Make sure you meet all of the physical requirements for this job before making the decision to become a steadicam operator. Begin learning about the equipment and its capabilities at a training school or speaking with industry professionals. After that, get some experience working with cameras on your own before joining a film production crew or an advertising agency that specializes in commercials. In the film industry, it’s all about experience and track records.
The steadicam equipment’s basic design creates an enclosed space in which the camera can operate smoothly. Learning to handle the equipment and shoot without adding any additional instability to the shot is probably the most important aspect of becoming a steadicam operator. This necessitates the operator actually assisting the steadicam in maintaining the isolated space that the specially designed rig has created and maintained. Experience with operating the equipment and evaluating the resulting film footage is the only way to develop this level of acuity.
The Steadicam apparatus, despite being designed to distribute the unit’s overall weight, which is typically between 30 and 50 pounds (13.6 to 22.7 kg), still adds weight to the body. For the first few minutes of operation, the load may appear light, but working for several hours on your feet with the steadicam unit attached can be physically demanding. The load is distributed across the front of the operator’s body, which can be difficult for those who lack a good sense of balance. The most basic physical requirements for successfully operating a steadicam are overall physical fitness, the absence of back problems, and a high level of physical stamina.
The best way to get started on the road to becoming a steadicam operator is to have prior experience working in the film or motion picture industry. Because you’ll be working as a camera operator, you’ll need some basic experience or training in setting up shots, framing shots, smoothly panning, pulling focus, following a subject, and zooming in and out decisively. The only way to learn to do all of these things well while on set is to have firsthand experience. Start getting a basic camera and shooting your own films, working on a local television show, or working alongside a commercial production crew if you’re new to the industry. No amount of training or book learning will ever be able to replace hands-on experience.