Composition tips for vertical 9:16 video
TikTok's 9:16 frame is tall and narrow, the opposite of a TV. Habits from horizontal video, such as wide scenery and people side by side, leave large empty spaces. Composing for height fixes that.
Fill the height
Stack things vertically: a person standing, a staircase, a tall plant beside you, a product above its box. Subjects that are tall and narrow suit the frame naturally.
For two people, stand one slightly behind the other rather than side by side, so both fit without tiny faces.
Use foreground and background
Put something close to the lens at the bottom of the frame, such as a cup, a plant or a desk edge, with the subject further back. Layers make a narrow frame feel deep.
Keep the background tidy. In vertical video the wall behind you takes up a large share of the picture.
Lines that lead upward
Roads, corridors, railings and shelves running from the bottom towards the subject draw the eye up the frame. Shoot down a corridor rather than across it.
Keep the horizon level; tilted lines are more noticeable in a tall frame.
Leave room for the interface
Remember the caption covers the bottom and buttons cover the right edge. Compose the important part slightly above centre and towards the left.
Frequently asked questions
How do I fit two people into a vertical frame?
Stand one slightly behind the other rather than side by side, so both fit without their faces becoming tiny.
How can I make a narrow 9:16 frame feel deeper?
Put something close to the lens at the bottom of the frame, like a cup or plant, with the subject further back. The layers add depth.
Where should the main subject sit in a vertical video?
Slightly above centre and towards the left, because the caption covers the bottom and the buttons cover the right edge.