6 Tips for Better Handheld

Shooting documentaries require a lot of handheld work. Need to improve your abilities? This video looks at 6 tips to get better handheld footage.
FILMS
The Pursuit - 2019 • The Pursuit - starring...
Once Upon a Time in Uganda - 2021 www.amazon.com/Once-Upon-Ugan...
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📖 CHAPTERS 📖
0:00 Intro
1:01 Step 1: Maintain 3 Points of Contact
2:06 Step 2: Make Your Camera Heavier
2:31 Step 3: Balance Your Camera
3:57 Step 4: Support the Camera
4:19 Step 5: Keep the Camera Moving
5:11 Step 6: Count to 10
6:45 Conclusion
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DISCLAIMERS
This video is not sponsored by any brand, and most of the gear discussed in the video is equipment I personally bought and own. On occasion, however, videos may feature equipment that has been provided by outside brands, which I will always point out. My review of these products are always without bias and are only shown because I would personally recommend their use.
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[@jseamans]

These are very good things to keep in mind. I would add two more tips. 1) Shoot with a wide angle focal length. Know your limits in terms how tight you can get without blowing it. Embrace those limits. 2) Walk in step with your subject if you are following or tracking a moving person. It will be smoother and will also help in post by masking the sound of your footsteps with the subject’s. A third tip, which actually applies to all shots is once you count to ten at the head of the shot and make your move, resist all impulses to reframe and tweak your end frame. It’s very tempting to feel you didn’t land it quite right and make a slight zoom, tilt, pan, or something. Like Matt says, hold still and count to 10. That way the editor will hate you less😂.

[@jseamans]

The last tip is especially true if you are the editor.

[@matt-porwoll]

These are great additions! Love the “know your limits without blowing it.” This applies to a lot of things… You’re totally correct in walking in step with your subject. It’s kind of like being on a boat - if the subject is steady, the motion around them is less perceptible. And the last is something I struggled with for a long time. Just hold the shot!!! You can always re-frame for another take. Thanks so much for these!

[@josephseamans1662]

Further comment: This may be obvious, but with a wide angle lens you can also get close ups by moving closer to the subject. So the tip would be: don’t zoom in, walk in and get closer.

[@josephseamans1662]

@@matt-porwollI just discovered your channel and really like it. Thanks.

[@adamfrench2337]

Dude, please don’t stop making this content. It’s incredibly helpful and inspiring. Really appreciate your contributions to the community! Thanks a million!

[@matt-porwoll]

Thanks so much, I really appreciate it!

[@NoSuRReNDeR001]

@@matt-porwoll I agree and ive been at this for 17 years thank you- Subbed!

[@Maros_Mari]

Hey Matt, thank you for great tips, I found many of them helpful and I am looking forward to your next episodes. Id love to see a comprehensive guide on coverage - how you asses the space and subjects, how you make decisions on type of shots, sizes, movement and angles… basically how do you think when you approach a scene to make best out of the moment and capture it to have enough variety but also flow in the footage. Thank you, much appreciated..

[@matt-porwoll]

Thanks so much for your comment! I will definitely be doing a video on everything you're talking about in the coming weeks. It's an important one to do and have many people asking for the same thing. I plan is to take a scene from a film of mine and break down the raw footage compared to the final edit to talk talk about all the points you mentioned. Just working on the clearances! Should be a good one!

[@andreimatalyha4147]

thank you! I'm so looking forward@@matt-porwoll

[@terryhope2074]

10s top and tail - so important. The best thing I did to improve my footage was to start editing. That's when those few seconds really made their presence felt. Be kind to your editor.

[@Landolini]

great tips! I also film handheld a lot and will try these!

[@matt-porwoll]

Glad it was helpful!

[@IdeaStudioBKK]

all amazing tips, thank you. I have a very hard time shooting with a shoulder mount, I happen to have very large traps and so it always feels as though its cutting into them. I am also on the tall side so I notice that my shoulder mounted footage looks a bit high normally. I tend to hold my camera against my chest instead and have it rigged up with a quick release sling so I can get some rest if needed. I am wondering if anyone else has similar issues trying to shoot should mounted?

[@matt-porwoll]

Thanks for your comment. I hear you on being tall when shoulder mounted. For control, I love shooting from the shoulder, so you'll oftentimes find me standing in a very wide stance to get a little lower. Comfortable? Not exactly... But it gets me to where I need to be. Otherwise, I do a lot of filming from my Cine Saddle, like you see in the video. This gets me to a good height (and that height is adjustable by shortening or lengthening the strap). Plus, the Cine Saddle gives me a good place to sit the camera down when it's time for a break!

[@DaveKnowlesFilmmaker]

The best tip was the last. Having been an editor in TV and now as an independent I have always used and insisted camera operators use the 10 move 10 way of doing a shot. This gives the editor in fact three shots to work with rather than so often none at all or even worse somehow having to freeze the opening or end of a movement and this when I was a film editor was of course not an option. I would also add a static shot is not a no, no we do not always have to have cameras moving around.

[@matt-porwoll]

So glad to hear this! While the Count to 10 tip is slightly different from the rest, I find it very important for all the reasons you mentioned. And yes, I agree on not saying "no" to all static shots. I use them equally to movement. There's a place and time when one makes sense vs the other. But when you're looking to take out some of the jitters of static handheld, movement - even the slightest side to side - does wonders and still can feel like a dynamic static. Thanks so much for your comment!

[@pjtavera]

Header and tail of a shot is what i need to practice more. Highly regarding this Tip!

[@matt-porwoll]

That’s such an easy thing to forget and certainly takes practice to make it part of muscle memory!

[@joenicklo]

@5:32 YES! YES! YES! Thank you so much for saying this. I tell my cam ops this all the time.

[@matt-porwoll]

Thank you!

[@josephasghar]

Great advice. Thank you!

[@marlonking5924]

Wow, that counting to 10 tip. I think it’s gonna be very helpful for me.. I know I have a habit cutting clips sometimes too quickly in camera. I get to editing and some clips are way too short. Thank you

[@matt-porwoll]

Glad it was helpful!

[@jbf5030]

Thank you so much, it was awesome watching you demonstrate.

[@matt-porwoll]

You are so welcome!

[@PelicanNorth]

The camera support tip was the best for me. I looked up the CineSaddle and concluded that for the purpose of hand-held stability a simple camera bag I already own works great. I have an old DSLR Canon bag in a box shape with a cushioned strap. I put that on sling-style and have the strap relatively short so the bag sits up high. This gives me a soft platform on which to rest the camera , or my arm. I'm 6'3, so shoulder mount is often too high. The bag gets the camera up and stable, at chest height. The reduction in camera shake is significant! Plus, the bag can hold another lens, cleaner, cover, lav pack, etc. Since it's in front of me instead of in a backpack, I have immediate access to those items. So, in just the last hour, this tip greatly improved my craft. Thank you!

[@matt-porwoll]

That's awesome! Just be careful to not overload that bag :) You're left shoulder & neck will thank you later!

[@alex.mcintosh]

Great work on this guide, Matt. Thanks!

[@matt-porwoll]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@Betweenlands]

Brilliant, really helpful.

[@matt-porwoll]

Glad it was helpful!

[@johntupper1369]

Thank you for your perspective and experience, Mr. Porwoll! Great insights!

[@matt-porwoll]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@FlipsMedia]

This video is incredible and I thank you for it! Straight to the point with all the proper information. Would love to get more videos about camera operating and technique

[@matt-porwoll]

Thanks for your comment!

[@Ioraek]

Hey thanks always good to hear this sort of advice from a new perspective. braced shots looks very nice. Great demonstration that one doesn't always need tripod/gimble/slider.

[@matt-porwoll]

Thank you!

[@KenFlanagan]

Thx so much all great points well made as always. If someone can tell me why cine saddles are so expensive given what they are made from then i would be so very happy. They are good especially resting on car bonnets. Alternatively a steadybag could be useful for resting and levelling the camera especially if shooting inside a car. Much less bulky. Great for resting on an open car window. Front seat so the window goes fully down for travelling shots. Alternatives that work well on operator is a waste belted baby carrier seat. Easily adjusted to the side. Super light and any weight is on the hips. Also a lot cheaper than a cine saddle and useful if you ever have a baby to carry. Also just a small shoulder strap camera bag that might have an alternative lens in it and i would definitely recommend op/tech usa shoulder strap with that so it can easily detach and reattach to the camera. Totally agree with evf as fourth point really makes things easy. Although not essential i would recommend having a way to check horizontal as that is easily missed. Some operators like to put a bean bag or something between the shoulder and the shoulder rig. The ten second rule is so true and particularly worth telling any other operators the same on the same shoot. Also if possible and you have on camera sound running just say sharp when you have the shot set up and you have focus and then start your count. Super annoying in an edit when the start of a shot is trying to find focus. In general if its possible i have found that it never hurts to talk to the camera and make audio notes for the shots as you go. Maybe even describe the shot you are attempting and mark good take by saying it. With editing software now all this audio is searchable and handy for notes if needed. Maybe worth noting that although easyrigs are very popular on corporate films when shooting verite and observational docs a low profile is super important. Having a back up dslr or mirrorless as your back up camera and particularly something that is a low light beast (with evf ideally, im thinking A7siii or fx3 at a push) is great for filming at night or where you want to be unobserved or need access eg club or bar or shooting from inside a car. Monopod?? Im not sure if you would normally have one to hand as a matter of course. Maybe that is crossing the line given this is all about hand held. Thanks so much for the quality content and effortless explanations.

[@matt-porwoll]

Thanks so much for your comment! You make some really good points here. It's all about finding what works for you in the situations you find yourself in. Love the baby carrier suggestion. Might have to give that a try when I'm lugging around my own! Solid points on making audio notes over the footage. You have to watch out for this when shooting verite and sound is of the utmost importance, but a really great suggestion for b-roll and inserts. It's always very annoying to watch the final edit and see they only used the moments when you were setting up the shot. And I agree with you 100% about the Easy Rig. I don't like using them at all (and talk about this is other videos) for the very reasons you mentioned, but I know some people like them. Again, it's all about finding what works for you. Thanks again for your generous thoughts about the video!

[@timdanyo898]

Great tips. I have IBIS on my FX3 and I am impressed with the stability it provides. With that small camera the micro jitters can get distracting. IBIS on the new Sony Burano will be a game changer added with shoulder rig and all the suggestions in this video.

[@matt-porwoll]

Thanks for your comment. The implementation of IBIS is certainly a welcome addition to cameras! I use the sensor stabilization on my C500mkii from time to time, but I find it can sometimes introduce strange gimbal-like jitters on certain moves or longer lenses. I always feel that it's best to know how to do things without the help of technology, and then utilize it when it makes sense!

[@sardanapalos]

@@matt-porwoll if you get on your hands the new s5ii (or g9ii) with a stab lens i think you will rethink Sir ... but all depends on what you want and need, after the s5ii i stopped using gimbal :)

[@Fireandagrill]

Now with modern cameras that have Gyro data if you can crank your shutter speed, turn off IBIS the stabilisation you can get in Gyroflow is even better. Just another step to take

[@bseng]

Great video Matt, I’d love to hear how you go about dealing with body fatigue and soreness on long days of hand held operating.

[@matt-porwoll]

Thanks for the comment. This is definitely a hot topic! For me, the balance of the camera goes along way in keeping me from getting totally torn up after a long day. I do stretches at the beginning and end of each day and try to drink a lot of water throughout the day. After a long job, getting a solid massage and resting helps tremendously. Body fatigue is one of those things that will happen, but as long as you stay aware of what hurts and why, mitigate what you can and rest up in between…

[@bseng]

@@matt-porwoll Thanks for sharing your process. I've got to look into getting massages after shoots. Even after a few days operating with the Easyrig my body feels pretty rough.

[@jseamans]

Vitamin I. As in Ibuprofin.

[@matt-porwoll]

And that.

[@ManuelParodiRamos]

Hi Matt and thanks for your videos. I´m still an amateur with zero finished films (one short doc on the making), so I´m struggling with all aspects of documentary filmmaking, from story to technical, pre/postproduction, exposure etc. I guess and hope you will be covering many of those issues with time (looking forward to keep hearing your advice!). One issue that I´m struggling with is the flow of the connection with my subject. How much I can/should/will show, how much should my subject dictate the story vs my own idea, how much I can suggest, plan, try to get it anyway I´m sure you are better at understanding that I am at expressing myself. I guess I´m pointing to the ethics and the reality of documentaries. Wonder if you plan to cover those kind of issues?

[@matt-porwoll]

Hi, thank you so much for you comment and welcome to the channel! I certainly hear you and understand your challenges and frustrations. But based on what you’re asking, it seems you are thinking about it and approaching things in the right way. I’ll continue to cover aspects of documentary cinematography, but won’t focus much on editing/directing/producing, since that isn’t what I do. But I would suggest watching my “What is Cinema Verite?” video that will cover some of the ethics you are talking about. I hope that helps and be sure to continually check in as I have a lot more coming!

[@guidedvisionsmedia]

I see the angineaux but what body is it on?

[@matt-porwoll]

It’s on my Canon C500mkii