Good photography posture & how to hold a camera
Does it really matter how you stand when taking photos? It might seem unnecessary to think about how to hold a camera, but it can actually be really important. If you want to avoid camera shake and reliably get sharp images then how you stand and hold your camera can make a big difference. If you are unbalanced then your shot might not be steady. Slow shutter speeds become impossible as soon as our hands are unable to hold things steady. Having a supportive, stable stance helps your body act like a tripod, keeping the camera steady.
In this video, I show you some simple tips for your posture and how to hold a camera to keep it steady. You can easily adopt these ideas to help your photography. If you find yourself wobbling around when taking photos then this will definitely help! It becomes much easier to keep your subject steady in the frame and to avoid blur caused by camera shake. You will see tips for how to stand and also for crouching down to take low shots.
So, you can see that there are a few simple techniques to help your body be more stable. Here is a summary of the points covered:
- Stand with your feet slightly apart
- Put one foot slightly in front of the other
- Bend your knees a little
- Bring your elbows in to your side
- Support the lens from underneath with your left hand
- Hold the camera grip with your right hand
- Stand upright and avoid leaning
Or, if you are taking low angle shots:
- Put one knee on the floor
- Put the other foot flat on the floor
- Lean your elbow on your knee
- Tuck the other elbow in to your side
- Hold the camera as above, supporting from below
© Joe Lenton, February 2018