Knowing When To Go Vertical

In the mobile era, video creators face a key choice: horizontal (landscape) or vertical (portrait) format. Each has its strengths and limitations—knowing when to go vertical depends on content length, platform, and audience.

Benefits of Vertical Video

Vertical (9:16) video naturally fills a smartphone screen, creating an immersive experience ideal for mobile-first platforms like TikTok, Instagram Reels, YouTube Shorts, and Snapchat. Studies show vertical formats boost on‑screen engagement—one noted about 13.8% more visible real estate and interaction on mobile compared to landscape. A field study also found mobile vertical ads generate higher consumer interest and engagement than horizontal ads.

Drawbacks of Vertical Video

Vertical video doesn’t translate well to larger screens. On desktop or TV, it often appears narrow or framed by “picket‑fencing,” which can feel amateurish or disengaging, especially for older viewers who prefer traditional landscape formats. For storytelling or cinematic aesthetics, horizontal formats remain better suited.

Short vs. Long‑Form Preferences

Research confirms that vertical, short‑form video dominates platforms like TikTok and YouTube Shorts, especially among Gen Z and millennials, driving high frequency, engagement and completion rates. However, long‑form content—longer than 2 minutes, often horizontal—is preferred for education, in‑depth topics, tutorials, and narrative storytelling. While short‑form tends to excel in reach and immediate engagement, long‑form videos build trust, depth, and audience retention.

When to Record in Both Formats

Shooting in both vertical and horizontal formats can maximize reach. For example:

• Create a short vertical teaser (under 60 seconds) optimized for TikTok or Instagram.

• Then shoot a horizontal version for longer YouTube, website, or desktop viewing.
  This multi-format approach leverages short‑form’s attention‑grabbers while offering rich context in long‑form horizontal content inBeat.

Final Take

If your content is short, mobile‑first, and aimed at driving user engagement quickly—vertical is your go‑to. But for deeper, longer, narrative‑driven material or audiences that spend time on TVs or desktops, horizontal still rules. When in doubt—or aiming for audience diversity—record both formats to let viewers consume content in their preferred style.