How to Shoot UGC Videos in Both Vertical and Horizontal Formats (Without Filming Twice)
The most common request you will get as a UGC creator is the dual-format ask. A brand loves your sample video but wants it delivered in both vertical and horizontal. Without the right approach, you are looking at shooting every scene twice. Three methods let you deliver both formats from a single shoot.
Why Brands Need Both Formats
Brands run ads across platforms with different native orientations. Buffer tested vertical versus horizontal ads and found vertical formats produced 2 to 3 times more engagement on Instagram and a 26 to 38 percent lower cost per click on Facebook. Embryo data shows that 94 percent of users hold their phones vertically, and vertical ads get 9 times more completed views. Brands are asking for both formats because the data demands it.
If you can deliver vertical and horizontal without doubling your shoot time, you become the creator they rebook. This is not a technical luxury. It is a baseline expectation for creators managing 10 to 20 brand deals per month.
Method 1: 4K Center-Framing
Shoot in 4K horizontal and frame your subject in the center 40 percent of the frame. That center zone becomes your vertical crop. Keep your subject centered, leave headroom above, and avoid placing important details near the horizontal edges. This method works with any camera and requires no special gear.
The trade-off is resolution. A 4K horizontal frame cropped to vertical gives you roughly 1080p, which is fine for most social platforms. For product shots and b-roll, this approach requires intentional framing from the start. See our product shot guide for lighting and composition techniques that work in both orientations.
Method 2: Open Gate Recording
Open gate recording captures the full sensor area, producing a square or near-square frame that can be reframed to both vertical and horizontal in post. Cameras like the Panasonic GH6, Lumix S5 II, and Fujifilm X-H2S support this mode. The DPReview article on open gate explains the technical details and compatibility for each camera system.
This method gives you maximum flexibility in editing because nothing is cropped during the shoot. You reframe each shot to vertical or horizontal after the fact. The downside is that open gate files are larger and require more storage and processing power. Read the full technical breakdown at DPReview before committing to this workflow.
Method 3: Dual-Shot Apps and Camera Rigs
Some creators use a second camera or phone mounted at a 90-degree angle to capture both formats simultaneously. Apps like FiLMiC Pro and Moment let you record from two devices at once. Dedicated rigs hold a primary camera in horizontal and a smartphone in vertical position.
This is the most expensive method and the only one that records two full-resolution files in real time. It also doubles your media management workload. For creators with the budget, it is the most reliable way to guarantee native resolution in both formats. Our UGC b-roll shot list covers framing techniques that help you plan dual-camera setups efficiently.
The Editing Workflow for Dual Formats
Batch your formats in one timeline. In CapCut or Premiere Pro, create a vertical sequence and a horizontal sequence from the same source clips. Use the same cuts and timing in both. Adjust framing per sequence using position and scale transforms.
Export both versions from the same project file. Name them clearly with format and platform targets, like brandname_vertical_ig.mp4 and brandname_horizontal_yt.mp4. This workflow takes minimal extra time once your positioning is set for the first format.
How to Charge for Dual-Format Deliverables
Dual-format delivery is a separate deliverable, not a free add-on. Charge a per-format fee on top of your base rate. The second format should cost less than the first because you edit from the same source footage, but it should still cover your time for reframing, checking, and exporting.
The best way to scope this work is to clarify format requirements in the brief before you shoot. Clear briefs reduce back-and-forth and improve approval rates by 40 percent according to InfluenceFlow data. Include format count as a line item in your quote so brands understand the value of having both orientations ready at delivery.
Platform Specs Quick Reference
- Instagram Reels: 1080 x 1920 (vertical), 1920 x 1080 (horizontal feed)
- TikTok: 1080 x 1920 (vertical only)
- YouTube Shorts: 1080 x 1920 (vertical), 1920 x 1080 (long-form)
- Facebook / Meta: 1080 x 1920 (vertical stories/Reels), 1920 x 1080 (feed)
- LinkedIn: 1080 x 1350 (square recommended), 1920 x 1080 (feed)
Bottom Line: Which Method Based on Your Gear
Center-framing works with any camera and is the fastest way to start delivering dual formats today. Open gate recording is the best choice if you own a compatible camera body and want maximum flexibility in post. Dual-camera rigs are for creators who need native resolution in both formats and have the budget for extra gear.
Pick one method based on what you already own. Master it before upgrading. The goal is to say yes to every brand that asks for both formats without adding hours to your shoot day.
