Reels, Shorts, TikTok and Stories run upright. This guide covers which trade fair shots work in 9:16, why they should be filmed vertically in the first place, and what the opening, length and subtitles should look like.
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Vertical videos fill the whole phone screen. On Instagram, TikTok, YouTube Shorts and in Stories the upright format is standard, and LinkedIn's mobile app also shows vertical video large. Post a landscape video there and you get a small picture with wide bars.
The obvious shortcut, cropping the landscape footage, almost always gives weak results. Cropping 16:9 down to 9:16 leaves only a narrow strip of the original frame. Logos get cut off, people end up at the edge, details go missing and image quality suffers. That is why we film vertical clips upright, with their own framing. Landscape stays landscape and is posted where it belongs: your website, YouTube, presentations.
In practice this means the videographer plans time for both formats on the show day. Some shots are filmed twice, once wide and once upright. So say in your brief how many vertical clips you need and what they are for.
Not every idea fits every brand. Two or three ideas done well bring more than six half-hearted clips.
People swipe on faster in a vertical feed than anywhere else. The first one or two seconds decide. Open with movement or a surprising detail, not a logo or an empty wide shot.
| Clip type | Sensible length | Opening |
|---|---|---|
| Walk-in | 10–20 s | Movement into the stand |
| Product | 8–15 s | A hand reaching for the product |
| One question | 20–40 s | The question as on-screen text |
| Before and after | 8–15 s | The empty frame, then the cut |
These lengths are guidelines from practice, not platform rules. More important than the number of seconds is that the clip ends before it gets boring. A clip watched twice because it is short beats one that gets swiped away halfway through.
Upright framing changes composition. Wide stand views lose impact, while people and objects with height gain it. Faces sit well in the upper third, products in the middle. Camera moves upwards, for example from the product to the face of the person holding it, use the format well. A gimbal keeps moves smooth through crowded aisles.
Vertical clips are mostly started without sound, so subtitles and short text overlays are essential. Keep three things in mind:
Show name, hall and stand number belong either in the clip or in the post text. Anyone who sees the clip during the show should be able to find you. More on hooks, length and subtitles per platform is in our guide to Reels, Shorts and TikTok from the show.
Vertical clips live on being current. A clip from the first show day that goes online the same evening reaches visitors who are still in town and can come by the next day. For teams flying in from abroad it also gives colleagues at home something to share while the show is running. Decide before the show who approves the clips and who posts them. The routine is described in our content plan for the show week.
At Pixer, vertical clips are part of every trade fair package: one in Basic at €990, two in Professional at €1,490, three in Full Day at €1,990. Delivery is within 24 hours after the event ends, often with first results the same day. The packages are listed on our trade fair photographer Germany page.
Vertical clips are shot in 9:16, not cropped from landscape footage.
Movement or a detail in the first one or two seconds, the logo at the end.
Usually between eight and forty seconds, depending on the clip type.
Text in the centre of the frame, clear of the app's buttons.
One clip per show day reaches visitors who are still in town.
One, two or three vertical clips, depending on the package.
Technically yes, but only a narrow strip of the frame is left. Logos and people get cut off and quality drops. Clips filmed upright look far better.
Yes, the mobile app shows vertical video large. For desktop viewers, a square or landscape version can be a useful addition.
One to three per show day is usually enough. What matters more than the number is that each clip has one clear idea.
Your team or your agency. We deliver finished files with subtitles; you decide on timing and post text.
Inside that app, usually yes. For your website, paid ads or other platforms the clip needs licensed music cleared for that use.
Yes, usage rights are unlimited. For ads, make sure the music and any people shown are cleared for that use.
Want a fresh vertical clip for every show day? Tell us the fair and the dates and we will agree the shots and delivery times with you.
We reply within 24 hours. During a show week, WhatsApp is fastest.
