A Stable Platform

When you shoot photos with a DSLR, hand holding the camera is pretty easy. With each click of the shutter you’re essentially freezing motion. Unfortunately, this doesn’t translate well to video because the form factor of a DSLR camera is not designed well for handheld video shooting. When recording video, you capture every movement of the camera. Unless you want your viewers to feel motion sickness, you’ll need to take corrective actions.

Use a Tripod

One rule that is drilled into those studying videography and cinematography is to use a tripod. Creating a steady shot while shooting video is more difficult than you might think, and viewers will notice every wiggle, bump, and cup of coffee you drink. It cannot be said enough times—use a tripod (Figure 2.18). Sure, there’ll be times when you’ll need to break this rule and put the camera in motion, but you can’t go wrong with a steady shot.