Why I Stopped Posting Vertical Videos on Instagram, TikTok and YouTube
With the rise of Instagram Reels, TikToks and YouTube Shorts over the past few years, everyone has turned their attention to video content. And not just any video content. I’m talking specifically about vertical video content. While most videos in the past were typically filmed horizontally, social media and smart phone cameras really catapulted the vertical video trend into the mainstream, mainly due to the fact that most people hold their phones, well, vertically. So, of course, it made sense that video content should also be posted vertically so that viewers wouldn’t have to turn their phones a simple 90 degrees to watch content. Well, as a videographer, I, for one, have become a little tired of the vertical video trend, and wouldn’t mind seeing a return to the more traditional horizontal videos of yesteryear. That’s why I stopped posting vertical videos on Instagram, TikTok and YouTube.
And I’m not the only one who’s caught on. I see tons of creators now posting horizontal videos on these platforms, defying the push towards vertical. And, interestingly enough, their content still seems to do well and receive a ton of engagement. So, if anything, let that be a green light for you to give the tried and tested standard horizontal framing a try in your next video.
Will I ever post a vertical video again?! Most likely. Because the truth of the matter is that vertical videos are still very much in favour right now, so it only makes sense to post some videos vertically. But I am going to start posting more and more Instagram Reels, TikToks and YouTube Shorts horizontally. Sure, viewers may find it annoying that they have to turn their phones to view my videos, but, especially when it comes to travel videos, the horizontal perspective opens up a whole new, or should I say old, realm of possibilities for social media videos. So, with that, here’s why I’ve stopped posting vertical videos on social media in favour of horizontal ones:
Captures More of the Scene
When you’re sitting at home talking directly to the camera, trying to capture an entire scene isn’t always necessary, so, in this instance, vertical videos can work. But have you ever been on an epic trip, realized you need to film some shots for your social media profiles, and then tried filming a massive landscape scene vertically? It feels wrong.
Landscape photography and videography is often shot with, you guessed it, a landscape orientation, as this allows you to capture as much of the scene’s details as possible. When shooting vertically, most of the scene doesn’t get captured, or you need to pan the camera in every clip to ensure you try and somewhat do the place justice. When you do this, however, it takes multiple seconds before your clip is actually able to showcase the whole scene. And, even if you are able to pan across and cover the whole scene, it’s still impossible to fully appreciate what that scene or landscape actually looks like.
When you film horizontally, you are able to capture the majority of the scene all at once with minimal or no camera movement. This means, unlike with vertical videos, your viewers will be able to picture the scene or landscape more quickly, leading to, in my opinion, more of an instant wow factor when they land on your video.
Helps Tell Your Story
Similar to capturing more of the scene, shooting horizontally also helps you tell better stories through your videos, as you are able to capture more of the places and details of your location, therefore driving your story forward through your visuals. Think of it as “showing” your viewers your story, as opposed to “telling” them it. When creating a compelling story, the goal is to try and show your viewer the story, as it allows them to develop their own emotions and understanding of what’s happening through various details and actions. It also helps create a level of intrigue and suspense, if you will, and helps them connect with what’s happening on a deeper level. When you tell someone a story, however, you are telling the viewer exactly how they should feel and how they should interpret what’s happening, which doesn’t create the same level of engagement in the viewer.
The “show, don’t tell” storytelling technique is very effective in video making, especially considering that videos naturally show so many incredible details within a scene. Part of your job as the videographer is to capture as many of these details as you can to really show the viewer what’s happening, and help lead them through the story with your visuals. Horizontal videos really help with this as they, again, allow you to capture much more of the scene.
In vertical videos, however, it becomes much more difficult to show what’s happening, as much less of the scene fits into the frame. This means that, a lot of the time, the person being filmed vertically has no other choice but to tell the viewer what’s going on, depriving the viewer of their ability to interpret what’s happening in their own mind.
Next time you go out to film a video like a travel vlog, for example, try filming some scenes horizontally, capturing as much of the surrounding scene and details as possible. Then, try and film some scenes purely vertically. When you look at the clips afterwards, try and determine which scenes really show you what’s happening without needing any dialogue. Chances are, the horizontal scenes will help share the story without needing to say anything more.
Feels More Natural
Finally, watching horizontal videos just feels more natural. This is probably because movies and tv shows have been filmed horizontally for years. Sure, we have started to become more and more used to vertical videos, as they have become a part of our every day lives, but there is still something nice about watching a video that takes up an entire horizontal screen. And once you get over the fact that you’ll need to rotate your phone 90 degrees while viewing horizontal videos on Instagram, TikTok or YouTube, you’ll also likely feel a sense of comfort in watching a video the way we used to.
Conclusion
Vertical videos have taken over mainstream social media platforms over the past few years, however horizontal videos, in my opinion, still have their place. By filming videos horizontally, you can capture more of the scene, which is especially helpful for travel videography. You can also help show the story you’re trying to convey through your imagery, rather than relying on telling it through dialogue and / or captions. Plus, watching a video horizontally just feels more natural, and is reminiscent of all the time we’ve spent watching movies and tv shows throughout our lives. So the next time you head out to film your latest vertical video, give horizontal videos a try. You may be surprised by how much you enjoy working in a horizontal video format.