Having a stable camera implies a solid message

Many video cameras (especially smart phones) are so compact and lightweight that they can be tossed around quickly and casually. That can result in very shaky motion pictures. Unintentional and rapid camera movement can contribute to a viewer feeling that the subject or the message being delivered on camera is casual and may not be too important or valid.

If you are interested in conveying a more serious and credible tone with your videos try using more stable shots.

Hold it close

There are many ways to stabilize a video camera. The first is to hold it close. Hold it close to your body; hold it close to the person you are filming with it. If it has a zoom lens, zoom out as wide a possible for the least amount of jitter. Zooming in magnifies everything including the movement of the camera.

Lean on something solid

Another simple way to stabilize a camera is to rest or lean it upon a static object, like a table, a chair, a ladder or a bookshelf. Use whatever is available; if it is stable that stability will transfer to the camera. Even a length of two by four will help. This method is only as good as the object you are using to support the camera.

Get a tripod

You can purchase any number of devices to support your camera. I prefer to use a tripod because it will allow you to set up a shot and let go of the camera which will eliminate all movement. Tripods have the added benefit of being quick and easy to set up and tear down. Many of them are lightweight, compact and rock solid when set up.

Pan and tilt

More sophisticated camera support devices allow you to not only lock down a very stable shot, they also make it possible to smoothly move the camera while recording to follow the action. A common feature of video tripods is a pan tilt head. This device mounts in between the camera and the tripod and allows you to move left to right (pan) and/or up and down (tilt). These common moves are best executed after rolling on a static (not moving) shot for a few seconds and then holding solid for another few seconds after your move.

Pick it up and move it

One other advantage of tripods (and many other lighter weight camera support devices) is that they add some weight to the camera so when you pick them up and move them the heaviness is tangible and it makes for smoother, more stable looking camera motion.

Summary

If you have to go handheld, hold it close, if you can lean on something, do it and a tripod is a really good option to have. Overly shaky shots might lead people to believe that your ideas are “iffy.”

Who I am:

I’m Philip Quintas and I make it easier for customers to trust you before and after they buy from you by creating simple videos that help you help more people.

If you want one-to-one help with making better videos, I can answer your questions and even write, shoot, edit, upload and promote videos for you or any combination of these services.  Sign up using the Email Address* and First Name* form on this website to get direct access to me, my experience and offerings.

If you have the advantage of a camera operator to follow you around, then you will have a lot more flexibility with how much you can move on camera and still stay in the shot. The general rule of thumb is: instead moving around and grabbing the things, using inserts to show what you are talking about is a better way to go about displaying details. Also, picking up the camera and moving it while you are talking to it is almost always a bad idea for a number of reasons (not the least of which is if you are using an on-camera mic, you will most likely wreck your audio.) Staying in one place and being relaxed, not stiff, or looking confined has many benefits.

Focus

Not only will it be more solid as far as the focus of the camera lens (you can set it and forget it or in the case of an auto focus lens, there will be much less “breathing” of the image), your viewer will be more likely to stay focused on you because of your consistent position on camera. Moving around unnecessarily can be distracting and detract from a well-delivered message, unless it is relevant motion (like pointing to something in the frame or moving aside to reveal a hidden object behind you.)

Framing

When a shot is set up, the subject and background are positioned to produce a balanced image on the screen, this balance can be thrown off by changing your position. Even with a camera operator present to adjust the shot, there will be some compensation to the framing that will have to be made. That can introduce obvious instability and move the viewers’ attention off of the main ideas that you are working to share.

Frantic

A solid delivery with a grounded speaker is often the best way to get the story told and makes it easy to be absorbed by the viewer. If your intention is to rattle their cage, convey instability or otherwise knock them off their guard, then go ahead and move, pick up the camera and throw it, whatever you need to do to make your point, just do it (short of injuring anyone) on purpose. I’m simply describing what the basics are for making simple videos that work.

You may find that you have a lot of success with wild and unexpected movement; that might even be your trademark style. If that’s your thing, and it fits your personality, how about you try setting that up with a solid stable shot and then go into your crazy movements? The contrast might make your impact even greater.

Be yourself.

Whatever you do, make it your own. The two things that are going to get your messages delivered most effectively are honesty and persistence. If you try one way and you don’t get the results you want, consider doing it another way or just stick with it until what you are doing works.

Some strategies can take longer to develop momentum than others and sometimes the ones that took more time to develop are the ones that last the longest and have the deepest impact. It is important to remember that camera operators are not mind readers. It is a good idea to let them know what you are planning on doing, especially if it involves moving around suddenly or frequently. They can be your best friend when it comes to getting the shots that work.

Who I am:

I’m Philip Quintas and I make it easier for customers to trust you before and after they buy from you by creating simple videos that help you help more people.

If you want one-to-one help with making better videos, I can answer your questions and even write, shoot, edit, upload and promote videos for you or any combination of these services.  Sign up using the Email Address* and First Name* form on this website to get direct access to me, my experience and offerings.