In this post, we share one piece of equipment that made a big difference in our stock video earnings. And this is a gimbal. A gimbal lets you stabilize your handheld videos and produce professional-looking footage.

Why a Gimbal for Stock Videos?

We began our stock photography journey back in 2015. First, we focused on stock photos, which were good sellers for us. Then, we branched out into stock videos in 2018. This coincided with our purchase of a full-frame camera capable of recording 4K clips.

Since then, we shifted our focus to producing more stock videos. Our stock photo sales stayed flat or even declined since 2020. This was due to many stock photo websites reducing contributor payouts. Yet, our stock videos demonstrated strong demand and growth in sales.

Check out a post on our stock video workflow from start to finish.

As stock photographers, we are always looking to expand our sales potential. And there is no easier way to do so than with a gimbal. A gimbal lets you record videos in motion with great smoothing results. We recorded many of our best-selling stock videos with the help of gimbal.

So, this is the number one main reason why we recommend adding a gimbal to your camera bag. The variety of stock footage that you can record expands greatly. And this is exactly what buyers want, which is diverse stock footage with an engaging angle or in motion.

How We Use a Gimbal for Stock Videos

We use a gimbal for point-of-view walking shots 90% of the time. Because a gimbal stabilizes footage along three primary axes, this produces very smooth footage.

Besides walking pov shots, we also use a gimbal to record videos from our car. We hold the gimbal out of our car’s window and produce smooth stock videos that sell very well for us too.

Our Preferred Choice for a Gimbal

We bought our gimbal back in 2019, which is a DJI Ronin series model. DJI updates its gimbal lineup often. Their most recent model is DJI RS 3 3-axis gimbal, which is comparable to what we own.

There are also other reputable brands of gimbals on the market. One of them is the Zhiyun Weebull model. We have not tried it and have nothing good or bad to say about it. Whatever the gimbal brand you choose, we do not think you will regret it. It is a relatively small investment compared to the returns you can get.

How Does a Gimbal Work?

The way a gimbal works is that you have to attach your camera to a release plate. Next, you align your camera along three stabilizing axes for it to hold still. After that, you press the button that lets the gimbal calibrate itself. And that is it.

The current DJI gimbal model supports wireless Bluetooth control of the camera. It lets you control the shutter release button, record button and even focus. You also have a small joystick that lets you pan your camera up or down.

DJI App

The DJI gimbal comes with an app that lets you adjust smoothing parameters of the gimbal. We use the smoothest option available for our videos. The app also let you expand the gimbal’s capabilities. These include recording timelapses in motion and controlling your gimbal and camera remotely.

We used only remote control in the app a few times to record a panning video of ourselves. Other than that, we keep it simple and use our gimbal for handheld shots for the most part.

DJI Gimbal Weight and Battery

The battery for our DJI gimbal lasts for a long time. We can walk around for almost an entire day and there will be still power left in the battery. DJI rates their battery for 12 hours of continuous work.

As a rule, DJI gimbals weigh under 3lb with a payload of around 6lb. The professional and more expensive models can support higher payload too. We attach our camera along with a wide-angle zoom lens that weigh about 4.5lb. The gimbal handles this payload very well.

Gimbal Negatives

The major drawback of having a gimbal is that it is another item in your camera bag. With the total weight of about 3lb, we can live with it. Moreover, DJI constantly upgrades their gimbal models. They became even more lightweight and compact compared to our older model.

Also, it takes a little bit of time to learn how to walk with the gimbal. Even though gimbal can stabilize your footage, you still need to tread smoothly. Otherwise, you will be producing jumpy, unattractive stock clips.

Concluding Remarks

We recommend the DJI gimbal, if you are looking to expand your sales potential with stock videos. We think that the future in stock photography is in stock footage. And there is no better gear than gimbal to up your game in stock videos.