Step-by-step Make professional camera moves

1 Selfie stick

A selfie stick enables you to capture your subject from a range of creative angles. Here we’re filming the overhead tracking shot (Overhead.mov) used in our imovie project.

2 Panning shot

Import our source clips into a new event and choose File>new Movie. Drag ‘Pan.mov’ to the timeline. The pan sets the scene with the signpost and then introduces the characters.

3 Crane shot

Add Crane.mov to the timeline. By raising the camera vertically on a selfie stick we can crane up to reveal a high angle wide shot of the location (like using an old school jib).

4 Tracking shot

Add Tracking.mov to the timeline. The low angle makes the grass move faster in this tracking shot, adding energy to the scene. Shooting in slow motion helps it look smooth.

5 Dolly shot

Add Overhead.mov and Dolly.mov to the timeline. Unlike a tracking shot which moves alongside the subject our dolly shot pushes towards the subject and then pans right.

6 Steadicam effect

The dolly footage is a little wobbly and tilted, so click the Stabilization icon. Tick the ‘Stabilise Shaky Video’ box. Dragging the slider right also helps counteract the tilted horizon.

7 POV shot

By extending the selfie stick and holding the camera close to the ground we created a pet’s point of view clip (Pov.mov) and added visual variety to our production.

8 Drone shot

A drone helps you get a high angle, but it’s noisy. By holding your camera up high on a selfie stick you can capture a bird’s eye view in silence (Drone.mov).

9 Add music

Our country walk features a range of camera moves such as pans, cranes, tracking shots and dolly moves. Link the clips by adding the Bossa Lounger Long audio track.