Creating Memorable Beginnings: IMovie Tips for YouTube Videos

How to Make a Cool YouTube Video Intro in iMovie (Step-by-Step)

Shanoon Cox

Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions

A YouTube video intro is a short clip shown at the beginning of your YouTube video, which introduces the main topic and the vlog poster.

YouTube intro videos have the necessary info about the name and logo of the channel. Your YouTube video intro is one of the best chances to make a great first impression on your viewers within a few short minutes of your video.

It is important to have the right intro maker to create impressive video intros. So, in this article, we will introduce how to make a cool and free YouTube Intro with Apple iMovie and with an iMovie Alternative in an easier way.

• Part 1: An Easier Way to Make YouTube Video Intro with iMovie Alternative
• Part 2: How to Make YouTube Video Intro in iMovie (step-by-step)

Part 1: How to Make a Video Intro Using an iMovie Alternative - Wondershare Filmora

While iMovie is a dynamic tool to make a high-impact intro, you can actually find it a little complicated to follow through with all the options and buttons on the interface to complete the process.

Filmora on the other hand simplifies the process and giving even beginners and amateurs a chance to make great intro videos. It is available for both Mac users and Windows users.

Let’s watch the tutorial about how to make your YouTube intro first.

Download Mac Version ](https://tools.techidaily.com/wondershare/filmora/download/ )

If the tutorial above is not enough for you, you can refer to the steps (for Mac) below to make your YouTube intro now.

Related:

• Get Best iMovie Alternatives for Mac
• Best iMovie Alternatives for Windows

Click here

How to Make a YouTube Intro Video Step-by-step?

Step 1. Simply drag and drop your intro clip to the media library.

Step 2. Add your video to the timeline and go to the Effects tab to apply a great effect (such as the Filter 007 series) to your intro clip.

Step 3. Then switch to the Titles tab, and you will see a great variety of text templates. You can choose and drag the text template you want and apply it to your intro clip.

Step 4. Double-click the text box in the timeline, select Advanced, and input the text you want. Then you can switch to the Animation tab to get more than 50 kinds of text animations, and finally, you can apply the animation you like to your text and make your video more vivid.

If you have any questions about the steps above, you can read more detailed information on Filmora Editing Tips . And you can also watch the video below and download the Filmora trial version to start your editing.

Part 2: How to Make Video Intro in iMovie?

An important aspect of intro making is that it usually contains tile cards and opening credit info within the shot. The key is to find a YouTube intro maker that works best with the text and video edit both.

iMovie is a great program for editing simple yet high-impact on professional video intros. You can use the simple process outlined below to create your YouTube intro with iMovie.

Step 1. Open the interface and click on the menu displaying “File and Open project” to choose the video you want to attach the intro to.

Step 2. Click on the Titles tab on the right side of the interface and check for the black review box to appear.

Step 3. The customization bar for the effects you can place on your video will appear just under the black preview box. Experiment with the effects to get the perfect combination for your video.

Step 4. Type in the correct words in the text box below the effects bar. Different effects allow different space for phrases, so experiment with both effects and text until you get it right.

Step 5. You can also edit the font color, speed of transitions, and background.

Step 6. Finally, drag the intro onto the clip viewer and the iMovie interface will automatically turn it into a video clip to be inserted at certain places on the main video timeline.

You may also like: How to Add Video Effects in iMovie

You can click on help to get directions if you are stuck at any part of the process. Do not over-apply multiple effects and keep the colors bright but subtle. Check the tutorial below about how to make a good YouTube intro with iMovie.

If you want to learn more iMovie editing tips, please check Top 10 iMovie Tips You Should Know .

Related: Add Transitions between Video Clips in iMovie

Shanoon Cox

Shanoon Cox is a writer and a lover of all things video.

Follow @Shanoon Cox

Shanoon Cox

Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions

A YouTube video intro is a short clip shown at the beginning of your YouTube video, which introduces the main topic and the vlog poster.

YouTube intro videos have the necessary info about the name and logo of the channel. Your YouTube video intro is one of the best chances to make a great first impression on your viewers within a few short minutes of your video.

It is important to have the right intro maker to create impressive video intros. So, in this article, we will introduce how to make a cool and free YouTube Intro with Apple iMovie and with an iMovie Alternative in an easier way.

• Part 1: An Easier Way to Make YouTube Video Intro with iMovie Alternative
• Part 2: How to Make YouTube Video Intro in iMovie (step-by-step)

Part 1: How to Make a Video Intro Using an iMovie Alternative - Wondershare Filmora

While iMovie is a dynamic tool to make a high-impact intro, you can actually find it a little complicated to follow through with all the options and buttons on the interface to complete the process.

Filmora on the other hand simplifies the process and giving even beginners and amateurs a chance to make great intro videos. It is available for both Mac users and Windows users.

Let’s watch the tutorial about how to make your YouTube intro first.

Download Mac Version ](https://tools.techidaily.com/wondershare/filmora/download/ )

If the tutorial above is not enough for you, you can refer to the steps (for Mac) below to make your YouTube intro now.

Related:

• Get Best iMovie Alternatives for Mac
• Best iMovie Alternatives for Windows

How to Make a YouTube Intro Video Step-by-step?

Step 1. Simply drag and drop your intro clip to the media library.

Step 2. Add your video to the timeline and go to the Effects tab to apply a great effect (such as the Filter 007 series) to your intro clip.

Step 3. Then switch to the Titles tab, and you will see a great variety of text templates. You can choose and drag the text template you want and apply it to your intro clip.

Step 4. Double-click the text box in the timeline, select Advanced, and input the text you want. Then you can switch to the Animation tab to get more than 50 kinds of text animations, and finally, you can apply the animation you like to your text and make your video more vivid.

If you have any questions about the steps above, you can read more detailed information on Filmora Editing Tips . And you can also watch the video below and download the Filmora trial version to start your editing.

Part 2: How to Make Video Intro in iMovie?

An important aspect of intro making is that it usually contains tile cards and opening credit info within the shot. The key is to find a YouTube intro maker that works best with the text and video edit both.

iMovie is a great program for editing simple yet high-impact on professional video intros. You can use the simple process outlined below to create your YouTube intro with iMovie.

Step 1. Open the interface and click on the menu displaying “File and Open project” to choose the video you want to attach the intro to.

Step 2. Click on the Titles tab on the right side of the interface and check for the black review box to appear.

Step 3. The customization bar for the effects you can place on your video will appear just under the black preview box. Experiment with the effects to get the perfect combination for your video.

Step 4. Type in the correct words in the text box below the effects bar. Different effects allow different space for phrases, so experiment with both effects and text until you get it right.

Step 5. You can also edit the font color, speed of transitions, and background.

Step 6. Finally, drag the intro onto the clip viewer and the iMovie interface will automatically turn it into a video clip to be inserted at certain places on the main video timeline.

You may also like: How to Add Video Effects in iMovie

You can click on help to get directions if you are stuck at any part of the process. Do not over-apply multiple effects and keep the colors bright but subtle. Check the tutorial below about how to make a good YouTube intro with iMovie.

If you want to learn more iMovie editing tips, please check Top 10 iMovie Tips You Should Know .

Related: Add Transitions between Video Clips in iMovie

Shanoon Cox

Shanoon Cox is a writer and a lover of all things video.

Follow @Shanoon Cox

Shanoon Cox

Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions

A YouTube video intro is a short clip shown at the beginning of your YouTube video, which introduces the main topic and the vlog poster.

YouTube intro videos have the necessary info about the name and logo of the channel. Your YouTube video intro is one of the best chances to make a great first impression on your viewers within a few short minutes of your video.

It is important to have the right intro maker to create impressive video intros. So, in this article, we will introduce how to make a cool and free YouTube Intro with Apple iMovie and with an iMovie Alternative in an easier way.

• Part 1: An Easier Way to Make YouTube Video Intro with iMovie Alternative
• Part 2: How to Make YouTube Video Intro in iMovie (step-by-step)

Part 1: How to Make a Video Intro Using an iMovie Alternative - Wondershare Filmora

While iMovie is a dynamic tool to make a high-impact intro, you can actually find it a little complicated to follow through with all the options and buttons on the interface to complete the process.

Filmora on the other hand simplifies the process and giving even beginners and amateurs a chance to make great intro videos. It is available for both Mac users and Windows users.

Let’s watch the tutorial about how to make your YouTube intro first.

Download Mac Version ](https://tools.techidaily.com/wondershare/filmora/download/ )

If the tutorial above is not enough for you, you can refer to the steps (for Mac) below to make your YouTube intro now.

Related:

• Get Best iMovie Alternatives for Mac
• Best iMovie Alternatives for Windows

How to Make a YouTube Intro Video Step-by-step?

Step 1. Simply drag and drop your intro clip to the media library.

Step 2. Add your video to the timeline and go to the Effects tab to apply a great effect (such as the Filter 007 series) to your intro clip.

Step 3. Then switch to the Titles tab, and you will see a great variety of text templates. You can choose and drag the text template you want and apply it to your intro clip.

Step 4. Double-click the text box in the timeline, select Advanced, and input the text you want. Then you can switch to the Animation tab to get more than 50 kinds of text animations, and finally, you can apply the animation you like to your text and make your video more vivid.

If you have any questions about the steps above, you can read more detailed information on Filmora Editing Tips . And you can also watch the video below and download the Filmora trial version to start your editing.

Part 2: How to Make Video Intro in iMovie?

An important aspect of intro making is that it usually contains tile cards and opening credit info within the shot. The key is to find a YouTube intro maker that works best with the text and video edit both.

iMovie is a great program for editing simple yet high-impact on professional video intros. You can use the simple process outlined below to create your YouTube intro with iMovie.

Step 1. Open the interface and click on the menu displaying “File and Open project” to choose the video you want to attach the intro to.

Step 2. Click on the Titles tab on the right side of the interface and check for the black review box to appear.

Step 3. The customization bar for the effects you can place on your video will appear just under the black preview box. Experiment with the effects to get the perfect combination for your video.

Step 4. Type in the correct words in the text box below the effects bar. Different effects allow different space for phrases, so experiment with both effects and text until you get it right.

Step 5. You can also edit the font color, speed of transitions, and background.

Step 6. Finally, drag the intro onto the clip viewer and the iMovie interface will automatically turn it into a video clip to be inserted at certain places on the main video timeline.

You may also like: How to Add Video Effects in iMovie

You can click on help to get directions if you are stuck at any part of the process. Do not over-apply multiple effects and keep the colors bright but subtle. Check the tutorial below about how to make a good YouTube intro with iMovie.

If you want to learn more iMovie editing tips, please check Top 10 iMovie Tips You Should Know .

Related: Add Transitions between Video Clips in iMovie

Shanoon Cox

Shanoon Cox is a writer and a lover of all things video.

Follow @Shanoon Cox

Shanoon Cox

Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions

A YouTube video intro is a short clip shown at the beginning of your YouTube video, which introduces the main topic and the vlog poster.

YouTube intro videos have the necessary info about the name and logo of the channel. Your YouTube video intro is one of the best chances to make a great first impression on your viewers within a few short minutes of your video.

It is important to have the right intro maker to create impressive video intros. So, in this article, we will introduce how to make a cool and free YouTube Intro with Apple iMovie and with an iMovie Alternative in an easier way.

• Part 1: An Easier Way to Make YouTube Video Intro with iMovie Alternative
• Part 2: How to Make YouTube Video Intro in iMovie (step-by-step)

Part 1: How to Make a Video Intro Using an iMovie Alternative - Wondershare Filmora

While iMovie is a dynamic tool to make a high-impact intro, you can actually find it a little complicated to follow through with all the options and buttons on the interface to complete the process.

Filmora on the other hand simplifies the process and giving even beginners and amateurs a chance to make great intro videos. It is available for both Mac users and Windows users.

Let’s watch the tutorial about how to make your YouTube intro first.

Download Mac Version ](https://tools.techidaily.com/wondershare/filmora/download/ )

If the tutorial above is not enough for you, you can refer to the steps (for Mac) below to make your YouTube intro now.

Related:

• Get Best iMovie Alternatives for Mac
• Best iMovie Alternatives for Windows

How to Make a YouTube Intro Video Step-by-step?

Step 1. Simply drag and drop your intro clip to the media library.

Step 2. Add your video to the timeline and go to the Effects tab to apply a great effect (such as the Filter 007 series) to your intro clip.

Step 3. Then switch to the Titles tab, and you will see a great variety of text templates. You can choose and drag the text template you want and apply it to your intro clip.

Step 4. Double-click the text box in the timeline, select Advanced, and input the text you want. Then you can switch to the Animation tab to get more than 50 kinds of text animations, and finally, you can apply the animation you like to your text and make your video more vivid.

If you have any questions about the steps above, you can read more detailed information on Filmora Editing Tips . And you can also watch the video below and download the Filmora trial version to start your editing.

Part 2: How to Make Video Intro in iMovie?

An important aspect of intro making is that it usually contains tile cards and opening credit info within the shot. The key is to find a YouTube intro maker that works best with the text and video edit both.

iMovie is a great program for editing simple yet high-impact on professional video intros. You can use the simple process outlined below to create your YouTube intro with iMovie.

Step 1. Open the interface and click on the menu displaying “File and Open project” to choose the video you want to attach the intro to.

Step 2. Click on the Titles tab on the right side of the interface and check for the black review box to appear.

Step 3. The customization bar for the effects you can place on your video will appear just under the black preview box. Experiment with the effects to get the perfect combination for your video.

Step 4. Type in the correct words in the text box below the effects bar. Different effects allow different space for phrases, so experiment with both effects and text until you get it right.

Step 5. You can also edit the font color, speed of transitions, and background.

Step 6. Finally, drag the intro onto the clip viewer and the iMovie interface will automatically turn it into a video clip to be inserted at certain places on the main video timeline.

You may also like: How to Add Video Effects in iMovie

You can click on help to get directions if you are stuck at any part of the process. Do not over-apply multiple effects and keep the colors bright but subtle. Check the tutorial below about how to make a good YouTube intro with iMovie.

If you want to learn more iMovie editing tips, please check Top 10 iMovie Tips You Should Know .

Related: Add Transitions between Video Clips in iMovie

Shanoon Cox

Shanoon Cox is a writer and a lover of all things video.

Follow @Shanoon Cox

The Essential Handheld Guide to YouTube Production

How To Make YouTube Videos on Your Smartphone

Richard Bennett

Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions

It is fun to be able to record a vlog entry whenever inspiration strikes you, and your smartphone is a great choice for recording on the go. Smartphones have really great cameras, and you probably always have your phone with you. You can even post directly from your phone to YouTube!

How To Make YouTube Videos on Your Smartphone

Making a video on your smartphone is similar to making a video with any other camera in a lot of ways. There are also a lot of ways in which it is different. You always have to watch out for camera shake, for example, but it can be even harder to control when you’re walking around shooting on your mobile device. Here are three things to keep in mind when vlogging with your smartphone.

Part 1. Keep It Steady

For a nice, smooth, shot consider resting your hand up on a railing, table, or anything else that will keep it steady while you film. Camera shake is always distracting to viewers, and smartphone videos are notoriously unstable because you are almost always holding your phone in your hand.

There is equipment you can use to cut out camera shake. You can get a smartphone mount for your tripod, or you can even stabilize your phone using a selfie stick. Many of the very newest smartphones have built in hardware called ‘OIS’ – optical image stabilization – that helps reduce shakiness.

Part 2. Be Heard

You have a lot to say, so make sure people can hear you say it! Smartphones do not tend to have very good microphones built in (neither do most cameras), so try to vlog from somewhere without a lot of background noise. It will help a lot if your voice has nothing to compete with.

Ideally, you should get an external mic to record your voice while you vlog on your phone. There are shotgun mics you can plug directly into the audio jack on your phone which will record great audio, or you can get a high quality MP3 recorder and carry it around in your pocket.

Part 3. Tilt Your Phone

When recording on the spur of the moment with your smartphone it is easy to automatically hold it the same way you would while texting or taking a selfie. If you record a video with your phone held so that it is tall – a ‘portrait’ shot – then your video will have thick black bars on either side when you post it to YouTube. If you tilt your phone so that it is wide you will record a ‘landscape’ shot, which will match the dimensions YouTube plays videos in.

The exception to this is videos you plan to post on Instagram. On Instagram everything is cropped into a square, and it is easier to imagine what your footage will look like as a square when you hold your phone strait up. Simply focus on the top of your screen and treat a portion of the bottom of your screen as if it is not there. When you hold your phone horizontally you need to try and estimate how much of the middle of your screen will make it in to your Instagram video, which can be awkward.

Those are the three main things to keep in mind, but if you are planning on posting directly to YouTube from your phone then you should also make sure you have a mobile app you can use to edit it first.

Filmora is a full-feature video editing app available for both Android and iPhone operating systems. With Filmora you can make awesome YouTube videos quickly using Filmora’s one-touch themes, or take a little bit more time personalizing your creation. One-touch themes are sets of related features, like filters and animated titles, which you can apply to your videos all at once. Filmora’s simple interface also makes it easy to apply filters, titles, overlays, transitions, and even royalty free music to your project one at a time.

After you’ve edited your video in Filmora you can post it directly to YouTube or other social media sites right from the app.

Richard Bennett

Richard Bennett is a writer and a lover of all things video.

Follow @Richard Bennett

Richard Bennett

Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions

It is fun to be able to record a vlog entry whenever inspiration strikes you, and your smartphone is a great choice for recording on the go. Smartphones have really great cameras, and you probably always have your phone with you. You can even post directly from your phone to YouTube!

How To Make YouTube Videos on Your Smartphone

Making a video on your smartphone is similar to making a video with any other camera in a lot of ways. There are also a lot of ways in which it is different. You always have to watch out for camera shake, for example, but it can be even harder to control when you’re walking around shooting on your mobile device. Here are three things to keep in mind when vlogging with your smartphone.

Part 1. Keep It Steady

For a nice, smooth, shot consider resting your hand up on a railing, table, or anything else that will keep it steady while you film. Camera shake is always distracting to viewers, and smartphone videos are notoriously unstable because you are almost always holding your phone in your hand.

There is equipment you can use to cut out camera shake. You can get a smartphone mount for your tripod, or you can even stabilize your phone using a selfie stick. Many of the very newest smartphones have built in hardware called ‘OIS’ – optical image stabilization – that helps reduce shakiness.

Part 2. Be Heard

You have a lot to say, so make sure people can hear you say it! Smartphones do not tend to have very good microphones built in (neither do most cameras), so try to vlog from somewhere without a lot of background noise. It will help a lot if your voice has nothing to compete with.

Ideally, you should get an external mic to record your voice while you vlog on your phone. There are shotgun mics you can plug directly into the audio jack on your phone which will record great audio, or you can get a high quality MP3 recorder and carry it around in your pocket.

Part 3. Tilt Your Phone

When recording on the spur of the moment with your smartphone it is easy to automatically hold it the same way you would while texting or taking a selfie. If you record a video with your phone held so that it is tall – a ‘portrait’ shot – then your video will have thick black bars on either side when you post it to YouTube. If you tilt your phone so that it is wide you will record a ‘landscape’ shot, which will match the dimensions YouTube plays videos in.

The exception to this is videos you plan to post on Instagram. On Instagram everything is cropped into a square, and it is easier to imagine what your footage will look like as a square when you hold your phone strait up. Simply focus on the top of your screen and treat a portion of the bottom of your screen as if it is not there. When you hold your phone horizontally you need to try and estimate how much of the middle of your screen will make it in to your Instagram video, which can be awkward.

Those are the three main things to keep in mind, but if you are planning on posting directly to YouTube from your phone then you should also make sure you have a mobile app you can use to edit it first.

Filmora is a full-feature video editing app available for both Android and iPhone operating systems. With Filmora you can make awesome YouTube videos quickly using Filmora’s one-touch themes, or take a little bit more time personalizing your creation. One-touch themes are sets of related features, like filters and animated titles, which you can apply to your videos all at once. Filmora’s simple interface also makes it easy to apply filters, titles, overlays, transitions, and even royalty free music to your project one at a time.

After you’ve edited your video in Filmora you can post it directly to YouTube or other social media sites right from the app.

Richard Bennett

Richard Bennett is a writer and a lover of all things video.

Follow @Richard Bennett

Richard Bennett

Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions

It is fun to be able to record a vlog entry whenever inspiration strikes you, and your smartphone is a great choice for recording on the go. Smartphones have really great cameras, and you probably always have your phone with you. You can even post directly from your phone to YouTube!

How To Make YouTube Videos on Your Smartphone

Making a video on your smartphone is similar to making a video with any other camera in a lot of ways. There are also a lot of ways in which it is different. You always have to watch out for camera shake, for example, but it can be even harder to control when you’re walking around shooting on your mobile device. Here are three things to keep in mind when vlogging with your smartphone.

Part 1. Keep It Steady

For a nice, smooth, shot consider resting your hand up on a railing, table, or anything else that will keep it steady while you film. Camera shake is always distracting to viewers, and smartphone videos are notoriously unstable because you are almost always holding your phone in your hand.

There is equipment you can use to cut out camera shake. You can get a smartphone mount for your tripod, or you can even stabilize your phone using a selfie stick. Many of the very newest smartphones have built in hardware called ‘OIS’ – optical image stabilization – that helps reduce shakiness.

Part 2. Be Heard

You have a lot to say, so make sure people can hear you say it! Smartphones do not tend to have very good microphones built in (neither do most cameras), so try to vlog from somewhere without a lot of background noise. It will help a lot if your voice has nothing to compete with.

Ideally, you should get an external mic to record your voice while you vlog on your phone. There are shotgun mics you can plug directly into the audio jack on your phone which will record great audio, or you can get a high quality MP3 recorder and carry it around in your pocket.

Part 3. Tilt Your Phone

When recording on the spur of the moment with your smartphone it is easy to automatically hold it the same way you would while texting or taking a selfie. If you record a video with your phone held so that it is tall – a ‘portrait’ shot – then your video will have thick black bars on either side when you post it to YouTube. If you tilt your phone so that it is wide you will record a ‘landscape’ shot, which will match the dimensions YouTube plays videos in.

The exception to this is videos you plan to post on Instagram. On Instagram everything is cropped into a square, and it is easier to imagine what your footage will look like as a square when you hold your phone strait up. Simply focus on the top of your screen and treat a portion of the bottom of your screen as if it is not there. When you hold your phone horizontally you need to try and estimate how much of the middle of your screen will make it in to your Instagram video, which can be awkward.

Those are the three main things to keep in mind, but if you are planning on posting directly to YouTube from your phone then you should also make sure you have a mobile app you can use to edit it first.

Filmora is a full-feature video editing app available for both Android and iPhone operating systems. With Filmora you can make awesome YouTube videos quickly using Filmora’s one-touch themes, or take a little bit more time personalizing your creation. One-touch themes are sets of related features, like filters and animated titles, which you can apply to your videos all at once. Filmora’s simple interface also makes it easy to apply filters, titles, overlays, transitions, and even royalty free music to your project one at a time.

After you’ve edited your video in Filmora you can post it directly to YouTube or other social media sites right from the app.

Richard Bennett

Richard Bennett is a writer and a lover of all things video.

Follow @Richard Bennett

Richard Bennett

Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions

It is fun to be able to record a vlog entry whenever inspiration strikes you, and your smartphone is a great choice for recording on the go. Smartphones have really great cameras, and you probably always have your phone with you. You can even post directly from your phone to YouTube!

How To Make YouTube Videos on Your Smartphone

Making a video on your smartphone is similar to making a video with any other camera in a lot of ways. There are also a lot of ways in which it is different. You always have to watch out for camera shake, for example, but it can be even harder to control when you’re walking around shooting on your mobile device. Here are three things to keep in mind when vlogging with your smartphone.

Part 1. Keep It Steady

For a nice, smooth, shot consider resting your hand up on a railing, table, or anything else that will keep it steady while you film. Camera shake is always distracting to viewers, and smartphone videos are notoriously unstable because you are almost always holding your phone in your hand.

There is equipment you can use to cut out camera shake. You can get a smartphone mount for your tripod, or you can even stabilize your phone using a selfie stick. Many of the very newest smartphones have built in hardware called ‘OIS’ – optical image stabilization – that helps reduce shakiness.

Part 2. Be Heard

You have a lot to say, so make sure people can hear you say it! Smartphones do not tend to have very good microphones built in (neither do most cameras), so try to vlog from somewhere without a lot of background noise. It will help a lot if your voice has nothing to compete with.

Ideally, you should get an external mic to record your voice while you vlog on your phone. There are shotgun mics you can plug directly into the audio jack on your phone which will record great audio, or you can get a high quality MP3 recorder and carry it around in your pocket.

Part 3. Tilt Your Phone

When recording on the spur of the moment with your smartphone it is easy to automatically hold it the same way you would while texting or taking a selfie. If you record a video with your phone held so that it is tall – a ‘portrait’ shot – then your video will have thick black bars on either side when you post it to YouTube. If you tilt your phone so that it is wide you will record a ‘landscape’ shot, which will match the dimensions YouTube plays videos in.

The exception to this is videos you plan to post on Instagram. On Instagram everything is cropped into a square, and it is easier to imagine what your footage will look like as a square when you hold your phone strait up. Simply focus on the top of your screen and treat a portion of the bottom of your screen as if it is not there. When you hold your phone horizontally you need to try and estimate how much of the middle of your screen will make it in to your Instagram video, which can be awkward.

Those are the three main things to keep in mind, but if you are planning on posting directly to YouTube from your phone then you should also make sure you have a mobile app you can use to edit it first.

Filmora is a full-feature video editing app available for both Android and iPhone operating systems. With Filmora you can make awesome YouTube videos quickly using Filmora’s one-touch themes, or take a little bit more time personalizing your creation. One-touch themes are sets of related features, like filters and animated titles, which you can apply to your videos all at once. Filmora’s simple interface also makes it easy to apply filters, titles, overlays, transitions, and even royalty free music to your project one at a time.

After you’ve edited your video in Filmora you can post it directly to YouTube or other social media sites right from the app.

Richard Bennett

Richard Bennett is a writer and a lover of all things video.

Follow @Richard Bennett

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