. The third part focuses on editing techniques, such as color grading with Apple Log, using music from Music Bed, and adding motion blur with RSMB to enhance the cinematic feel. The aim is to transform ordinary iPhone footage into professional-looking videos.

Takeaways

• 📱 The video is sponsored by Music Bed and focuses on tips for improving iPhone footage quality.
• 🎥 The speaker used an iPhone 15 Pro Max without additional accessories for a more compact setup at Disneyland.
• 🔧 The first step for better footage is adjusting camera settings, including using ProRes Log for cinematic clips and color grading.
• 📹 Changing the format to 'Most Compatible' is recommended for easier editing, especially when not shooting HDR.
• 🎥 Record in 4K 30 frames per second for a smoother image compared to 4K 24, which can appear choppy.
• ⚪ Locking white balance prevents color temperature shifts that can complicate color grading.
• 🔒 Enabling exposure adjustment and setting it to .7 helps to avoid blown highlights, safeguarding footage for color grading.
• 🔍 Use the main 1X lens for the best quality, and avoid using other lenses in low light as they can appear muddy.
• ☀️ Lighting is crucial for cinematic footage; shoot during the golden hours for more pleasing light.
• 🎨 Composition is key to a cinematic image, focusing on engaging arrangements and the use of the rule of thirds.
• 🚶‍♂️ Movement in shots should be motivated and serve the story; avoid unnecessary pans that don't add value.
• 🎵 Music is an essential part of the editing process, and Music Bed is recommended for professional, authentic music.
• 🎨 Editing is where much of the work to enhance footage happens, with color grading being a significant part of this process.
• 🌈 Using tools like the Vinci result, HDR, and Hali can transform Apple log footage into vibrant and cinematic images.
• 🎬 The RSMB plugin can add motion blur to footage, enhancing the cinematic feel, especially in bright light conditions.

Q & A

What is the main purpose of the video?

The main purpose of the video is to provide tips and techniques for enhancing the cinematic quality of footage shot on an iPhone 15 Pro Max.

Why is using a large camera with kids considered a 'huge mistake' according to the video?

Using a large camera with kids is considered a 'huge mistake' because it can be cumbersome and not worth the hassle despite the good footage it may produce.

What is the video's three-step approach to improving iPhone footage?

The three-step approach includes adjusting camera settings, filming techniques, and post-production editing to enhance the cinematic quality of the footage.

Why is shooting in ProRes Log recommended for cinematic clips?

Shooting in ProRes Log is recommended for cinematic clips because it provides more flexibility for color grading and post-production, despite the larger file size.

What is the significance of choosing 'Most Compatible' over 'High Efficiency' in the camera settings?

Choosing 'Most Compatible' ensures that the files are easier to work with in editing programs, which is important for cinematic video editing and color grading.

Why is 4K 30 preferred over 4K 24 for shooting on iPhone ProRes Log?

4K 30 is preferred because it provides a smoother image compared to 4K 24, which can appear choppy, especially in ProRes Log.

What is the importance of locking white balance while shooting professionally?

Locking white balance is important to prevent color temperature shifts between the beginning and end of a clip, which can make color grading more difficult.

Why is using the main 1X lens recommended over other lenses on the iPhone 15 Pro Max?

The main 1X lens is recommended because it generally provides the best quality and is most suitable for a variety of shooting conditions, especially for cinematic footage.

How does lighting affect the quality of footage shot on an iPhone?

Lighting is crucial as it can make the footage look more pleasing or muddy, depending on the time of day and the direction of the light relative to the subject.

What role does music play in the editing process according to the video?

Music plays a significant role in the editing process as it acts as the 'glue' that holds the edit together, adding emotional depth and pacing to the video.

What is the purpose of using the 'rsmb' plugin in post-production?

The 'rsmb' plugin is used to automatically generate motion blur, which can make the footage look more cinematic and realistic, especially in scenes with a lot of movement.

Outlines

00:00

📱 Maximizing iPhone 15 Pro Max's Video Potential

This paragraph introduces the video's theme of optimizing the iPhone 15 Pro Max for cinematic video capture. The speaker shares their experience from a family trip to Disneyland, emphasizing the impracticality of large camera setups with children. They advocate for a compact solution, opting to use just the iPhone 15 Pro Max without additional accessories. The video is structured into three parts: camera settings, shooting techniques, and editing tips. The goal is to transform raw footage into a polished, cinematic result.

05:01

🎥 Unlocking iPhone's Hidden Camera Settings

The speaker delves into the iPhone's camera settings, highlighting the importance of selecting the right codec, frame rate, and resolution for high-quality video capture. They recommend using ProRes Log for intentional, cinematic clips that will undergo color grading. The settings guide includes switching to 'most compatible' for easier editing, setting the video recording to 4K at 30 frames per second for smooth playback, and locking the white balance to maintain color consistency. Additionally, they suggest using the 'Preserve Settings' to maintain exposure adjustment, preventing the iPhone from overexposing highlights.

10:01

🌞 Capturing Cinematic Footage with iPhone

This section focuses on the practical aspects of filming with the iPhone, starting with the recommendation to use the main 1X lens for optimal quality. The speaker discusses the importance of lighting, suggesting early morning or late afternoon for the most flattering light. They also touch on the impact of shooting against the light source for a more cinematic look and emphasize the significance of composition, using the grid in the camera settings to enhance visual engagement. Lastly, they advise on the use of movement in shots, recommending motivated movement that serves the story rather than gratuitous panning.

15:03

🎵 Enhancing iPhone Footage with Music and Editing Techniques

The final paragraph discusses post-production techniques to enhance iPhone footage. The speaker promotes the use of inspirational music from Music Bed, highlighting its role in elevating the overall feel of the video. They also share their editing process, starting with color correction to transform the flat log footage into vibrant, cinematic images. Techniques include adjusting primary wheels, adding HDR effects, applying custom LUTs, and using the Hali effect for blooming highlights and enhancing saturation. The paragraph concludes with the introduction of the RSMB plugin for adding motion blur, which contributes to a more cinematic look, especially in fast-moving scenes.

🛠️ Final Touches and Resources for Content Creators

In the concluding paragraph, the speaker summarizes the video's key points and offers additional resources for beginners in content creation. They mention a starter course that covers fundamental topics in a condensed format. The speaker also provides a link to download the LUT used in the video and other digital assets for free. They invite viewers to ask further questions, emphasizing the importance of understanding basic principles such as aperture, shutter speed, and composition for creating high-quality content.

Keywords

💡Prores Log

Prores Log is a high-quality codec format used in video recording that provides a wide dynamic range and flexibility for color grading. It is crucial for creating a cinematic look in videos. In the script, the speaker mentions changing the iPhone 15 settings to Prores Log for intentional, cinematic clips that will be color-graded later, emphasizing its importance for high-quality video production.

💡Codec

A codec is a method for compressing and decompressing digital video or audio data. In the context of the video, selecting the right codec, such as Prores, is essential for the video's quality and editing capabilities. The script specifically discusses changing to Prores Log for better post-production flexibility.

💡4K 30

4K 30 refers to a video resolution of 4000 pixels horizontally (Ultra High Definition) and a frame rate of 30 frames per second. The script mentions using 4K 30 instead of 4K 24 because it provides a smoother image, which is preferable for cinematic footage, especially when shooting in Prores Log.

💡White Balance

White balance is the process of adjusting the color temperature of an image to make it appear natural under different lighting conditions. The script suggests locking the white balance to maintain consistent color temperature throughout the clip, which is important for professional video work and color grading.

💡Exposure Adjustment

Exposure adjustment is the process of controlling the amount of light that reaches the camera sensor. In the script, the speaker recommends setting a fixed exposure adjustment to prevent the iPhone from automatically blowing out highlights, which could complicate color grading during post-production.

💡1X Lens

The 1X lens refers to the primary lens on a smartphone or camera, typically used for standard wide-angle shots. The script emphasizes using the main 1X lens for better quality footage compared to other lenses on the iPhone, especially in well-lit conditions.

💡Lighting

Lighting is a critical aspect of videography that affects the mood, texture, and overall quality of a video. The script discusses the importance of shooting during favorable lighting conditions, such as early morning or late afternoon, to achieve a more cinematic look.

💡Composition

Composition in videography refers to the arrangement of visual elements within a frame to create a harmonious and engaging image. The script highlights the importance of good composition for a cinematic look, including using techniques like the rule of thirds and leading lines.

💡Motion Blur

Motion blur is the apparent streaking of moving objects in a still image or a series of images, like in a video. The script mentions using a plugin called rsmb to artificially add motion blur to footage, which can enhance the cinematic feel, especially in bright conditions where the iPhone might use a high shutter speed.

💡Color Grading

Color grading is the process of altering and enhancing the color of a video to achieve a specific look or mood. The script discusses the flexibility provided by shooting in Prores Log for color grading, allowing for significant creative control over the final appearance of the video.

💡HDR (High Dynamic Range)

HDR refers to the process of increasing the luminance range between the darkest and brightest areas of an image. In the script, the speaker mentions using HDR to add more dynamic range to the video, which can make the colors and contrast more appealing in the final footage.

Highlights

The video is sponsored by Music Bed, emphasizing the importance of music in video production.

The speaker shares their experience using a large camera with kids at Disneyland, highlighting the impracticality of such equipment in certain situations.

The decision to use a compact setup without additional phone accessories to maintain convenience is discussed.

The video is structured into three steps: camera settings, shooting techniques, and editing tips for cinematic iPhone footage.

ProRes Log is recommended for cinematic clips that will be color graded, offering greater flexibility in post-production.

The importance of choosing the right codec, frame rate, and resolution for optimal video quality is emphasized.

The speaker advises against using Auto White Balance for professional shoots to maintain color consistency.

Exposure adjustment is recommended to be turned on to prevent the iPhone from automatically blowing out highlights.

The use of the main 1X lens is preferred for its superior image quality compared to other lenses on the iPhone.

Lighting is crucial for achieving cinematic footage, with the speaker suggesting shooting during the golden hours for better lighting conditions.

The grid feature is recommended for improved composition, which is key to a cinematic look.

The speaker suggests using motivated movement in shots, such as tracking subjects, to enhance storytelling.

Music Bed is praised for its curated music collection, which is useful for finding high-quality music for video projects.

The video editing process is crucial for transforming footage, with color grading being a significant part of achieving a cinematic look.

The use of Apple Log for shooting is discussed, which provides a flat image that is ideal for color grading.

The speaker shares their preferred method for color grading Apple Log footage using primary wheels and HDR effects.

The use of the plugin RSMB for adding motion blur to footage is revealed as a secret tool for enhancing the cinematic feel.

A free resource is offered for new content creators to learn the basics of video production.

Transcripts

[Music]

oh now it's time

[Music]

you're right in front of

me the

answer with the

answer this video is sponsored by music

bed so a couple of weeks ago my family

and I actually took a trip to Disneyland

and last time we went to Disneyland I

had my C70 with a couple of lenses huge

mistake by the way if you have kids and

you have a huge camera it's it looks

good the footage looks good but it's

often just not worth it this time I

decided I wanted to be a little bit more

compact but I also didn't want to have

like a bunch of accessories on my phone

because in my opinion having an Indy

filter and a huge like chunky case and

the grip and all these different

attachments on your phone kind of

defeats the purpose of using your phone

which is so convenient so I wanted to

see what I could do with just the bare

iPhone 15 Pro Max and actually I've

split this video up into three different

steps first one is going to be your

settings the second one is going to be

things that you do while you're shooting

and the third step is things you can do

while you're editing and by the end

we're going to be taking your footage

from this to

this so let's dive in okay now the first

thing and probably the most important

section of this video is actually diving

into your camera settings there's

probably lots of settings you don't even

know about a lot of these I didn't know

about until I really started to hone in

on shooting on my iPhone and I'm not

talking about the obvious you know tap

to focus and you know tap and hold to

lock your exposure and your focus and

all that we're diving into some of the

bigger settings that actually set the

stage so that you're shooting in the

right codec the right frame rate the

right resolution and a few other things

so if you dive into your settings let me

go over to camera the biggest and

probably the most important setting you

can change if you have a new iph iPhone

15 is changing it to prores log that you

don't want to shoot prores log all the

time if I'm just shooting quick little

videos of my kids being funny or

whatever like I'm not going to shoot

that PR reses log but if I'm really

intentional about no I want this to be a

very cinematic clip and I plan on color

grading it later I don't mind that it's

a big file size then prores log is the

way to go everything you saw in that

Montage was shot with prores log so

let's dive into formats then we'll

scroll down Apple prores just make sure

that that is selected and the encoding

is on log next thing we're going to do

here in that same menu is changing it

from high efficiency to most compatible

most compatible is basically going to

give you files that are just easier to

work with generally speaking and if

you're shooting like HDR then you have

to use high efficiency cuz it basically

makes that HDR image look the best when

it's being viewed on an iPhone but if

you're taking cinematic video and you're

going to go color it and manipulate it

and you want to edit it you want a file

that's going to be compatible with your

editing program so most compatible going

back to the main camera menu going to

make sure that record video is at 4K 30

there's a reason I'm using 4K 30 and not

4K 24 I think a lot of other people who

are shooting on iPhone could probably

back this up but 4K 24 especially at

prores log just looks kind of choppy it

really shouldn't but it just is so 4K 30

is going to give you a much smoother

image and you can still take that file

pop it on a 24 frames per second

timeline and you're good to go and if

you want to you can also slow down that

30 frames per second clip to 80% and

suddenly you have a semi slow motion

clip and then in that same menu we're

going to go over and lock our white

balance if you're shooting

professionally hopefully you're not

using Auto white balance at least not

too often generally you want to lock

that wide balance so that the color

temperature isn't shifting between the

beginning and the end of your clip if it

is it just makes color grading a lot

more difficult then we're going to go

back we're going to dive into The

Preserve settings tab and then we're

we're going to make sure the exposure

adjustment is turned on so when you go

into your camera you'll see in the top

left right here I can actually control

my exposure so I have it set to .7 with

that setting selected here it's going to

actually keep that .7 setting all the

time unless I change it now the reason

you want to do that is because when your

iPhone is looking at any thing through

the camera it's trying to balance the

exposure all across the board and a lot

of the time it's trying to balance out

the exposure Ure in the shadows it's

trying to bring those up which in turn

makes your highlights look blown out and

if your highlights are blown out it's

going to be a lot harder to actually

bring that detail back once you go into

color grading so when you pull your

exposure down to .7 it's kind of a

safeguard to make sure that your iPhone

isn't automatically blowing out those

highlights and when you're shooting I'd

still recommend you know tapping on

those highlights and trying to lock your

exposure just in case but this is

something I always have set no matter

what okay now the second step in making

your iPhone footage look more cinematic

actually isn't in the settings it's

about the filming itself now when you're

filming I'd really recommend just using

the main 1X lens even if your camera has

other lenses it's not that they're

terrible but nothing's going to be

nearly as good as the 1X I mean if we

were to like order my favorite lenses

just on the iPhone 15 Pro Max it would

be the 1X the 5x the 2X and then the 5x

the 0.5 is great especially if you want

to capture like the wide landscape

whatever is happening around you I use

that one a lot when I'm doing like a a

follow scene like I'm chasing my

daughter running down the sidewalk the

2X and the 5x are good if you want to

just punch in a little bit tighter but

generally speaking with all these lenses

even the 1X you need a good amount of

light for them to look good and actually

something else that I've noticed is that

depending on your subject like what

you're filming the 2X and the 5x don't

look very good they actually look kind

of Muddy and probably the biggest Factor

here is going to be your lighting but I

especially notice it with portraits like

really really tight shots of faces so

something to keep in mind the 1X is

always going to be better but feel free

to punch into a 2X or a 5x the next

thing here is actually just shooting in

the best possible lighting now when we

were at Disneyland what was kind of nice

is that I didn't plan on shooting midday

so in the morning when we got there at

like 8:00 a.m. 9:00 a.m. I shot a few

Clips because the sun was lower the

lighting was just a lot more pleasing

but once it got midday the sun was

directly overhead the the lighting just

didn't look very good so I put the phone

down and I actually enjoyed the rides

and everything we were doing and then

once we got into the late afternoon

evening it was about 6 6:30 p.m. the

lighting was a lot lower once again and

that's a big thing you're going to see

in a lot of different iPhone commercials

shot on iPhone campaigns is that the

lighting is probably the most important

element actually in making those cameras

look good and not only that but actually

putting the light on the opposite side

of your subject or at least adding angle

to your subject if you're shooting in

the same direction that the light is

coming from it's going to make your

image look pretty flat but if you hit it

at a slightly different angle especially

if you're shooting on the shadow side of

a person's face it's going to look just

a lot more cinematic really really easy

hack so wherever the light is coming

from hop onto the opposite side and

shoot against the lighting another thing

you can do here is actually with your

composition turning on the grid in your

settings the key to cinematic image

isn't always about resolution it's not

always is about sensor size or focal

length to me honestly more than anything

it's about your composition creating a

composition that is just really really

engaging and cool your main subject is

centered or it's on one of the thirds

you have good leading lines there's a

lot of different elements that go into

that but if you take the time to really

find just interesting composition it's

going to make your image look so much

better even if you didn't change any of

the settings that I talked about

focusing on composition will completely

transform all of your iPhone clips and

then the last thing in this step is your

movement if you have good composition

first off you don't necessarily need

movement you can have a nice clean

static shot if you are going to add

movement I love just a simple push in

pull out tracking my subject a little

bit tracking the movement so it's

motivated with whatever subject is in my

scene those are the types of shots that

I really like just panning or tilting or

whatever unless it's telling a story or

it's following the subject in my opinion

it's not worth doing but I think the the

default for a lot of people when you

pull out your phone is to pan like this

and get a shot from a cinematic

standpoint most of the time it just

doesn't make sense so if it adds to your

story if it's a motivated Movement by

all means do it but I think most of the

time there's probably a better way all

right the third and final step to

transforming your iPhone footage

actually happens in the editing room and

one of the first things you can do when

you're in the editing room is use some

inspirational music like this one that I

found on music bed now music's a huge

part of every edit because it's kind of

like the glue that holds it all together

now there's a lot of music out there but

actually finding one that you can use

for your own projects and for client

work is a bit harder at least it used to

be till I switched to music bed it's the

only platform I trust for professional

authentic music that doesn't sound like

a cheap corporate jingle music bed has

the largest collection of curated music

with over 50,000 songs available and

with their advanced search filters it's

never been easier to find the right song

and honestly if they didn't have their

advanced search functions I'd probably

get lost but for every one song that I

find and I like music bed suggests a

dozen more that are even better and

right now for a limited time you can

actually get a 14-day free trial to

music bed so you can switch and see the

difference yourself personally I'm more

inspired to create when I have good

music and I think you will too so just

hit the link in the description box to

switch to music bed today okay now this

last step involving the editing really

applies to any camera if you look back

and watch some of our beginner versus

Pro videos for example the pocket 3

video it's a great little camera but a

lot of the work actually happens when

you're editing there's a few tricks that

can actually make pretty much any camera

no matter how crappy it is look semide

decent and don't get me wrong the iPhone

15 especially Apple log prores log like

it looks good but it does have its

shortcomings it's not perfect it's not

quite Cinema grade but if you know how

to edit it right you can get pretty

close so Apple log just like any other

log is really flat which is actually a

really really good thing because if you

look at your just standard iPhone

footage all the saturation is there all

the contrast and the sharpness and

everything is just baked in but if you

shoot in log then suddenly you have all

this flexibility to make those colors

look however you want them to look plus

you can completely control your contrast

you can control the sharpness so my

preferred way to actually take Apple log

convert it into something just really

really vibrant and cinematic is through

the Vinci result so the first thing you

need to do to actually get that log

footage to where you want it to be is to

either do a color space transform so

converting that log into a wreck 709

image pumping all that contrast that

saturation everything back in there or

just manually doing it which frankly

that's how I prefer to do it I find when

you do a conversion l or the color space

transform it'll often bring that

exposure down way lower than you

actually want it so if you manually

change it you have a lot more control so

right here in this node I've added that

in just bringing those levels a bit

closer to where we want them so this is

done here in the primary Wheels I'm

basically just adjusting that lift gamma

and gain so pulling that lift down so

that the waveform is sitting right on

that zero line pulling up the gains so

it's peeking around here which in my

opinion is just a bit more of a

cinematic exposure and also then

adjusting that gamma those midtones and

then over in the saturation just pumping

that up I know if you're a color you're

probably watching this and being like ah

why are you doing it like that but it

works it looks good it's not introducing

any more noise into my image and it's

quick after that what I like to do is

actually throw in a little bit of HDR I

throw that in the node before I do that

little conversion and that just brings

down the highlights a little bit brings

up the Shadows a little bit as well so

it kind of adds a little bit more

dynamic range in a way to your image

after that I like to actually throw on

my look the L that I want to be using

this one is actually my own personal lot

if you want to download it for free

there should be a little link up here in

the top right or I put a link in the

description but this is my Kodak l so

I'll throw that on there then I pump in

a little bit of Warmness into that image

just bring up the temperature I'll go in

and add just a very subtle curve down

here and then the last thing and frankly

I think this is kind of The Secret Sauce

in making your iPhone footage look

cinematic especially if you don't have

accessories like a Mist filter on your

phone is using Hali so H right here if

you can see that it does a few different

things it's going to bloom your

highlights without needing a Mist filter

by the way and it actually pumps just a

little bit more like saturation and

color into the image as well so with h

you can adjust all these things as much

as you want but I tend to just go for

the default and it looks pretty good so

real quick

before and

after not bad for an iPhone and then the

last thing here and frankly I'm going to

admit something I've kind of been

gatekeeping this effect I do tell people

about it when they ask but I don't like

publicly really talk about it this is

the first time I'm going to actually

show it in a video there's a plugin

called rsmb I think it just means like

real smooth motion blur or something

like that now basically what this does

is you drag and drop it onto your

footage and it'll automatically generate

motion blur so when you're shooting in

bright light especially on an iPhone you

don't have an ND or anything by default

your iPhone's actually going to be

cranking that shutter speed same thing

happens when you shoot on an action

camera in auto mode and a variety of

other cameras like they'll just

automatically Crank That shutter speed

which makes your image look too crisp

like the motion blur is almost

non-existent so again when I'm doing

those beginner versus Pro Series a lot

of the time I can't get my shutter speed

where I need it but I'm not too worried

about it because I know when I'm editing

I can just pop on some rsnb and it's all

good so here's what it looks like

without rsnb

it still looks good but you can tell

that it's kind of a high shutter speed

like there's a lot of movement happening

but every person on the swing thingy

there's no there's not really a good

amount of motion blur then we turn on

rsnb immediately look at the difference

in that frame right

there just look right here look at the

difference already so if we play

[Music]

that suddenly it just it feels more

cinematic like there is actual motion

motion blur in an image that should

frankly have motion blur and so when I'm

editing videos especially videos that

have a lot of movement like we just did

a mountain biking one not that long ago

that Bugatti video I always use rsnb

because it just makes that movement feel

even more dramatic and in the context of

creating a good cinematic video you want

that motion blur so go check it out I

think it's like 100 bucks maybe but I

use it all the time worth every penny

again if you want to get that L that I

used and actually some of my other

digital assets I'm G them away for free

so just hit the link up here in the top

right yeah top right or hit the link in

the description and if you're new to

content creation you're trying to wrap

your head around the basics like

aperture shutter speed lighting

composition go check out our $27 starter

course it basically takes the 10 most

important topics from our full course

and condenses them down into a crash

course for a fraction of the price but

either way thanks for watching and as

always if you have any further questions

please let me know

n

[Music]