So, this is one of the first questions I had back when I started vlogging. I´ve done my usual research in order to give you the best information possible, and not just my own experience when it comes to holding your camera (or phone) properly and producing “not shaky” videos for the masses.

How do vloggers hold their cameras? You can hold your camera with your bare hands, use a good quality camera with a proper video stabilizer software setting, bought a nice lens that helps to get rid of the “shakes” throughout your videos or simply invest in the right equipment. (Tripods or selfie-sticks)

But the truth is that no matter what you do there are a couple things you should know in order to make a good video without suffering the negative effect of unpleasant movements. Let me enlight you.

Handmade Vlogs

It might be a no-brainer but the truth is that sometimes, when we´re going about our daily vlogs, we often forget to properly hold our cameras and the result is a shaky (practically ruined) video.

The first thing to notice is that we must differentiate between small/medium (phones are in the same category) and big cameras.

If we are talking about a small/medium size, or you´re just using your phone to record (whether you use one or the other makes no difference) you must use them in the proper orientation, that is holding it with your whole hand in a horizontal way. Like this:

The same goes for your phone. (if the size is not an impediment of course)

Another great way to hold your small and medium size camera is to hold it form the sides with your thumb and your pinky finger and let the other three for the back of the device. Like this:

This way you are going to avoid unnecessary shaking while you´re filming your videos and you´ll have more control over your camera to get a good framing.

If you hold your camera (or phone) on the side, just by using your fingers what it will happen is that the weight of the device will make the video to have a lot of up and down movements because you can not control the sensitivity of the lens, that is simply impossible.

Cheaper the camera, more control of the environment (and the stability) you´ll need. Keep that in mind.

Important Tip! I´ve said it already but it is huge, remember to use landscape to vlog with your phone. Using the right orientation is pretty important, the black bars are not cute at all to watch a 10-minute video! 

YouTuber Tips

If you extend your arm to face the camera while you´re talking try to turn your arm to the side (slightly out of angle) and talk that way, many famous YouTubers and vloggers do this to get a further reach.

Don´t move your arm too much from side to side, meaning changing angles from time to time is fine if you don´t overdo it. Try to lock your arm at a certain angle and keep like that for most (or the entire) of the video.

If you turn you have to turn with the arm at the same place you´ve locked it. Don´t move your arm like crazy from side to side you´ll make your audience, literally, dizzy.

Hold at eye level or slightly higher, try not to show your nostrils!

Get Creative!

If you are filming in your bedroom or some other part of your house then you can get creative much easily.

Use books, bookshelves, furniture, tables, chairs, shelves that you can put around your house for this sole purpose, you can find an infinite number of the tutorials of this.

If you´re planning to use a particular space for most of your videos then you can produce your own setting and devices to hold your camera as you wish.

For example, a mechanical arm that is fixed to the wall or that hangs from a piece of furniture and that you can move to change the angle or even the scenery could be a great idea!

Video Stabilizer

A very popular part of the post-production process that any aspiring YouTuber should know about.

Most editing software and programs have features that allow us to stabilize the images and frames that form our videos.

A good example of this is the warp stabilizer in Adobe Premiere. It is fairly easy to use and apply to your creation and you can get rid of undesirable shakes.

DeShaker is another great resource to edit wobbly videos, but first, you have to download the VirtualDub program so you can apply this filter to your video.

Final Cut Pro and iMovie also have features that facilitate this. Whether you use one or the other I can assure you they both do a great job!

Now, if we´re talking about an effective video stabilizer for Windows then you can check out Pinnacle Studio.

Another great tip is that when shopping for a camera, make sure it has built-in image stabilization, ask the seller, check the box or user manual because that way you´ll have a much easier editing once you´re ready to upload your art.

YouTube has also built a Stabilize option for your videos. If you are looking to remove shaky camera motions you can go to the “Quick Fixes” are when editing in the platform and click the button.

Lens Stabilizer

Movements while shutting are the enemy to beat!

The obvious to do it would be by taking the camera out of our hands and having a fixed setting so we don´t have to worry about this.

But the truth is that sometimes that´s very difficult or very inconvenient. So, what can we do?

Well, most camera brands offer an alternative method to achieve better stabilization and remove, or at least significantly reduce, camera shakes, it´s called image stabilizer lens. 

You won´t even have to be a very good cameraman but you´ll still have very professional videos and nobody will know how you´ve pulled it off.

The goal of these lenses is to introduce an opposing movement to the camera when you´re filming and keep the image static while you use it. 

If you have an iPhone X then you don´t need to worry about this, just go out and film good quality videos!

But, if you don´t have one then there´s a lens option for you that is much cheaper than buying the last iPhone or Android to start filming. The Poser Snap Pro is a good example of this if you want to improve the quality of your videos without paying too much money.

The Tripod

Now, if you´ve come to the inevitable conclusion that is time to upgrade your filmmaking, or you just want to have good looking video without much effort, then a tripod is one of your very first investments!

It comes in a variety of forms and brands but there are just a few that really stand out from the crowd.

Gorilla Pod

One of the most versatile and flexible tripods on the market is the Joby Gorilla Tripod.

Whether is to use for a professional camera or just your phone this Pod comes in many sizes and with different gadgets.

I just try to recommend the very best and the things that I´ve found actually work! That´s why I recommend this type of tripod and this specific brand. Because I´ve tried it myself.

It can be used in any environment, even if you don´t have a proper horizontal ground where to put it you can use its strong legs to hold the branch of a tree or a post on the street, it adapts to almost everything and everywhere.

It is even great to use it with your hands, kind of a selfie-stick.

So, by investing in this device you won´t probably expend for any other tripod or stick in the future. At least I haven´t!

Selfie-Sticks

A cheaper but still effective option to look for is the famous selfie-stick!

It is pretty impressive how a simple stick like this can stabilize your videos and remove any shakes or even make them look very professional if used properly. Check out this video to learn a few simple tricks on what you can do with it.

The Mpow Selfie Stick is a great and very affordable option, with excellent reviews and Bluetooth compatible features it´s an easy way to improve your shutting.

It is, of course, an extendable monopod that works almost with any phone and makes your videos look much better than if you´ve used just your hands to film.

Selfie-sticks are usually very light and compact, easy to use and highly adjustable. It should by one of your essential items within your filming equipment.

Related Questions

What tripods do youtubers use? Well, this is another reason why I talked about the Gorilla Tripod because it´s commonly used by most vloggers and youtubers. That is the main reason why I bought it in the first place in fact. The material used to make it is very resistant and it can hold for long periods of time without moving form almost any surface I´ve used it.

What selfie-sticks do youtubers use? There are actually two very professional brands that I´ve seen many youtubers use. The Cygnett stick and the Benro Mini (this one is both tripod and selfie-stick) are some of the best tools I´ve tried. The price of both sticks is a little bit higher than the one I´ve recommended, that is why I didn´t mention them before.

If you are willing to expend $60 bucks on a selfie-stick then you should buy the Gorilla Tripod, in my opinion of course.