Unless you have a lot of experience with shooting video on a smartphone or tablet, take the time to watch an introductory video like this one before you begin:

Ep. 1: Welcome to Mastering Mobile Video from Vimeo Video School on Vimeo.

If you’re interested, you can watch the whole series on Mastering Mobile video by Vimeo.

Tips for recording video on all devices:

• Take a quick sample recording in the shooting location and watch/listen to it before you record what you’re really interested in. That way you’ll be sure you can see and hear your subject well.
• Don’t record videos at Full HD resolution (1080p) as this results in large file sizes with little visible increase in quality. In most cases HD (720p) or even SD (480p) quality video will suffice. Check the settings on your device/app before you record.
• Use a tripod if you have access to one. Smartphone Tripods like the Joby GripTight GorillaPod can be used with a wide range of devices.
• If you don’t have access to a tripod then use anything at hand to stabilise the camera. Hold the camera close to your body bracing your elbows on your chest or lean against a wall or post. You can also rest the smartphone on a ledge, shelf etc.
• If holding a smartphone, use both hands to grip your device. Relax your upper body as muscle tension will cause shakiness as you become fatigued.
• Get the microphone close to the sound source, especially in noisy locations. Any microphone benefits by being closer to the sound source, as long as you are aware of the proximity effect.

What to use for recording and uploading to YouTube

• Ensure that you’re connected via WiFi when uploading video to avoid excess data charges
• If you need to change the privacy settings on a video after you’ve uploaded it, follow these instructions on YouTube help.

IMPORTANT: When uploading to YouTube set your video’s privacy level to unlisted. This will prevent it from being searched for on YouTube but allows it to be viewed by anyone with the link.

iPhones and iPads

The YouTube Capture app for iOS allows you to record, edit and upload a video from within the app. Watch the video below to learn more about the YouTube capture app.

Android phones and tablets (e.g. Samsung Galaxy/Galaxy Tab series, HTC Desire series, LG G series, Sony Experia series)

The method used to upload to YouTube from an Android device depends on the version of Android it uses. If you don’t know what version of Android you device has, follow these instructions to check the version and find out if an update is available.

Android Lollipop (5.0) or higher devices

To shoot video on an Android Lollipop device use the standard camera software provided, then upload the video using the Android YouTube app. Watch the video below to learn how to upload from an Android device:

Android KitKat (4.4) or earlier devices (e.g. Some models of Samsung Galaxy S4 or earlier)

These older devices can usually use the Android YouTube app but can’t upload videos using an @uts.edu.au account. To upload from these devices either (a) transfer the video to a computer and upload it via www.youtube.com or (b) use a Gmail account to upload the video. See the section on Video and digital still cameras below for more information on how to upload and edit video using a computer.

Video and digital still cameras

When using a camera the video file needs to be transferred to a computer to upload to YouTube. To upload video from a computer follow the instructions provided by YouTube or in the YouTube help video. You can then edit your video online using the YouTube video editor

Editing video

You can trim videos and change privacy settings in YouTube Capture or the Android YouTube app. For more complex editing use the online YouTube video editor.