How to Learn the Basics of Good Camera Work

When you master these simple preliminary guidelines, your videos will look much more professional. The first step is learning how to hold the camera steady. You will probably have better luck steadying an optical viewfinder camera than an LCD camera.

Instructions

Difficulty: Challenging

Steadying an Optical Viewfinder Camcorder

1. Hold an optical viewfinder camera steady by using both hands to support it when you are shooting tape.
2. Put your right hand into the camera strap, which is usually attached to the lens.
3. Put three fingers of your left hand on the bottom of the camera.
4. Arrange the fingers into a three-point support: thumb toward the rear of the camera, index and middle finger toward the front.
5. Move yourself closer to the action rather than using your zoom lens to zoom in on a telephone shot.
6. Avoid walking shots. But if you have to walk while shooting, practice gliding rather than walking stiff-legged.

Steadying a Mini-Screen LCD Camcorder

7. Tuck both elbows into your abdomen.
8. Take a deep breath before shooting, and hold your breath while you shoot.
9. Always shoot at the widest possible focal length (zoom setting) to minimize camera movement.
10. Avoid walking shots, and brace yourself against vertical surfaces whenever possible.

Developing a Good Shooting Style

11. Focus your attention on the event you are covering.
12. Learn how to judge when the "good stuff" is going to happen, and be ready to roll tape immediately when it does.
13. Fill your viewfinder with picture information.
14. Don't force camera movement by doing pans or tilts when they add nothing to the scenes you are taping.
15. Plan the next shot you are going to take.
16. Avoid taking a shot with a large empty frame surrounding a small action area in the center of your picture.
17. Limit the length of your scenes if the action slacks off. Don't include long sequences in which nothing is happening.
18. Alternate between wide shots, medium shots and close-ups as you shoot tape.

Tips & Warnings

• Use the strap on the lens for your right hand.
• You can sometimes alternate between a wide shot from one vantage point and a wide shot from another vantage point, in order to break up your shooting into a more interesting result.
• If you are dressed in good clothing, always inspect a vertical surface you want to lean against so you don't damage your fine duds.

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