If you want to create a professional-looking video, you need to pay attention to the stability and smoothness of your footage. Shaky or jerky shots can ruin your message and distract your audience. In this article, you will learn some tips and tricks to ensure that your video is stable and smooth, whether you are using a smartphone, a webcam, or a camera.
The first step to achieve stability and smoothness is to choose the right device for your video. Depending on your budget, your purpose, and your location, you may have different options. For example, if you are shooting a video for a webinar, you may want to use a webcam that can be attached to your computer or a tripod. If you are shooting a video for a social media post, you may want to use a smartphone that has a built-in stabilizer or a gimbal. If you are shooting a video for a presentation, you may want to use a camera that has a good lens and a sensor.
Speaking from my experience, selecting the right device for a specific purpose is very essential to get a smooth stable shot. Nowadays, with the advancing technology, smartphones come with optical image stabilisation which are quite good. I would still prefer to use a DSLR on a stable tripod since it allows one to control required setting. One can consult to a professional videographer for the same.
The second step to achieve stability and smoothness is to adjust the settings of your device. Depending on your device, you may have different settings that can affect the quality of your video. For example, you may want to adjust the resolution, the frame rate, the exposure, the focus, and the white balance. You may also want to turn off any digital zoom or auto mode that can cause unwanted movements or changes in your video. You may want to experiment with different settings until you find the ones that suit your needs and preferences.
Play with the lights, that's what a cinematographer says ! DSLR enables one to fully control camera settings which primarily controls light. One must know how to adjust the basic three settings on a camera : 1) Shutter Speed 2) ISO 3) Aperture to control lights and sharpness of the shot. Another important settings is the frame rate which enables one to adjust how audience perceive a footage. Higher the frame rate, more slower and cinematic the footage is. A standard rate must of shooting is 24 fps. One can go deeper by understanding other settings like the white balance/ brackets and other color settings.
The third step to achieve stability and smoothness is to use a tripod or a stabilizer for your device. A tripod or a stabilizer can help you to keep your device steady and avoid any hand-held shakes or vibrations. You can find different types and sizes of tripods or stabilizers that can fit your device and your budget. For example, you can use a mini tripod or a selfie stick for your smartphone, a flexible tripod or a clamp for your webcam, or a monopod or a slider for your camera.
The fourth step to achieve stability and smoothness is to hold your device correctly if you are not using a tripod or a stabilizer. Holding your device correctly can help you to reduce the amount of movement and noise in your video. You can follow some simple rules to hold your device correctly. For example, you can use both hands and keep your elbows close to your body, you can use your body as a support and lean against a wall or a table, or you can use a strap or a handle to secure your device.
The fifth step to achieve stability and smoothness is to plan your movements ahead of time if you are moving your device during your video. Moving your device can add some dynamism and variety to your video, but it can also cause some instability and blurriness. You can follow some simple rules to plan your movements ahead of time. For example, you can move your device slowly and smoothly, you can avoid sudden or jerky movements, or you can use a transition or a cut to change the angle or the position of your device.
The sixth and final step to achieve stability and smoothness is to edit your video after you have recorded it. Editing your video can help you to fix any minor issues or errors that may have occurred during your recording. You can use different software or apps to edit your video depending on your device and your level of skill. For example, you can use iMovie or Filmora for your smartphone, Windows Movie Maker or OBS Studio for your webcam, or Adobe Premiere or Final Cut Pro for your camera.