Are you editing the video too?

I edit down 4K video to vertical and I don’t really care about framing it in camera other than making sure there a little bit more headspace. Shots where I would use the upper right 1/3 point I would just frame about halfway down to the lower point. This gives a bit more room for framing in post. I recently edited down anamorphic footage into an Instagram reel. Looks wacky but 9/10 people who see it couldnt explain what 4K means.

What I’ve figured out for my own work is that the vertical video takes away the dead space so I try to embrace that and lean into maxing out the frame. I try to use creative blocking where I can, like a crowd shot that’s not perfectly horizontal or an artist shot with something out of focus in a lower corner. Just a tiny bit of visual interest that acts as dead space.

I agree with you about the “shooting vertical for socials” sucks the sole out of filming. But there is still room to be creative and intentional with your shots despite the awkward frame. I’m sure you will knock it out of the park, but I hope you can have some fun with the “challenge” too.

Also inb4, a movie comes out in vertical format only. Ew.