In 2025, there is little wonder as to why vertical photography has become the de facto norm for many of us. After all, it is arguably the most accessible and popular form of photography thanks to its widespread prevalence on photo-based social media platforms like Instagram and VSCO. Furthermore, the average smartphone camera resolution has doubled in the last few years, giving us an average megapixel count of 54. Considering the compact form factor of mobile devices and that most DSLR’s on the market today average around 24 megapixels, that is quite the accomplishment.
For example, the iPhone 15 Pro Max, released in 2023, has a whopping 48-megapixel sensor, which is still the default count on current models such as the upcoming iPhone 17 Pro Max.
On the other hand, the DJI Pocket 3 was released in the same year as the 15 Pro Max and has plenty of features that make it appealing for those looking to shoot vertical content. Equipped with a powerful 1-inch CMOS sensor with excellent low light capabilities, it can capture clear highlight-shadow details and deliver stunning results with minimal digital noise. Additionally, with its built-in gimbal providing three-axis mechanical stabilization, the footage capture remains firm and stable even during heavy camera movement.
You can also shoot in 4K up to 120 frames per second, resulting in ultra-smooth frame rates with no visual compromise whatsoever. And despite all this, the Pocket 3 is equally as compact as the 15 Pro Max and will fit into most pockets making it a perfect candidate for on the move shooting. Most appealingly however is the price factor – while the 15 Pro Max continues to be sold under its entry-level price of £1,049.00, the Pocket 3 on the other hand weighs in at just £489.00, making it far more accessible to those wanting the best of both worlds.
Why Vertical Formats Matter in 2025
There are many reasons as to why the importance of vertically framing your image cannot be overlooked. Firstly, in a world dominated by mobile content consumption on platforms like Instagram, vertical formats provide an immersive and engaging viewing experience thanks to their screen optimization. For example, photos and videos that are presented horizontally on Instagram are less favoured by the algorithm and take up a significantly smaller amount of screen real estate, meaning they are less likely to engage your viewers and are easier to miss. Secondly, vertically framed videos in particular can often have a more lifelike and authentic feel due to their prevalence on social media.
This is why they are often used by content creators and influencers to share quick video updates and behind-the-scenes content to their followers. Additionally, according to Statista, around 63.9% of the world’s population use social media platforms where vertical content like Instagram reels is regularly consumed, highlighting the importance of being able to engage such a large audience. Ultimately, the ability to utilise vertical photo and video is essential for any brand or photographer looking to connect with audiences in today’s digital landscape.
Furthermore, many brands are increasingly using vertical videos to advertise their products on social media, which will often appear when scrolling through reels and video shorts. And considering that over half of the time users spend on Instagram is dedicated to watching reels and short-form content, the need to tap into this demographic is essential for any brand relying on social media to promote their products.
Best Subjects for Vertical Framing
There are several subjects that are well suited to the vertical orientation. Of course, the most immediate one that springs to mind is the portrait, something that has been around long before social media. Yet in the digital sphere, the portrait is a great way to show off your work. Photographers like David Guerrero for example have built their entire page around still portrait photography, displaying their skills in a way that it seamless to scroll through. Other subjects that are great for vertically framed photography and video capture are soaring skyscrapers, mountains and buildings with unique architecture.
Shooting Tips: Angle, Composition & Movement
It may seem like there are less elements to worry about when shooting vertically, but that’s actually not the case at all. In fact, you will often find that many visual discrepancies like motion blur and low-resolution capture become more pronounced in such a narrower field of view, so it’s important to keep an eye on not just the subject but the framing of them.
If you are shooting a vertical video in a fast-movement environment like a football game, then you may want to consider shooting in the highest frame rate possible on your device as this will help minimise the motion blur and provide smoother footage. Essentially, vertical capture boils down to the principle that where there is less room for the eye to wander, there is less room to be complacent.
Editing and Exporting for Mobile Platforms
When it comes to editing your photos and videos on mobile platforms, there are a plethora of ways that you can alter your image, even without any additional software. As any iPhone owner will tell you, Apple’s flagship devices have received a steady stream of IOS updates over the years, each bringing their own level of benefits. One such benefit is built-in photo and video editing capabilities, reducing the need for any additional software. Most devices now have their own host of editing options like image sharpening, tone highlights and colour filters which you can spend a lot of time experimenting with. It’s also true that newer, more capable models like the 15 Pro Max benefit from a range of hardware-accelerated editing features thanks to these updates.
Editing your photos is one thing of course, but what if you do decide to edit footage instead and employ additional software like KineMaster, CapCut and iMovie? Well, these platforms will give you a lot more freedom when it comes to advanced editing and overall creative output, but the importance of the encode cannot be overlooked.
It may seem tempting to export your footage in lower-quality encodes like H.264 to save time and storage on your device, but in 2025 this is a codec that has truly outlived its purpose; after all, the days of poor image compression on social media are long gone. Instagram and YouTube actively support 60fps video, as well as more recent codecs like H.265 which have been designed with higher-resolution and smoother visuals in mind, offering much better image compression. With this in mind, you’ll want to consider using higher bitrate codecs like H.265 (HEVC) if you want your work to look the sharpest it can be.
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