As an award-winning videographer in Edinburgh, I love testing technology that improves what I can offer my couples on their big day.
I made a short video showing my beautiful 3-year-old daughter Anabelle playing on her Mini Micro scooter.
Anabelle led the way in this video. All I had to do was chase and follow her while filming her, much to her amusement!
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Videographer in Edinburgh test footage
The Steadicam video footage was shot outside The Scottish Parliament and Dynamic Earth visitor centre in Holyrood, Edinburgh, Scotland.
This video was created using a Canon 5DMK2 camera, a 16-35mm L USM II lens at 16mm, a Rode Videomic Pro and a Steadicam Merlin stabiliser.
Why use a gimbal stabiliser?
As a videographer in Edinburgh seeking the best footage for my couples, a gimbal is a game-changer for capturing smooth, cinematic footage at weddings. Think of it as a high-tech stabiliser that keeps your camera steady, no matter how much you move.
Without a gimbal, even slight hand movements can create shaky footage, especially during dynamic moments like the couple’s first dance or a walk down the aisle.
With a gimbal, those movements are buttery smooth, giving your video a professional, polished feel.
One major benefit is versatility. A gimbal lets you follow the action effortlessly, whether gliding alongside the bride and groom, capturing sweeping venue shots, or tracking moves on the dance floor.
Its smooth transitions make your footage feel more immersive and emotional.
Another plus is creativity. Many gimbals allow for unique shooting techniques, like dramatic pans, tilts, or tracking shots that are impossible with handheld cameras.
Imagine circling the couple as they embrace, creating a romantic 360-degree moment.
Gimbals also save you time in post-production. Shaky footage often requires hours of editing to fix—or worse, it’s unusable.
A gimbal ensures steady footage from the start, so you can focus on storytelling instead of repairs.
Many gimbals are user-friendly for beginners, with intuitive controls and smartphone apps for fine-tuning settings.
They’re lightweight and portable, ideal for long wedding days.
In short, a gimbal transforms wedding videography, turning ordinary clips into cinematic masterpieces.
It allows you to capture the joy, romance, and energy of the day in a seamless and professional way.
If you want to be a videographer in Edinburgh offering the very best service to couples, and you want to wow couples with beautiful, memorable footage, investing in a gimbal is a no-brainer.
The gimbal test
I use this equipment to film all my Scottish weddings.
It was a bit of a challenge to chase a 3-year-old riding a scooter. Running forward meant that the Rode Videomic Pro caught the air like a sail.
The challenge was to keep the Steadicam straight and pointing at the correct angle to keep Anabelle nicely framed. It was not as easy as I thought it would be!
I’m pleased with the result, though. I’ve captured how much fun we had shooting this short film, and Anabelle’s personality comes through nicely.
She’s a cheeky little monkey and always so much fun!
Not bad for a first non-wedding attempt. It’s easier to film a wedding than to chase Anabelle on a Scooter!
When doing the day job as a videographer in Edinburgh, I would typically use the Steadicam to film various parts of the day:
- The groom and bridal party arrivals at the ceremony location
- The wedding recessional (newlyweds walking down the aisle)
- The newlyweds’ grand entrance to the wedding breakfast
- The newlyweds’ first dances
The first dance would be the longest shot, with the gimbal camera filming the dances and the second and third cameras filming the wedding band and guests.
This combination of camera shots and angles is much more interesting to watch than static shots created when filming from a fixed-position tripod!
**Update: More than ten years after this video was made, Anabelle, the scooter, The Scottish Parliament, and Dynamic Earth are still going strong!