With the Exercise.com Workout Logger, your exercise videos are displayed in both square (1:1) and portrait (9:16) formats in the Guided Logger. This guide will show you the best practices for filming exercise videos that look great in both formats without having to film twice.

1. Film in a High-Resolution Format (4K or Higher)

Why? Higher resolution makes it easier to crop and reframe your video while keeping it sharp.

Best Setting: Shoot in 4K or 6K, even if the final video will be 1080p. This gives you more room to crop for portrait format without losing clarity.

2. Frame with Center-Safe Composition

Use a wide shot with extra headroom and footroom. Keep the subject centered so important movements are not cut off when cropping for vertical viewing.

Avoid placing key elements too close to the sides because they may not appear in the portrait crop.

Add extra room on both sides. This helps account for the different aspect ratios across Android devices, especially when filming side-view exercises like planks or push-ups.

Good Example: The full body appears correctly in both square and portrait formats.

Good framing example showing full body visible in square and portrait crops.

Bad Example: The head is cropped out in square mode because the framing is too tight.

Bad framing example showing head cut off in square format.

3. Use the “Safe Zones” Grid

Turn on the grid or guideline overlays on your camera or monitor. These help you keep the subject inside the center-safe area so your footage works well in both formats.

4. Shoot at a Slightly Wider Focal Length

Why? A wider focal length gives you more room to crop without distortion. It also ensures the subject stays framed correctly throughout the movement.

5. Consider a Dual-Camera Setup

If your budget allows, you can record with two cameras at once:

One in landscape (16:9)
One in portrait (9:16)

This ensures perfect framing in both formats without any cropping in post-production.

Exercise.com supports using separate videos for Guided Logger and non–Guided Logger modes when using a dual setup.

Tip: For most users, filming once in portrait is the easiest option.

6. Optimize for Movement

Plan for the subject’s full range of motion. If they move too far to either side, it may get cut off in portrait format.

Avoid zooming or panning. These moves often look awkward when the video is cropped to a vertical format.

7. Record in 60FPS When Possible

Why? Shooting at 60FPS gives you smoother motion and more flexibility if you slow down or adjust speed during editing.

If you prefer standard video speed, 30FPS works well too.

8. Use Even and Consistent Lighting

Keep your lighting setup balanced so the subject looks clear in both square and portrait crops.

Avoid harsh side lighting that can create strong shadows when the frame is adjusted for different formats.

By using these filming best practices, you can create exercise videos that look great in both square and portrait mode inside the Exercise.com Guided Logger. This gives your clients a professional viewing experience no matter what device they use.

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