True vertical shooting
Also known as: True Vertical, vertical gimbal mode, portrait mode drone
A drone gimbal feature that rotates the camera 90 degrees to record native vertical 9:16 video without cropping, made for Reels, Shorts and TikTok.
Updated
What it means
Most cameras record wide 16:9 video, and making a vertical video means cropping a narrow slice from the middle, losing most of the resolution. Some newer drones, such as DJI Mini models, can rotate the whole camera on the gimbal by 90 degrees. The sensor then records a tall frame directly, at full resolution.
True vertical shooting gives sharp, detailed portrait footage for social platforms. Tall subjects, like waterfalls, towers, cliffs and people, fill the frame naturally.
Not every drone offers it. Many still rely on cropping from a horizontal frame, which works but loses detail.
How it works in practice
Switch to vertical mode when the final video is meant for vertical platforms only. Compose for the tall frame: lead with height, such as a rise up a cliff face or a waterfall, and keep important subjects away from the bottom where captions and buttons appear, using safe zones.
Vertical drone shots pair well with pedestal shots and slow tilts, where the camera moves along the tall axis of the frame. Panning sideways in vertical mode shows less context, so use it sparingly.
If you need both formats, record horizontally at high resolution and crop later, or film key scenes twice.
What to watch out for
Vertical footage does not work well in horizontal edits. If the same trip will become a YouTube video and a Reel, vertical-only clips limit you, since they cannot fill a wide frame without heavy cropping or blurred side bars.
Some intelligent flight modes or features may be limited in vertical orientation. Check what still works before relying on them.
Horizon and framing feel different in portrait. Wide landscapes lose their sweep, so choose subjects that suit the tall frame rather than turning everything vertical. Mixing orientations in one feed can also look inconsistent next to your aspect ratio choices elsewhere.
How RawClip handles it
RawClip delivers highlights in 4K and 1080p and does not output vertical 9:16 video. For a RawClip highlight, upload horizontal drone clips, and keep your vertical shots for separate social edits.