The BEST Way to 'Hand Hold' your camera: Quick Tip

The tip is simple, right hand on the grip, left hand under the lens not over with your elbows tucked. When you tuck your elbows you are giving yourself stability which should lead to sharper images.

When it comes to how to shoot vertical there are two ways. Either your camera has a built in vertical release or it doesn't. If it do it's simple simply turn the camera so the shutter button is at the top.

If you don't have one in my opinion the best way to shoot is to turn the camera so the shutter button is at the top not the bottom and tuck the elbows.

If you follow these simple tips you should have an easier time getting sharper images.

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[eddiefowke]

Great video Jared. The only thing I'd add is stability starts at the feet. Always stand slightly left foot forward, turn at the hips and lock the elbows down.

[pinetopphotoandvideo]

Kudos Jared!!! Finally someone NOT promoting the 'Broken Wing' method when holding the camera for a vertical shot and sticking your elbow up and out like a 'Broken Wing'. I don't get why everyone is in agreement of tucking your arms in while holding the camera for a horizontal shot, but then almost everyone these days thinks sticking your arm out with elbow up and flailing about is the proper way to hold the cam when shooting vertical. Whether you hold it with shutter button up or down, tuck the elbows in. Tuck the elbows in... You know, just like in Ace Ventura
"Laces out!" LOL... I was taught (by several instructors) about 30 years ago to hold the camera with the shutter button down when shooting vertical and tuck your elbows in, just the same as when shooting horizontal. It felt very comfortable then as it does now. Back then I never saw anyone with their elbow sticking up and out. Today I can't help but laugh every time I see a fotog running about with a broken wing sticking up. But hey, maybe every photographer since the beginning of photography had it wrong until digital. But you can't argue that tucking your elbows in is more stable than an elbow sticking up and out.

[MattisProbably]

Got the grip for my D7000 and never regretted it. It makes shooting vertical so much easier!
However, since I mainly use two roughly 20 years old tele lenses right now I mainly shoot with a monopod anyway.

[Perra]

Also, when shooting with that 24-70 if you hold the zoomring while tipping your camera anticlockwise to vertical position, you also get a very intuitive natural portrait if going from .. say a halfbody in the thirds or maybe closer. Nothing beats the Nik lenses imo.

[nathanspeiser]

Will you be doing a review on the Panasonic Lumix G7?

[celya]

Can you do more tips and samples for sharper images and focus settings!

[scoobygpc]

That was a nice tip but I like to use the one where I lean up against the wall next to you, my hands have gotten to shaky to hand hold much.

[MrJfred]

This gets the subscribe. Thanks for the tips!

[Mleko]

How do you like Yetti? Is it too heavy to have 2 cameras + battery grips + 24-70 + 70-200 on same shoulder for hours? Could you compare it with Double strap pls. I´m going to buy second body very soon. So I´m looking for some solution. Thx

[francis]

Awesome video.Thank you.Keep up the good work :)Thumbs Up!

[Mak]

I've always wondered why they don't make heads for tripods that stabilize the end of the lens.  Think of a pool cue and how you hold it near end/tip.... It's much more stable than holding it towards the middle of cue.  Similar to cameras your lens will move less if you stabilize it near the end where the hood would mount.  Sometimes I actually hold my lens like a pool cue towards the end for telephoto lenses and it works a hell of a lot better than putting both my hands on the camera and the base of the lens where the zoom ring is.

[hendrik]

nice video and great hint....
greetings vom germany from a guy, trying to improf his english and his photo knowledge with your videos ;)

[VVhistory]

Do you always shoot in company of another person? One of my issues is getting my stuff taken, you know, i live in LA amd delinquency is high here. How do can you keep your stuff safe?

[nejack]

The strap Jared is using is the BlackRapid Yeti. There is a good video on the BlackRapid site about it.

[RichardsWorld]

The style of shooting photos with a camera is similar to shooting a rifle.
Breathing techniques, stance, resting your arms or hands or camera on something, etc, etc, are also to be considered.

[Neopulse]

Without a grip, I do over and use my left middle finger to gently press the shutter while my right hand is against the base of it. My both hands essentially are holding the camera in equal form with my elbows tucking in.

[IntegraDIY]

good tip, you should show us your gear

[EchoAccord]

A lot of of people on youtube to need this. They can't hold a camera for their lives.

[WalterVerburgt]

Although these videos are quite short, they helped me out so much...

[MarkMicallef]

Jared, what model is the black Rapids? I've never seen a dual camera strap using only one shoulder.