Vertical cutdowns: your music video is also 10 reels
Shoot horizontal, deliver vertical. Plan the crop before you shoot, not after.
Frame for both
Keep your subject centered with headroom. What works in 16:9 with dead space on the sides becomes perfect 9:16 with a simple crop.
Shoot key moments in 4K so the vertical crop stays sharp. Resolution is your safety net.
Cut for the feed
Vertical cutdowns need faster pacing and bigger text. Take the best 15 seconds, not a shrunk full video.
Hook in the first second. The chorus, the hardest bar, the wildest visual. Lead with the peak.
The content math
One video shoot should yield the full video, three performance clips, two behind the scenes, and five lyric moments. Ten pieces minimum.
Next step: on your next shoot, mark which takes are vertical priorities before you roll.
Design vertical first
If vertical is the priority, compose for vertical on set. Do not treat it as an afterthought crop.
Shoot a few takes framed specifically for 9:16. Dedicated verticals outperform crops every time.
Your Monday action plan
Before your next shoot, mark five moments as vertical priorities in your shot list.
Edit the vertical cutdowns within 48 hours of the shoot while the footage is fresh.
Sources and further reading
Sources were checked for this article. Tool features, prices and availability can change. Product claims are attributed to their publishers.
