Vertical Storytelling: Crafting Narratives for a Social-First generation
Beyond every tip, trick and hack, there’s only one thing that ensures your social media post succeeds every single time: it has to be able to stop the scroll.
With over 90% of social media users consuming content on their phones, vertical, social-first video has become the default way to capture attention and consume content, and if your reels or your stories aren’t stopping people’s fingers in their tracks, you’ve immediately lost the social media game. Today, businesses and brands must master vertical storytelling. Or, make their live easy and hire a professional video production company that already has (hi, that’s us! 👋)
Let’s dive in and talk about why vertical, social-first video is quickly become the future of video marketing.
What is Vertical Storytelling?
Vertical storytelling is so much more than just flipping your phone upright. It’s an art form.
Think about the horizontal videos we know and love. It’s how we view films and commercials and home videos. But now, with the ubiquitous use of phones, we’ve had to reimagine storytelling with an entirely new lens. When filming something horizontally, there’s a lot more room to work with. You can have multiple people on screen at once, sweeping landscapes behind your subject… there’s specific ways you set the scene. But with vertical video, we need to rethink how we edit, frame, connect with the audience, and even who our audience is.
Here’s some key things to consider when creating vertical, social-first video.
Fast Cuts: Attention spans are shorter on social media and so vertical video does best with quick, punchy edits and movement that grabs peoples attention within the first second.
Tight Framing: Faces, reactions and details pull people in more than wide, sweeping shots, so think closeup portraits and eye-catching insert shots.
Energy and Emotion: Viewers should feel like they are inside the moment, not watching from a distance. There always needs to be something that makes people relate or connect from the moment they see your video cross their feed.
Platform Style: TikTok storytelling is different from LinkedIn or Instagram. Each requires different pacing, captions and music treatment. Make sure you’re tailoring your vertical video for the exact audience you’re seeking to capture.
Done right, vertical video feels personal, immersive and part of your feed, grabbing attention within the first second and holding that attention for the remainder of the video. It can be challenging to create, but incredibly effective for brands who want to stand out on social media.
👉 Know you want to up-level your vertical or social-first video but not sure where to start? Send us a message! We’d love to strategize with you and hear about your business.
Types of Vertical Storytelling: Reels, Stories and more
A lot of brands and businesses think that because it’s vertical, it has to be low-fi, viral-esque videos of their team dancing or lip syncing, or b-roll with overused captions and trends that don’t quite fit their brand.
This is such a misconception! Vertical storytelling can be done successfully for every type of story you want to tell. Here’s some powerful ways you can use vertical video aimed for social platforms.
Event Video Reels: If you’re hosting a corporate conference or a brand activation, capturing live event videography is key. And one of the many places where you’ll want to share and market your event after it’s captured, is on social media. This is why we always encourage our clients to not only opt for an event recap video, but to pair it with 1-3 (or more) shorter sizzle reels, edited in 9:16 for Instagram, Tik Tok or Youtube shorts.
Find out here exactly what type of event reels are best for you!
Campaigns and Video Marketing: Any branded commercial or campaign can be shot vertically. And it’s important to consider when and why this might be a great choice for your business or brand. A popular way of packaging your campaign could be (1) 60 second Hero Video or main video (cut vertically or horizontally) and multiple smaller vertical videos usually around 15-30 seconds each. These can be shorter versions of the hero video, more social-first trendy concepts or even teasers promoting the bigger campaign. The options are endless! When working with our team at Nova House we will strategize with you and help you decide the best way to package your video.
About Us Videos: These types of videos are great ways for businesses and brands to tell their story. They’re relatable and down to earth, and are designed to help you connect with your audience and potential customers. Imagine your founder speaking directly to camera to tell viewers about how their business was born, their mission and why choosing their company is the best choice. We often recommend businesses cut their about videos into both 16:9 & 9:16 versions that will allow them to embed the horizontal video on their website and put their vertical video on social media, preferably pinned at the top of the page for visibility.
Want to know more? Learn about our corporate video production services in New York.
Product Videography: This one’s simple. Beautiful video or photo of your products, framed and shot vertically, specifically for social media. Again, with the right pre-planning, anything that is traditionally presented horizontally can be created to be viewed on phone or vertical tablets.
Can I shoot it myself?: Why DIY Vertical Video Does Not Always Work
Yes, anyone can grab their phone, record vertically and hit post. But here are the ways vertical video poses a challenge when trying to DIY it:
Shaky footage, poor lighting and muffled audio get amplified in vertical because the frame is so tight. Professional video production companies are experts in shooting specifically for this format.
Cropping horizontal video into vertical usually cuts off key details, like logos, signage or even people. If you know that you will only want vertical video, professional videographers will shoot vertically with this framing in mind from the get-go. If you know you want both, experts know exactly how to choose distance and composition so that you can get both formats out of the same footage.
Without intention, the narrative gets lost. We can’t stress this enough: Pre-plan your content. If not, you can end up with a collection of vertical clips, with no true story or purpose.
if you are going to DIY your vertical video, and you’re planning to do it live and on the fly, check out our sister guides on exactly how to film a live event & the checklist you need to make sure you get every crucial shot. These are beneficial even if you’re not shooting an event!
Why Professional Vertical Storytelling Pays Off
Working with a professional video production company will always take your videography to the next level. At Nova House, we work with our clients to make sure we provide a list of key ingredients:
Creative & Business Strategy: We design vertical deliverables with your bigger goals in mind such as story, and visual elevation, as well as engagement, awareness, social growth and retention.
On Site Shot Planning: We know which moments and angles will cut best into short form narratives, so we plan them in advance and ensure that we get all the coverage we will need in the edit.
Editing Precision: From pacing to captions to sound design, we craft edits that align with platform behaviors. Quick cuts, “hypey” transitions. Remember, the goal is to stop the scroll, and the edit is arguably the most effective part of making that happen.
Multi Deliverable Workflow: Let’s look at an event. One day of live event video production services in New York, regardless of the venue (check out our favorites if you’re curious), can yield a 60 second wide format event reel and a several 15 second vertical sizzle reels optimized for social. If you know you want to get multiple deliverables out of your live event videography, our team will put together a strategic plan to repurpose your content for months to come.
Brand Consistency: We’ll ensure that custom overlays, logo placement and text treatments keep your content on brand, polished and professional.
Working with a professional video production company isn’t just important when it comes to vertical video. Learn what other video production services in New York (and beyond) we offer, and how you can create high-level video content across all of your marketing channels.
Case Study: SLT Vertical Launch Video
Nova House recently partnered with SLT NYC (Strengthen Lengthen Tone) to elevate their social media with compelling vertical videos.
One ask from SLT was that they were launching new class times at their suburban studios and needed a way to get the word out quickly on social media. Instead of relying on static posts or cropped horizontal footage, Nova House produced a vertical social-first reel.
Before you check out the video below, here’s a punch list of what we focused on:
Quick, powerful cuts matched the intensity of the workout.
Strong beat driven music that elevated the visuals, instead of driving the visual.
On screen text called out the new class times in bold, clear typography.
The vertical framing made it feel personal, like you were right there in class.
The results? The reel outperformed static promotional posts, generating strong engagement and helping fill the new class blocks within the first week.
Curious about other ways your business can incorporate professional video into your marketing plan? Take a look at more of our vertical (and horizontal) video work here.
The Data Behind Vertical Video
Still wondering if vertical is worth it? The numbers say yes:
Instagram reports that vertical Reels now account for over 50% of time spent on the app.
TikTok average engagement rate sits around 5.96% which is significantly higher than most horizontal video platforms.
LinkedIn vertical posts have seen growing adoption, with vertical video ads achieving higher completion rates than traditional widescreen.
The numbers are speak for themselves. Vertical video is no longer optional, it’s essential.
The Future is Vertical
Vertical video is not going anywhere; if anything, it’s becoming the standard. For businesses, this means event and brand footage has to do more than document the day. It has to be crafted into stories that work where a large majority of your audience now lives—on social platforms.
At Nova House Productions, we are experts in crafting professional video production, including event video production services in New York, corporate video for businesses and brands in Brooklyn and Queens, and social-first, vertical video that reaches audiences across Instagram, Tik Tok and beyond.
👉 Still have questions? Send us a message!
👉 Looking for more inspiration? Learn all about our social-first video production services.
FAQ about Vertical, Social-First Video
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Both formats have value. Horizontal works well for websites, presentations and YouTube. Vertical is essential for social platforms and mobile first audiences.
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Yes. That is why Nova House delivers multi format packages. Wide format for evergreen use, vertical for social engagement.
Chat with us if you still have questions!
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Because professionals understand framing, pacing, and branding. A DIY clip may get posted, but a professionally produced vertical video is built to engage, convert and align with your business goals.
