As someone more on the producing side, this breakdown was incredibly helpful and simple enough to understand to support those who are picking up the camera.
Great tips! I love shooting handheld. Only ever used that and a tripod myself. Love the walk tip, I never really thought about it much, just realized I had to way back. Reminds me of a ninja stealth walk or somethin lol.
Totally could've used this a few days ago. I like handheld because of how fast I can move, but I'm not the smoothest operator, especially when needing to get timing right while I manually pull focus, so I shoot more than I need just to ensure I get some good shots.
Hopefully it helps next time you’re out! We’re huge on intention. So anytime we can help you do less, yet so it better, we’re all about it. Getting proper handheld technique like this can mean shooting half as much - and then taking that time to push your visuals and visual storytelling that much further. More planning and less doing, ideally, Thanks for commenting!
Nice, I've actually been doing more handheld lately so this was super helpful. It's a good reminder to put the gimbal down more often, I do sometimes miss shooting with the old school Steadicam though!
Great to hear from you Jeff! Excited to bring some travel content from your channel to our community hopefully later this year :) The Steadicam was fun but i (Patrick) may miss the Glidecam. Something about that form factor yet how tactile it was that made it such a fun stabilizer. Gimbals are great and all, but the mastery of a Glidecam made that perfect shot so much more enjoyable.
Well done. I like short and to the point explanations like that. One topic at a time. When I have to do a lot of walking and up-down-sideways move, I prefer to use a hand-held gimbal for better control. When holding the camera, whenever possible try to keep my elbows against my body and use my upper body to create inertia.
So happy it was helpful. Gimbals are great but the challenge is to use them intentionally. They make moving images so easy we often add too much movement or movements that don’t resonate with or help tell the story. Love your tips on your elbows and upper body. Thanks for sharing
I’ve been nervous about doing too much handheld because everything in my video classes was all about the tripod … and not making viewers unintentionally seasick! I guess it’s time to branch out and become more secure in my handheld techniques. Thanks for sharing these specific tips and techniques!
Great to hear from you Cassie! How have you been? Handheld is definitely one of those things that you regret if not done well, but can make you way more proactive with the proper technique
Brilliant to see the basics so clearly explained. A long time ago, in televisionland, trainee assistant camerafolk were taught the same crouching heel, sliding toe walk. They would practise for hours shuffling up and down beside a long brick wall until deemed competent. They would be given ten feet of film to prove they could make a non-bouncing tracking shot - the bricks were unforgiving. Their efforts would be judged in the cutting room. So glad I was a trainee assistant film editor during the great tripod famine of 1978.
That sounds like one wild training exercise Simon. That kind of commitment to the basics, to proper technique, would add so much for many filmmakers yet we often want to jump five steps ahead before mastering the fundamentals.
I and thank you! I love handheld camera! My last film is about a park against a city. In the park is all handheld, in the city all tripod or glidecam. This underline the difference: one is an emotional natural place, the other is artificial, claustrophobic and stressing!
When used with intention, every tool can add - the key is that many tools will be less needed and can be replaced by proper technique. A well-placed slider or gimbal says something different than the best handheld. The trick is to know when each should be placed, and for many of us, its to use fancy tools far less so that they have an impact when they are used.
This is super helpful. I have a new FX3 and everything I've heard so far says you have to add weight to film hand held - which to me, defeats the purpose. I've literally had two shoulder surgeries due to camera weights in the past so adding weight is a hard pass for me. I love seeing your ideas for smoothing out the handheld footage without weights. I've been using these techniques already, but felt like the odd duck for not adding weight - like I was doing it wrong. Knowing that you're getting great results with lighter cameras is very encouraging! I also still use the monopod for the very long sessions. But honestly my gimbal has been in the closet for awhile now....
Great to hear from you Autumn and I hope this offers some ideas that don’t require more weight to be added That monopod is one trusty sidekick for sure
Another tip: Watch band kids! The idea for marching is similar in that they have to separate their upper bodies from their lower to keep the steps from compressing their diaphragm and changing the sound. The heel-toe approach is the same, but it's actually about lengthening your body and using your core to stabilize. Also, a huge tip is to stay off your heels when going backwards or side to side. Pivot from the hips and think of your upper body as one unit.
I still love a mono-pod. seems unpopular these days. learning handheld techniques are SUPER important. more and more tools(in the camera) are making it easier but still having good human hand are unbeatable.
Couldn’t agree more. I do believe that the advent of stabilization around the sensor and lens and made it far more tempting to go handheld versus using tools. Look at Apple or Samsung commercials and you see how much they push the the stabilization of their latest phones (which is largely AI / digital) but it shows the shift into letting the machines manage our lack of technique :)
I’m digging the rawness and transparency in this video team. For me, I like to use a tripod, monopod, and handheld, because all three of those tools have a different quality of movement or no movement at all which serves the story differently. However, monopod is my preferred tool because it’s the best of both handheld and tripod.
Thank you, Danami! We love to get feedback like this :) I (Patrick) used to love monopod some 5-7 years ago much for the same reasons you did. I find myself leaning more towards handheld now do to improved technique, technology, and how much quicker and more intimate that way of filming can be. That said, I have to remind myself when handheld isn't the best style and to slow down and grab a tripod or mono as its more fitting.
@@MuseStorytelling I’m well aware of your monopod usage Patrick. I think I started using it more because of you. Also, this is the same Danami that does music, took the Profitable Filmmaker course, was a founding member of Story First, and was an early adopter of the Muse Storytelling process from the book. Same Guy!
@@DANAMIONLINE yes sir, definitely recognized you - mostly from our conversations on Story First. Glad to hear the monopod work way back when made an impact. That Manfrotto used to be my best friend.
![Baby Kia - GLOVES & DRACS (BLACK AF1s) [Official Music Video]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/ajm8LeB0qQk/mqdefault.jpg)
I feel like it’s 2011 all over again and I’m not mad about it!
As someone more on the producing side, this breakdown was incredibly helpful and simple enough to understand to support those who are picking up the camera.
Ohhhh are we going to see Sarah picking up a camera sometime soon :)
@@MuseStorytelling anything is possible! But in the meantime, I’m always happy to carry gear ☺️
Great tips! I love shooting handheld. Only ever used that and a tripod myself.
Love the walk tip, I never really thought about it much, just realized I had to way back.
Reminds me of a ninja stealth walk or somethin lol.
Totally could've used this a few days ago. I like handheld because of how fast I can move, but I'm not the smoothest operator, especially when needing to get timing right while I manually pull focus, so I shoot more than I need just to ensure I get some good shots.
Hopefully it helps next time you’re out!
We’re huge on intention. So anytime we can help you do less, yet so it better, we’re all about it.
Getting proper handheld technique like this can mean shooting half as much - and then taking that time to push your visuals and visual storytelling that much further.
More planning and less doing, ideally,
Thanks for commenting!
Loved this one!!!!
Excited to see your moves soon :)
Nice, I've actually been doing more handheld lately so this was super helpful. It's a good reminder to put the gimbal down more often, I do sometimes miss shooting with the old school Steadicam though!
Great to hear from you Jeff! Excited to bring some travel content from your channel to our community hopefully later this year :)
The Steadicam was fun but i (Patrick) may miss the Glidecam. Something about that form factor yet how tactile it was that made it such a fun stabilizer.
Gimbals are great and all, but the mastery of a Glidecam made that perfect shot so much more enjoyable.
4:59 ooh that was close😅
Well done. I like short and to the point explanations like that. One topic at a time. When I have to do a lot of walking and up-down-sideways move, I prefer to use a hand-held gimbal for better control. When holding the camera, whenever possible try to keep my elbows against my body and use my upper body to create inertia.
So happy it was helpful. Gimbals are great but the challenge is to use them intentionally. They make moving images so easy we often add too much movement or movements that don’t resonate with or help tell the story.
Love your tips on your elbows and upper body. Thanks for sharing
Great video! Thank you
I’ve been nervous about doing too much handheld because everything in my video classes was all about the tripod … and not making viewers unintentionally seasick! I guess it’s time to branch out and become more secure in my handheld techniques. Thanks for sharing these specific tips and techniques!
Great to hear from you Cassie! How have you been?
Handheld is definitely one of those things that you regret if not done well, but can make you way more proactive with the proper technique
This was really helpful. I would love to master this vs a gimbal. I didn't think about the focal links making such a difference.
Brilliant to see the basics so clearly explained. A long time ago, in televisionland, trainee assistant camerafolk were taught the same crouching heel, sliding toe walk. They would practise for hours shuffling up and down beside a long brick wall until deemed competent. They would be given ten feet of film to prove they could make a non-bouncing tracking shot - the bricks were unforgiving. Their efforts would be judged in the cutting room. So glad I was a trainee assistant film editor during the great tripod famine of 1978.
Wow, talk about practice.
That sounds like one wild training exercise Simon. That kind of commitment to the basics, to proper technique, would add so much for many filmmakers yet we often want to jump five steps ahead before mastering the fundamentals.
I and thank you! I love handheld camera! My last film is about a park against a city. In the park is all handheld, in the city all tripod or glidecam. This underline the difference: one is an emotional natural place, the other is artificial, claustrophobic and stressing!
Love that way of delineating the shooting style for different emotional tones in your film.
So many ways to smooth out footy these days👌 I wonder if my gimbal will become obsolete.
When used with intention, every tool can add - the key is that many tools will be less needed and can be replaced by proper technique. A well-placed slider or gimbal says something different than the best handheld. The trick is to know when each should be placed, and for many of us, its to use fancy tools far less so that they have an impact when they are used.
This is super helpful. I have a new FX3 and everything I've heard so far says you have to add weight to film hand held - which to me, defeats the purpose. I've literally had two shoulder surgeries due to camera weights in the past so adding weight is a hard pass for me. I love seeing your ideas for smoothing out the handheld footage without weights. I've been using these techniques already, but felt like the odd duck for not adding weight - like I was doing it wrong. Knowing that you're getting great results with lighter cameras is very encouraging! I also still use the monopod for the very long sessions. But honestly my gimbal has been in the closet for awhile now....
Great to hear from you Autumn and I hope this offers some ideas that don’t require more weight to be added
That monopod is one trusty sidekick for sure
Hand- held junkie here!!!
woot woot!
Another tip: Watch band kids! The idea for marching is similar in that they have to separate their upper bodies from their lower to keep the steps from compressing their diaphragm and changing the sound. The heel-toe approach is the same, but it's actually about lengthening your body and using your core to stabilize. Also, a huge tip is to stay off your heels when going backwards or side to side. Pivot from the hips and think of your upper body as one unit.
We need to see a video demonstration of this one Mark :)
I still love a mono-pod. seems unpopular these days.
learning handheld techniques are SUPER important. more and more tools(in the camera) are making it easier but still having good human hand are unbeatable.
Couldn’t agree more. I do believe that the advent of stabilization around the sensor and lens and made it far more tempting to go handheld versus using tools.
Look at Apple or Samsung commercials and you see how much they push the the stabilization of their latest phones (which is largely AI / digital) but it shows the shift into letting the machines manage our lack of technique :)
I’m digging the rawness and transparency in this video team. For me, I like to use a tripod, monopod, and handheld, because all three of those tools have a different quality of movement or no movement at all which serves the story differently. However, monopod is my preferred tool because it’s the best of both handheld and tripod.
Thank you, Danami! We love to get feedback like this :)
I (Patrick) used to love monopod some 5-7 years ago much for the same reasons you did. I find myself leaning more towards handheld now do to improved technique, technology, and how much quicker and more intimate that way of filming can be. That said, I have to remind myself when handheld isn't the best style and to slow down and grab a tripod or mono as its more fitting.
@@MuseStorytelling I’m well aware of your monopod usage Patrick. I think I started using it more because of you. Also, this is the same Danami that does music, took the Profitable Filmmaker course, was a founding member of Story First, and was an early adopter of the Muse Storytelling process from the book. Same Guy!
@@DANAMIONLINE yes sir, definitely recognized you - mostly from our conversations on Story First.
Glad to hear the monopod work way back when made an impact. That Manfrotto used to be my best friend.
@@MuseStorytelling 👊🏾 What’s your experiencing using shoulder rigs for storytelling?