Field Training
Field Training
Buying and Balancing
Buying and balancing: get the DJI RS4 or newer. It switches vertical to horizontal right on the gimbal, balances well, and comes apart to fit a backpack. Balance it perfectly before your first shoot, any good YouTube balancing video works. (Your YouTube link goes here.)
The Superpower
The gimbal's superpower is shots a tripod cannot do, as well as tremendously increased speed. Set it down right on a countertop, shoot on an incline with zero setup, reach over bushes for a lined up shot, or squeeze into a tight bathroom until the gimbal is literally touching the wall.
Centering
To center a shot, align the middle of your body with a fixed edge in the room, put that edge on the frame's middle line, then click and hold the gimbal's rear lock button so it keeps the alignment while you recompose.
Kitchens
Small kitchens still get the full treatment: five shots plus close ups of the stove and faucet. The kitchen is the heart of the home. And don't shoot from directly over a countertop, step off it so the viewer can read where the counter goes.
Tight Spaces
In a tight space, default to the corner shot. A straight on shot is possible but won't look good.
Doorknobs and Reflections
If a door knob or a reflection creeps into the frame, move the camera slightly, then snap the picture.
Staging
If staging is in the way, don't be afraid to move it, but do remember to put it back right away.
The Glass
Check the glass before every shoot and every 30 to 60 minutes while shooting. Blow off dust, cloth the smudges, inspect the sensor. One dust spot lands on every photo and video.
Twilight
Twilight long shutters work handheld on the gimbal, stay completely still until the last shot is taken. Adjust your ISO and f stop to compensate for the really long shutter times so there is as little shake in the frame as possible. As a rule of thumb, 2 seconds is roughly the maximum exposure on a gimbal. Anything above that starts to get slightly blurry.
Closets
Tight rooms: sometimes you can open a closet and walk into it to get a little extra depth and a wider angle.
Carrying It
Rest the gimbal's legs on your body while you walk the house instead of carrying it hunched out in front. Your back will thank you.
Angle Hunting
As you walk through the room, keep your eyes on the screen to see which angle could be best.
Cabinet Height
In kitchens, level the camera with the cabinets. If you see under the cabinets, it's ugly. If the cabinets are super high, forget leveling and don't worry about it.
Mirrors
Mirror in the frame? Crouch down or hide behind something so the mirror doesn't see you. This makes it easier for post processing to do their job.
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