Mastering a Vertical Instagram Story Workflow with the Sony a7IV

Welcome to my behind-the-scenes breakdown of how I plan, shoot, and edit a vertical Instagram Story using my Sony a7IV. In this post, I’ll walk you through each phase—Pre-production, Production, and Post-production—highlighting the apps, gear, and strategies I use. This workflow helps me stay organized, capture smooth footage, and deliver a polished final edit ready for Instagram. Below, you’ll find an expanded summary of each step, drawn from my YouTube transcript and presentation slides.

1. Pre-Production: Laying the Groundwork

Brainstorming & Transcribing

 • Whisper App: I often start by recording voice notes (up to 15 minutes) and having them automatically transcribed into paragraphs. This gives me a first draft of my ideas that I can refine.

 • ChatGPT: After transcribing with Whisper, I paste these rough paragraphs into ChatGPT. I make sure to specify that it keeps my own wording and style. ChatGPT can help refine my creative brief or script.

Inspiration & References

 • Instagram & Pinterest: I save images or style references that inspire me—particularly for angles, moods, or color palettes. Pinterest boards and Instagram “Saved” collections are my go-to.

 • Motion Science (Cameron): Cameron leads the Motion Science community for motion design and visual inspiration. I often pull references from his Pinterest or Instagram for look-and-feel ideas.

Asset Management

 • Eagle: This tool stores and organizes all of my visual references and images. I can tag and easily sort through everything as I prep my storyboard or shot list.

 • Forklift: A file management tool with a dual-pane layout. It makes copying and previewing assets quicker than Finder alone.

 • ScreenFloat: Perfect for quick screenshots that “float” on your desktop. I can tag them and revisit these references as I plan my shoot.

2. Production: Gearing Up & Capturing Footage

Camera & Stabilization

 • Sony a7IV: A fantastic hybrid camera that excels at both stills and video. I typically shoot in 4K with 10-bit color depth using H.264 (XAVC-I).

 • Zhiyun Crane Gimbal: Essential for smooth, cinematic movement. I mount the camera vertically on the gimbal for those tall 9:16 Instagram shots.

Camera Settings

 • S-Log3 (Picture Profile 8): I like to capture maximum dynamic range. Exposing roughly 1.7–2 stops over is a good starting point.

 • Frame Rates & Memory: I usually shoot at 24 fps for a cinematic feel, and sometimes 60 fps for slow-motion footage. A 128GB card (300MB/s) ensures I can reliably record higher bitrates.

Shooting Vertically

 • For Instagram Stories, I orient the camera in vertical mode. With a cage on my Sony a7IV, it’s straightforward to mount everything on the Zhiyun Crane in portrait orientation.

3. Post-Production: From Flat to Fabulous

Color Conversion & Grading

 • Final Cut Pro: My main NLE for editing.

 • Adjustment Layers: I stack multiple layers in FCP—color conversion, color looks, mojo, and then a renoiser.

 • LUTs & Color Space

 • First, I apply an S-Log3 to Rec.709 LUT (sometimes referred to as “S-Log3 to standard color space”).

 • I then fine-tune exposure and contrast using Magic Bullet Colorista or other color correction tools.

 • Adding Style (Looks & Mojo):

 • Magic Bullet Looks: Offers preset looks that I dial back (often to 20–30% intensity) for subtle stylization.

 • Mojo: Adds a cinematic film vibe. Again, I tend to keep it mild.

 • Renoiser

 • Part of Magic Bullet’s suite. Adds a film-like grain and helps with compression proofing for social media platforms.

 • Because Instagram compresses heavily, a bit of controlled noise can actually preserve image detail.

Exporting & Uploading

 • Vertical Resolution: 1080x1920 for Stories, ensuring the final output is properly oriented.

 • File Optimization: Instagram can be finicky with compression. A combination of good export settings and a bit of added grain can help maintain quality.

4. Workflow Recap

 1. Pre-Production:

 • Record ideas with Whisper → refine scripts with ChatGPT → gather references with Instagram, Pinterest, Eagle, Forklift, and ScreenFloat.

 2. Production:

 • Sony a7IV + Zhiyun Crane for vertical shots.

 • S-Log3, 4K at 24 fps or 60 fps for slow motion.

 • Keep those memory cards fast and spacious.

 3. Post-Production:

 • Import footage into Final Cut Pro.

 • Apply LUT and color-grade with Magic Bullet Looks, Mojo, and Renoiser.

 • Export in vertical format, ensuring best quality for Instagram.

5. Final Thoughts & Next Steps

This workflow allows me to create engaging Instagram Stories that combine cinematic visuals with the right creative planning. Whether you’re capturing a 15-second clip or a longer piece, structuring your process with the right apps and gear makes a huge difference. Feel free to explore the software and camera settings outlined above—and adapt them to your unique style or project needs.

If you found this helpful, please like and subscribe to my YouTube channel tutorials on videography, editing, 3D design, and animated maps. And don’t forget to check out Motion Science (Cameron) and the LUT I mentioned. Happy filming!

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