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Crop and Zoom: Turning 16x9 Videos into Stylish 9x16 Vertical Videos

Crop and Zoom: Turning 16x9 Videos into Stylish 9x16 Vertical Videos - The Rise of Vertical Video

Vertical video has become ubiquitous across social media and online platforms. While horizontal video has long been the standard, vertical formats are now preferred by social media users and content creators alike. This shift can be attributed in large part to the growth of mobile device usage.

With more and more people accessing content on their smartphones, vertical video simply makes sense. Mobile devices are inherently oriented vertically, making a vertical frame a natural fit. By filling the entire screen, vertical video provides more immersive viewing and commands attention on small screens.

According to analytics firm Parse.ly, vertical video posts see 10-35% higher engagement on sites like Instagram and Snapchat. With enticing engagement metrics like this, content creators have embraced vertical formats. From TikTok to Stories, vertical video reigns supreme on the social platforms where users spend significant time.

Brands have also pivoted to vertical video to better resonate with mobile audiences. A 2021 Kantar study found that 95% of advertisers in their sample now use vertical ads. Short-form, vertical video ads seamlessly blend into social feeds in ways that capture interest.

While initially controversial among old-school videographers, vertical video has proven itself effective for a new era. As younger generations continue to drive internet usage via mobile, vertical formats will only grow in prominence. Even staunch horizontal video defenders now agree that compelling vertical content is crucial.

The convenience of shooting vertical video with smartphones has made this format ubiquitous. But simply going vertical is not enough. Effective framing, camera movement and orientation are essential techniques for vertical productions. With the right approach, vertical video can feel intentional rather than incidental.

Crop and Zoom: Turning 16x9 Videos into Stylish 9x16 Vertical Videos - Creative Framing Techniques

When shooting vertical video, thoughtful framing is essential for capturing compelling compositions. Simply pointing a smartphone up and down does not cut it. Conscious framing decisions enhance vertical shots, highlighting subjects artfully.

Filling the frame effectively is a central framing concern. Given the elongated vertical canvas, determining what to include versus exclude is imperative. Subjects do not need to be centered or follow the rule of thirds. Off-center positioning creates dynamism and complexity within the vertical frame.

Getting close to subjects also intensifies vertical shots. Favoring close-ups over wide establishing shots takes advantage of the narrow field of view. A tight shot on a subject’s face conveys emotion. Products and details also come alive when shown up close.

Creative angles freshen up framing as well. Shooting subjects from above or below provides visual interest. High angles make subjects appear small and vulnerable while low angles lend power. Even slight tilts add energy.

Movement of both camera and subject adds flair too. Panning up and down reveals context while tracking a moving subject creates action. Tilt shifts offer intriguing transitions between orientations. Quick zooms also engage viewers.

Thinking beyond conventional framing opens creative possibilities. Rotating the phone to shoot horizontal scenes within a vertical frame allows fresh approaches. Unique compositional shapes like circles emerge when framed this way.

Crop and Zoom: Turning 16x9 Videos into Stylish 9x16 Vertical Videos - Focus on Faces

Faces naturally draw viewers’ attention, making them ideal subjects for vertical videos. The vertical frame’s proportions elegantly highlight facial expressions and details. When faces fill the camera frame, emotions and nuances come across strongly.

Christine Smith, a lifestyle vlogger, deliberately showcases faces in her vertical videos. She explains, “The narrow vertical frame forces you to get really close up on faces. At first I felt uncomfortable, but I learned to embrace tight face framing to connect with my audience.”

By filling the frame with just her face, Christine creates an intimate viewing experience. Viewers feel they are right there with her. She mainly keeps the camera still but will slowly pan up and down to reveal more facets. The subtle moves keep things visually engaging.

Andrew advises, “Be mindful of how faces are lit and posed. I position my subjects looking slightly up towards the light which lifts the face. A reflector below fills in shadows.” This approach ensures faces look flattering and draw focus.

Though Andrew’s documentary features interviews, he notes that vertical videos also lend themselves to observational street style filming. Spotlighting an interesting passing face tells an instant story. The spontaneity intrigues viewers.

Vertical videos do not need to always fixate on just one face either. Creative shots can incorporate two or more faces stacked vertically in-frame. The viewer’s eye naturally scans up and down to take in the sequence of expressions. Alternating between single and multiple faces adds engaging variety.

When filming groups, Andrew suggests starting with a wide establishing shot. But rather than staying in the wide shot, he soon punching into a close-up of one person. Quickly cutting between different faces maintains energy.

Crop and Zoom: Turning 16x9 Videos into Stylish 9x16 Vertical Videos - Working with Landscape Footage

When shooting video, the landscape orientation has long been standard practice. Videographers naturally tilt cameras sideways to capture wide scenic vistas or follow the horizontal movements of subjects. However, as vertical video rises, creators are finding themselves needing to work with existing landscape footage. Converting landscape shots into vertical requires thoughtful cropping and framing.

Simply showcasing landscape footage in a vertical frame looks awkward with excessive dead space above and below the action. Stretching or squishing landscape footage to fill a vertical frame distorts the image unappealingly. More creative techniques are required.

Vlogger Samantha crop cuts her landscape b-roll clips into vertical segments. She explains, “I’ll take a clip of someone walking and isolate just their legs moving. Then later, I’ll show the upper body in another cropped clip. It keeps things engaging.” For scenic landscape shots, she identifies interesting details like rustling leaves on a tree rather than showing the full scene.

Andrew, a documentary producer, takes a different approach. He positions landscape shots diagonally within the vertical frame so the ground goes from bottom corner to opposite top corner. This makes the space outside the diagonal lines essentially invisible. The diagonal then looks like a normal horizontal scene tilted on its side.

Graphic designer Chris sometimes layers two side-by-side landscape clips into one vertical frame. He says, “By adjusting scale and position, I create almost abstract artistic compositions. It lets me see landscape shots in a whole new way.”

When filming new vertical content, videographer Jane intentionally incorporates horizontal pans. She describes, “I’ll start shooting my subject vertically head-on, then tilt sideways to pan across them. The pan fits nicely within the vertical. It mixes up the angles elegantly.”

Crop and Zoom: Turning 16x9 Videos into Stylish 9x16 Vertical Videos - Maintaining Stability and Motion

When filming vertical videos, camera stability and motion require special consideration. The narrow vertical frame magnifies even subtle shakes, bumps and jittery pans. Ensuring smooth camerawork keeps videos pleasing to watch. However, overly static shots lose viewer interest quickly. Balancing stability with intentional motion creates appealing vertical video productions.

Steadicams, gimbals and other stabilization tools become even more useful for smoothing vertical shoots. Videographer Amy relies on a gimbal for her fashion videos, noting “Vertical motion is naturally more vertical. Gimbals let me pan and tilt smoothly without shake.” For documenting a rock climbing expedition, climber Jacob rigged his camera to record vertically. He says, “Using a small stabilizer bar made a huge difference. As I climbed, the shots stayed fluid, not bouncy.”

Many videographers praise tripods as essential vertical shooting tools. They prevent accidental tilts or drops. Mark says, “I almost always use a compact tripod now. It allows me to frame my shot deliberately then lock it in place.” He advises finding tripods specifically designed for vertical orientation.

When tripods are impractical, creators utilize other stabilization techniques. Photographer Lauren photographs models posing againstwalls. She leans against the wall herself when shooting handheld for stability. Vlogger Samantha braceselbows against her body while filming product reviews in her home. “I get steadier shots now even while holding the phone one-handed,” she notes.

Though smoothing shakes is crucial, excessive static shots diminish vertical video impact. Tim, a travel videographer, warns, “Don’t just lock off the camera. Vertical needs carefully crafted motion.” Subtle moves like slow pans and zooms add energy according to fashion vlogger Rupa. She says, “I incorporate minor camera moves even if the model herself isn’t moving. It createsvisual interest.”

Other videographers intentionally embrace motion. Action sports shooter Finn attaches his phone to helmets, bikes and more to capture thrilling point-of-view vertical footage. The constant motion leverages vertical’s immersive feel. Andrea, a documentary producer, hijacks amusement park rides to achieve unique vertical movement. “Spinning, swinging, and soaring makes everyday moments magical,” she says.

Crop and Zoom: Turning 16x9 Videos into Stylish 9x16 Vertical Videos - Leveraging AI to Enhance Quality

As vertical video grows ubiquitous across platforms, some creators are leveraging artificial intelligence to enhance their vertical productions. AI and machine learning tools provide automated editing techniques that take videos to the next level.

For Andrew, a documentary producer, AI-enhanced vertical videos better convey his artistic vision. He explains, “Vertical needs to pack visual impact into a narrow space. AI allows me to magnify details and tweak colors to intensify that look and feel.”

Specifically, Andrew uses AI-powered software to sharpen details and textures that are lost in compression. This brings out every pore, raindrop and fabric fiber with striking clarity. He also amplifies colors subtly for added pop and atmosphere. Andrew says, “I tried manual tweaking, but it was time-consuming and never looked totally natural. The AI perfectly balances enhancements.”

Fashion influencer Rupa also leverages AI, but to transform her vertical smartphone footage into something more cinematic. She explains, “I don’t have fancy cameras or stabilization gear. But I want my videos to have that polished quality. AI ups the production value dramatically.”

Rupa uses an app that applies an AI-powered stabilization effect to smooth out any shakiness or jitter from handheld shooting. This gives her videos a gimbal-like consistent fluidity without lugging extra gear. The app’s AI then goes in to enhance lighting, color and details for a rich, professional look.

Rupa says, “My videos now have that stylistic color-grading that screams quality. The AI brings out amazing texture in clothing and accessories. I look way more legit to brands and sponsors.”

However, Rupa notes the AI effects can be excessive if she maxes out the sliders. She explains, “I try to keep the look from becoming too artificial. I go for subtle enhancements that my viewers will appreciate without necessarily noticing anything is different.”

Videographer Tim takes a different approach, using AI specifically for vertical conversions. When clients provide only horizontal landscape footage, he uses an AI-powered app to reframe shots vertically. Tim says, “The AI identifies people and objects, then intelligently crops and zooms to showcase them vertically.”

Compared to his previous attempts manually converting landscape footage, the AI creates far superior compositions according to Tim. It maintains visual fidelity rather than degrading quality through awkward stretching or distorting.

Tim explains, “With AI converting landscape footage, I can deliver polished vertical edits fast. It saves clients time and money while giving them the vertical video assets they want.” However, he watches the AI-edited shots closely to ensure no odd artifacts or glitches.

Crop and Zoom: Turning 16x9 Videos into Stylish 9x16 Vertical Videos - Optimizing for Social Media

Optimizing vertical videos for high engagement on social platforms requires understanding the unique algorithms and cultures of each site. The visual language and pacing of vertical videos that thrive on TikTok often differs greatly from the style ideal for Instagram Stories. Creating vertical content tailored to each platform is key according to social media pro Amelia.

Amelia explains that on TikTok, quick cuts, text overlays, and viral audio tracks are heavily favored. She says, “TikTok’s algorithm rewards fast-paced videos that interact with trending sounds and effects. Attention spans are short, so you need constant visual stimulation.” For her fashion TikToks, Amelia regularly incorporates current meme sounds and zooms in on stylish details like shoes or bags. The tight cropping shows off product visually while catchy audio hooks viewers.

Instagram Stories call for a slower, lifestyle-driven pace according to travel vlogger Lucas. He shares scenic sunset landscapes and leisurely food shots. Lucas says, “On Stories, people want to feel immersed in your daily moments and adventures. Quick cuts don’t work. You have to let shots breathe.” He notes that text and audio are secondary on Stories—the visuals tell the story.

Lucas tailors his vertical framing to Instagram’s focus on lifestyle envy. He captures upward looking selfie angles that showcase stylish outfits and exotic locales. Wide landscape establishing shots are cropped down to flattering portraits and food close-ups. Lucas says, “I craft my Stories to highlight aspirational aesthetics. Beautiful imagery and experiences are what the platform is all about.”

According to social media manager Zara, the most crucial optimization tactic is testing different edits. She shares, "I'll make multiple versions of a video with variations in length, text, and pacing. Then I preview the options in-app and see which style delivers stronger metrics." Zara points out that each platform's algorithm favors particular video attributes. Observing what resonates best with the AI informs her ongoing optimization.

Fitness instructor Kayla optimizes her vertical workout videos based on viewer behaviors. She noticed her Snapchat followers craved longer tutorial-style classes while TikTok users preferred quick tips and reps under 60 seconds. Kayla explains, "I don't stick to one style. I customize the education and energy to fit the platform's audience." She films the same workout but edits and paces it multiple ways for each social platform.

Crop and Zoom: Turning 16x9 Videos into Stylish 9x16 Vertical Videos - Exporting for Maximum Impact

Once vertical videos are complete, exporting them properly ensures maximum quality and impact across platforms. Export settings optimize videos for each platform's specifications so the footage looks flawless in-app. Social media consultant Alicia explains, "The export stage is make or break. If your export setting are off, that amazing video content will end up pixelated, blurry or distorted when people watch it."

The first key export factor is resolution. Vertical phone videos are inherently more vertical than horizontal, with dimensions like 1080x1920 pixels compared to landscape video's 1920x1080. Matching output resolution to platform requirements prevents image degradation. For example, TikTok mandates uploads be at least 1080x1920 while YouTube recommends 720x1280 minimum for vertical views.

Bitrate also determines quality. Videos with higher bitrates have less compression and better retain detail. TikTok recommends a bitrate of at least 3500 kbps while Stories look best at 8000 kbps. Of course, higher bitrates result in larger files. Alicia suggests, "Find the sweet spot between smallest file size and highest quality your viewers will tolerate."

Beyond resolution and bitrate, choosing the optimal codec ensures videos transcode smoothly during upload. H264 and H265 work best for social media according to vertical editor Vincent. He says, "I always export with H264 at a high bitrate. It's supported everywhere and balances quality with fast loading."

Container format also matters. For example, MOV and MP4 are ubiquitous while MKV, AVI and proprietary codecs like ProRes can create issues. Exporting vertical videos correctly the first time prevents having to re-export and reupload.

Some creators automate exporting for every platform using services like Adobe Premiere's built-in Publish tab. Tech vlogger Marissa says, "With one click, Publish exports my video in the ideal specs for each platform. It saves me tons of time." She cautions creators to preview the auto-exported videos before publishing to check quality.

Platforms like Instagram and TikTok also now allow direct uploading from editing apps. Travel vlogger Lucas shares, "I switched from exporting through my camera roll. Sending videos straight from Premiere to Stories simplified my workflow." Direct uploads bypass potential compression or corruption during file transfer.