Handheld Camera Tips for Better Footage
You’re on a video shoot. Things are going great but then, your gimbal dies. Or maybe it’s not practical to use a gimbal. Sometimes you’re in a tight space or need to use your zoom lens to hunt for shots, so you have to go handheld. Some camera operators love handheld and some hate it. We happen to love it! When done right, it adds a lot of character and a natural feel to your shots. When done wrong, it looks like you gave the camera to your 8 year old niece and she ran around trying to shoot from the hip. Read on to discover our handheld camera tips for better footage!
Always use 3 points of contact
If you don’t have an easy rig or shoulder mount, the next best thing is to use 3 points of contact. Treat the camera as an extension of your body. One hand holds the handle of the camera, the other supports underneath the camera, or on the lens pulling focus. And for your third point of contact, hold the camera to your body. This might mean pressing the camera into your chest or torso, your eye to a view finder or even resting the camera on a stable object like a table top or sand bag. If you are panning or tilting, use your body to move the camera instead of just your arms. Let the camera an extension of your body. Here’s great article detailing some practical handheld camera tips for better footage
Use a Shoulder Rig
This goes back to our first tip, using three points of contact to get better handheld footage. using a shoulder rig to stabilize and support the camera will greatly improve your handheld footage. Sometimes a shoulder rig isn’t feasible so don’t learn to rely on it too much! But they’re wonderful tools for improving your handheld footage.
Don't Fight Gravity
You can’t fight fate and you can’t fight gravity. If using three points of contact isn’t feasible, let gravity work in your favor. Hold the camera by the top handle with one hand, use your other hand to support the camera, and allow the weight of the camera to work as a stabilizer. This works especially well when you have to walk with the camera. It’s a bit silly but you have to do something called the “duck walk.” Bend your knees, take very small steps, and walk hell to toe to minimize up and down motion. It takes some practice but once you get it, you’ll never be worried about shooting handheld again.
Hold Your Breath
This only works on short takes but if you find you’re getting a lot of camera shake in your footage, try holding your breath. As you breath, your body natural moves up and down. By holding your breath you can help eliminate this motion. But remember, only on short takes, and hopefully not too many!
When in Doubt
When in doubt, shoot wide so you can crop in during post production and add some stabilization. The steadier you can get your shot in camera the better the stabilization will work in post production. Also, the tighter your focal length, the more camera shake will show up in your footage. If you can shoot at 35mm or wider, your footage will look a lot steadier than if you’re shooting at 100mm!
Forget About Perfection
This is easier said than done. We get it! But a little handheld motion in your shots when done right can be charming and awesome! The goal is to make the movement appear natural, not jarring. We’ve shot all kinds of projects as strategic content partners and camera operators around Dallas, Texas and beyond, some of them entirely handheld! Take a look at some of our work Here. Handheld camera work isn’t something to be feared but instead, embraced. It’s just one more tool in your arsenal. If you’re looking for video production in Dallas, Texas get in touch with us Here! We’d love to learn more about your projects!