Seasoned pro, Scott Trainor is back with Part 2 on taking your shoots to the next level. In Part 1, he talked to us about different types of gear. This month he gets a little more specific focusing on how to capture your best looks with your camera.
Content Creation – Handheld or Tripod?
If you’re making POV content, I would say 90% of it is going to be done handheld whether you’re using your cellphone, a GoPro, a camcorder, or maybe you’re using a DSLR/mirrorless camera.
The cool thing about POV is you can establish just how much motion you want in your videos.
There are clients that love the back-and-forth movements knowing you’re holding a camera while performing. Others prefer the scene to be as motionless as possible. A gimbal is a great option to look into for butter smooth operation for whatever camera you use. If you’re using your phone, this may be a great time to use something like a DJI OM 5/6 to smooth out the movements.
Maybe you’re using a DSLR/mirrorless camera, look into something like a SCORP-C by FeiyuTech.
It’s a little more expensive than the OM6, but it works great! This is what I use when camera shakes are not an option. You will develop your own style either way! Some of us even choose to rig out our cameras with handles, lights, microphones and larger batteries. This can help add some weight for stability, increase your runtime, and capture much cleaner audio and video. All of which are recommended.
Next, let’s talk about tripods.
When there’s no one else to shoot for you, and you want to be completely in the action, a good tripod is a great way to frame up your shots and hold your camera steady. There are plenty of options out there that have a nice smooth head on them and go up high enough to get the shots you may need. One of my favorites is by SmallRig. I use it whenever I need a good tripod.
I also paired mine with their fluid head for better movement when I am behind the camera shooting. I do like movement and try to only use tripod shots when absolutely necessary, and even then, I move it around or use multiple cameras to get more of the shot and make the viewer more immersed. This requires some technique in post-production with some pans and zooming.
Either way you decide to shoot your content, just shoot and get it out there! The more you do it and practice, the better you will get at it and the more content you have out, the more potential you have to monetize it.
Have fun and make some money!
Photo credit: iStock.com/KatarzynaBialasiewicz
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To find and follow Scott head to his Twitter @ScottTrainorxxx and the website he shares with his wife, Kymber Leigh at BeachKouple.com.
