THE ONE RULE FOR EVERY SHOT
NO LANDSCAPE RECORDING.
These ads are mainly watched on phones. Hold your iPhone upright for every interview, Langi take and B-roll shot.
In Blackmagic Camera, turn on Enable Vertical Video. Record 10 seconds. Play it back and confirm it is tall, with clear sound. Holding the phone upright alone may still record landscape.
02 / CAMERA SETUP
LensStart with the rear 1x main camera.
ColourRec.709 + HEVC for a simple handoff. Use Log only if the editor has agreed and tested it.
ExposureLow practical ISO, a properly exposed face and ND outdoors as needed.
Before speechOff-speed OFF. Check portrait recording, then lock white balance, exposure and stationary-subject focus.
TAP A TERM TO LEARN IT
Each frame exposes for half its frame interval. A natural-motion starting point.
50 fps can play at half speed on a 25 fps edit. Use the 50 Hz flicker setting and test LEDs/screens. Change the light or shutter if flicker remains.
EXPOSURE / OUTDOORS
Add ND to keep 1/50 outdoors without overexposing the face. Remove ND when you need more light.
The iPhone 17 Pro Max aperture is fixed. You cannot turn it down. ND itself does not create background blur.
For separation: use a distant background, soft light and thoughtful portrait framing. If a variable ND creates an X or colour cast, reduce it or change filtration.
EXPOSURE / ISO
Use a low practical ISO while keeping the face correctly exposed. Remove ND or add light before accepting noisy shadows. There is no universal low ISO number for every lens/profile.
COLOUR + FOCUS
Daylight around 5600 K is a starting point. Check skin and a neutral reference, then lock white balance. Focus on the near eye for a still interview; recheck when the person moves.
03 / PORTRAIT FRAMING
EVERY TAKE: PORTRAIT 9:16
Mid-chest framing. A little headroom. Keep the phone upright.
Langi stands just beside the lens. For his own ad lines, Langi looks into the lens.
Keep face, hands and key action away from the edges. Leave space for captions.
This photo shows light and looking room. Turn your interview subject more toward camera; do not copy the full-profile pose.
See the camera placement diagram04 / CAMERA PLACEMENT
TOP VIEW / PHONE HELD UPRIGHT
05 / PORTRAIT BACKGROUNDS
Swipe to compare the portrait examples →
Quiet first. Pause noisy machines and music with the host's agreement. Film noisy action separately.
Soft light. Face the client toward a window or open shade. Avoid patchy sun across their face.
Keep the face clear. No poles, bright windows or distracting movement directly behind their head.
06 / CLIENT TESTIMONIALS
Tap a question to go straight to it. Film every answer in portrait 9:16.
Ask one part at a time. Let them answer fully. Nod silently. Ask for a shorter version in their own words. Do not script praise.
01 / THE NEED / PORTRAIT 9:16
Listen for a specific business need. If they had no website, ask what the new one needed to help customers understand or do.
Follow-up: “Can you give me an example?”
02 / THE DECISION / PORTRAIT 9:16
Find the real buying trigger and decision criteria. Let the client describe their priorities or concerns.
Follow-up: “What mattered most to you?”
03 / THE WORK / PORTRAIT 9:16
Find something we can show: services, gallery, mobile layout or the contact journey. Capture that exact feature afterwards.
Follow-up: “Can you show me?”
04 / THE EXPERIENCE / PORTRAIT 9:16
Look for a concrete example of communication, feedback or delivery. Let the client describe what actually happened.
Follow-up: “What stands out?”
05 / THE DIFFERENCE / PORTRAIT 9:16
A truthful practical benefit is useful. If they mention more leads or sales, preserve the context and flag the claim for verification before the ad is edited.
Follow-up: “What changed, specifically?”
07 / PORTRAIT B-ROLL
“Wide” means more of the scene. It does not mean turning the phone sideways. Every shot below stays portrait 9:16.
Swipe to compare the portrait examples →
Show the workplace and context.
Show the person doing the task.
Show hands, tools or the useful feature.
08 / CLIENT INTERACTIONS
RECORD PORTRAIT 9:16
“Show me the page you use most.”
“Walk me through this decision.”
Film a genuine walkthrough. A replay can illustrate the work; do not present it as the original meeting or a spontaneous first reaction.
Use a tripod or another operator when Langi joins in. For website footage, capture the phone screen in portrait. Hide notifications and private information.
09 / SOUND FIRST
VOICE PEAKS
-12 dBFSLouder words below -6 dBFS.
Never 0 / red.
About 15-20 cm below the mouth. Keep hair, fabric and jewellery from rubbing it.
Use a windscreen outdoors. Pause for traffic, aircraft and machines.
Confirm the correct mic. Listen with headphones. Meters alone are not enough.
10 / LANGI ON CAMERA
Portrait 9:16. Look into the lens. Record two full takes, then separate opening and closing pickups.
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11 / YOUR SHOOT CHECKLIST
Tick as you go. Saved on this device when browser storage is available.
12 / QUICK FIXES
Add ND or find shade. If filtration cannot cope, a faster shutter is better than clipped footage.
Remove ND. Use 1x, add light or move. Raise ISO enough for the face.
Refocus on the near eye and lock for a still subject. Recheck after movement.
Check 25 fps / 1/50, then test another shutter or light. Capture phone screens directly in portrait.
Stop. Shelter or refit the mic, replay a test and repeat the answer.
Pause in shade. Check capacity and cables. Never delete the only copy to make room.
REFERENCE LIBRARY
All photos here are reference photography displayed in portrait 9:16. They are not Acend clients or endorsements. Film real clients and real work for the campaign.
ShotDeck cinematic reference source opens separately. ShotDeck frames are not republished in this shareable guide.
Camera facts checked against Apple and Blackmagic. Test the installed app, microphone, light and ND before the shoot. Original supplied Acend logo used without redrawing.
Back to portrait setup ↑ACEND MARKETING / 28 OCTOBER 2026