The Social Scene

Do you really need the latest phone to create great content?

ZOYA MACZOYA MAC shares social media advice & pointers to raise your business profile & elevate your content

About Zoya Mac

Zoya is a nail content creator based in West Sussex. After spending over eight years as a nail artist, she transitioned into roles in social media management and content creation for nail brands. Zoya is passionate about creating captivating and engaging product and tutorial videos. She helps industry brands to showcase their products in clear, authentic ways and teaches other nail artists how to confidently record their own videos.

@zoya_mac

TOP TIP

Don’t let full storage kill your filming flow.

Picture this: you’re ready to start recording content when suddenly, your phone flashes with the message ‘Storage Full’. You then find yourself deleting footage and memories from your camera roll – and your creative momentum stops. My simple fix is that I upload all my edited nail videos and photos to the Dropbox app. The free ‘Basic Plan’ offers 2GB of space that’s accessible from your phone, tablet and computer. I’ve used Dropbox for three years and keep each piece of work in a folder, so I can quickly and easily find the content I need. My folders are labelled clearly – for example, ‘Dec 2025 Reels’, ‘Brand X Swatches’, ‘Client Winter Nails’. Once I’ve safely backed up the content, I delete the files from my phone to free up space.

When the iPhone 17 launched, I did what many people do: I scrolled through the specifications and became tempted to purchase. But if you’re trying to improve your content creation skills and be seen by clients or brands, I don’t believe you need the newest phone on the market; you need to adapt your settings and setup.

For the first two years of my nail content creation journey, I used an iPhone 11 – not even a Pro model. I filmed tutorial and product-focused Reels using that phone, with support from two IKEA lamps and editing tools. The results were good and, just a few months ago, I created a product video tutorial for The Nail Dates community using the same setup. This demonstrates that you can shoot high-quality content with the tools you have. isn’t doing the job, try a clip-on macro lens, which costs £30 to £60, before you upgrade the device.

Colour accuracy: Some Android models (like the Samsung S25 Ultra) can make colours punchier, which might look nice, but does not always deliver an accurate colour representation. I’ve tested the same nail design across phones, and my iPhone 15 consistently gave me more true-to-life colour, which matters when showcasing nail shades.

Lighting: Lighting is everything. Even the best phone won’t redeem a video filmed under flickering bulbs. For day-to-day nail technician work with clients, it is great to use a non-shadow overhead light, such as the Katie Barnes LED Flexible Desk Light or Halo Desk Lamp. These lights will reduce the strain on your eyes.

Currently, I use an iPhone 15 – not the Pro, and every brand video, Reel and paid campaign I’ve posted in the last two years has been shot on that device. I’ve considered upgrading to the latest Google Pixel or iPhone 17, but honestly – the camera changes don’t appear to be that dramatic. I think it’s more important to review how you’re using your phone camera, rather than focusing on the model.

I also like to use a simple IKEA lamp when creating videos or taking photos of trending nail designs. Simply attach the lamp to the side of your desk and use when needed, with bulbs such as the Lepro E27 LED Light Bulbs, in Cool White 6500k Daylight 13.5W.

Here’s a breakdown of what I’ve learned and tested, and how you can get better shots using your current setup:

What actually matters when creating nail content?

Macro focus: A phone should hold focus on tiny details, such as glitter, brush strokes and structure. iPhones and some Android phones tend to do this naturally via the screen lock option. If your camera

Understanding camera settings For photos:

• Switch to the 16:9 format in your settings, so photos are automatically taken at this size every time you use your camera. These are the dimensions you need images to be for great social media posts, and they will prevent the need to crop later.

• Tap and hold to lock focus on the nail or hand (AE/AF lock).

• Test HDR on and off. Sometimes it helps, but it can mess with the perception of nail colours.

For videos:

• 30fps = a smooth, standard video speed that is great for everyday content.

• 60fps = a smoother motion that’s handy if you want to slow the clip down and edit it in an app such as CapCut, or if you seek a very polished look.

• 1080p (Full HD) = great for most Reels, this is a clear format with a small file size.

• 4K = ultra crisp and great for brand work or close-up demos.

Before you buy a new phone, ask yourself: is it really the camera that’s holding you back? Or could it be your lighting, setup or editing process? Do you need a better filming plan to make time to create the content you desire?

Good photos and videos start with clear goals and smart setups, not just fancy specs. So clean your lens, switch on your gridlines, test your settings and don’t be afraid to work with what you’ve got. It might surprise you.

Until next time, keep creating – and remember to wipe your camera lens!

#NOWTRENDING

WHAT’S HOT

Getting through the busiest time of the year without burning out your content game.

It’s December, which means your appointment books are probably bursting and everything you touch is either red, gold, green or covered in glitter. Let’s be honest, content is probably the last thing on your mind right now. That’s why this month is the perfect time to repurpose. Head into your Instagram Stories archive and check out the festive creations you shared last year. Download the best ones to your camera roll for content that’s ready to go when you’re too tired or busy to create something new. Post these to your Instagram Story, or even repost as a festive carousel on your grid. Most of your followers will not know or care that you are using a photo from last year.

If you do get a spare moment during appointments, try to capture two or three nail designs per week, either as photos or video content. This way, you’ll have some new videos and images to mix with your recycled posts – and to save for next year.

Personal content. December is a great time to show more of your personality on your social media profiles. Behind-the-scenes content or photos of you in your nail space help followers connect with you – not just your nail creations.

WHAT’S NOT

Going silent on social media. You might be back-to-back with client appointments, but if you totally ghost your social media followers until January, you’re likely to witness a drop in reach, and will need to work twice as hard in the new year to boost your engagement.

The algorithm doesn’t know you’re working 10-hour days; it just identifies that you’ve reduced your activity. You don’t need to post every day, but two or three times a week is good to show that you’re an active Instagrammer. Consider a quick Story showcasing a client’s sparkling festive nails, or a reposted image from last year.

Behind-the-scenes

Last month, I worked on content for a number of nail brands, including launch assets for Lecenté’s Future Hard Gel. The brief for the shoot was to show texture, as well as the product up close, letting the formula speak for itself. The required aesthetic was simple and non-seasonal, so I chose a soft grey silk fabric for the background. This added a subtle sense of movement and a smooth, almost creamy texture to echo the formula of the gel. The soft tones worked well with the sleek black packaging of the product and its delicate nude shades. Sometimes, less is more, the product can take centre stage.

I filmed a video for The Manicure Company featuring its two festive collections: Mistletoe Lodge Gel Polish and Gel Creams. The products feature dark green packaging with gold details, and to reflect their decadence, I used a background of red crushed velvet fabric. It offered a good balance of texture and contrast, and felt luxe and seasonal without overshadowing the products.

Creator spotlight

I had been talking to nail artist & content creator, Jack Harper, via Instagram for some time before I met him at Nail Order’s Sunday Service Event in September. Jack is a brand ambassador for Mylee and Nailed It! By Chelsey, and has worked at events for Superdrug and Soho House.

Jack’s content always makes me smile: it’s bright, fun and totally scroll-stopping. Imagine a KFC bucket, glowing pumpkins, alphabet spaghetti or Elf Brow Gel – but in miniature, as nail art. He also creates wearable, on-brand looks for Mylee that are fun and eye-catching.

Check out Jack’s Instagram account: @jxckhxrperart