As a wedding filmmaker, nothing’s worse than coming home to see important footage like speeches or the vow exchange is accompanied by the archenemy of all filmmakers: camera shake. It’s almost impossible to eliminate shake entirely — as a wedding filmmaker, you’re filming nonstop for eight, nine, or even 10 hours. But, while you may not eliminate camera wobbles altogether, you can prevent them by investing in top-quality gear designed for smooth motion — not shaky blurs.
Today, I’m sharing seven of my favorite tools for ensuring steady, smooth footage; together we can beat that pesky camera shake nuisance one kit at a time!
1. Invest in a monopod
Hands down, a monopod is the best investment you can make for stabilization in wedding films. It’s versatile, quickly adjustable, and if you purchase a monopod with feet, it can even double as a tripod. I spend the majority of the wedding day with my “A camera” on my monopod so I can move around as needed to get the right angle and a steady shot.
2. Use a tripod with your second camera
While my “A camera” is on my monopod, I keep my “B camera” on a tripod to get multiple angles for those key moments like speeches, dances, and the ceremony. This guarantees a fixed shot, giving me the freedom to focus on more creative footage with my zoom lens on a monopod.
For example, during the ceremony I like to have my B camera and a wide angle lens on a tripod in the back for a full, symmetrical scene. I use my A camera with a zoom lens to run around and capture tight, pretty shots that show the couple’s up-close-and-personal reactions.
3. Try a gimbal for smooth-moving shots
I’ve tried to capture smooth walking shots while holding my camera “steadily”… but have failed miserably more times than I care to admit. That’s why I invested in a gimbal — it ensures I capture beautiful, cinematic footage of the couple walking and twirling together during their photo session, or the bride first walking down the aisle. The gimbal was designed entirely for these steady moving shots, which is why it’s definitely worth the investment!
4. Test out a slider
For clean moving footage of, say, the groom tying his shoes or the flower arrangements at the reception, give a slider a try. I bring my slider to every wedding so I can mix up the motion of the shots; this adds variety and further drives interest from the viewers. (You don’t want the same frame and motion over and over – that can get old! )
I like the slider because it, of course, keeps the motion steady, but it also gives me the opportunity to avoid too many “pans,” because as I’ve said before, these news-style movements don’t always translate well to wedding films.
5. Get the most out of your camera strap
This is definitely more of a “beginner” tip, but if you’re low on budget or forgot a piece of stabilizing gear, your camera strap can really be your best friend. Hold your camera far enough out so the strap is fully extended, and the tension will help you limit shakiness from your hands. This is one of my favorite tricks for filming during my travels. I’ve never had to resort to it on wedding day, but it’s always nice to keep in your back pocket just in case!
(Quick note: If you want the versatility of having a camera strap one second, no camera strap the next, check out these options from Peak Design. I have them on both of my cameras so I can quickly change from one mode to the next.)
6. Use your camera’s built-in stabilization
Most cameras like the Sony a7 III have a built-in stabilization system to help eliminate the hand’s inevitable shakiness. Does it work all the time? Sadly, no. But it does remove some of the distraction and is really a no-brainer way to set yourself up for (stabilized) success!
That said, make sure you turn the built-in stabilization off when you’re using the gimbal. The internal anti-shake features of the gimbal will actually fight against the camera’s stabilization when used in tandem, so it’s better to rely solely on the gimbal. (But don’t forget to switch back when you move from gimbal to monopod!)
7. Correct shake in post
No matter what, you’ll almost always end up with a bit of shakiness in your footage. It happens to the best of us, especially when we’re filming all day. Fortunately, you can correct light shakiness in post with programs like Final Cut Pro. You just have to use it sparingly and be hyper-aware for any warped footage, because the software can only fix light shake — not major movements.
Unfortunately, you can’t fix shake 100 percent of the time, and for the most part, it’s even tougher to fix in post. That’s why it’s important to get your steadiness right from the second you’re filming — and a strong arsenal of gear can help you do just that.
