A shaky video looks unprofessional and, after a while, makes viewers dizzy. Shake is one of the hardest things to fix in post, so this page focuses on shooting steadier, and ends with what post-production can do.
Six methods that cost nothing
- Two hands: one hand always shakes. Hold the phone with both, elbows tucked against your body.
- Lean on something: a wall, a table, a pillar. Rest your elbows or the phone on something fixed.
- Don't walk and film: if you must, bend the knees slightly, slow down, take small steps, as if carrying a bowl of soup.
- Don't zoom: the more you zoom, the more shake shows. Walk closer and use the widest lens.
- Turn on the phone's stabilisation: most phones have it on by default; check the camera settings.
- Hold each shot longer: keep the frame still for 8 to 10 seconds instead of constantly panning around looking for things. The edit uses the steady seconds.
When to buy gear
- Tripod: essential for fixed-position shooting (interviews, talking to camera, product shots). A small phone tripod is enough.
- Handheld gimbal: only for content that needs walking shots, such as a tour of the shop or following an event. It smooths movement, but it won't stop your hands trembling; how you walk still matters.
What post-production stabilisation can do
Editing software has stabilisation: it enlarges the picture slightly and moves it against the shake. It handles small tremors, such as gentle handheld movement. It can't handle:
- Large movements, such as filming while running or getting bumped. The result wobbles like jelly.
- Motion blur. When the frames themselves are blurred by the shake, they stay blurred once steadied.
- Keeping the full frame. Enlarging crops the edges; 4K footage has room for this, 1080p footage ends up noticeably smaller.
So when we assess footage, we tell you which parts are usable after stabilising and which we'd replace or reshoot.
Frequently asked questions
Is 4K easier to rescue?
Yes. The larger frame keeps 1080p sharpness after the crop that stabilisation needs.
Should I turn on the phone's Action mode or super-steady mode?
Very useful when walking, but it crops the picture (narrower view) and degrades quality in low light. Not needed for fixed-position shots.
It's already shot and very shaky. Is it usable?
Send us the footage. Some parts can be rescued, others replaced with photos or other shots. Within 48 hours we'll tell you whether we can help, and if we can, we send a quote for you to decide.
