The First Shot Is Always the Worst (And That’s Why I Keep Filming)
- gear4greatness
- 2 minutes ago
- 3 min read
The First Shot Is Always the Worst (And That’s Why I Keep Filming)
The first shot almost never tells the truth. It’s stiff, cautious, over-considered. I can feel it the moment I press record — my movement is hesitant, my framing feels polite, and my mind is still louder than the scene in front of me. That first clip might look fine technically, but it feels disconnected, like I’m asking permission instead of responding to what’s actually happening 💭.
I used to stop right there. I’d glance at the screen, judge the shot, and convince myself the moment wasn’t worth continuing. Over time, though, I noticed something I couldn’t ignore: the footage almost always got better after the first shot. Not because the scene changed — but because I did. My body loosened. My timing improved. I stopped thinking about settings and started reacting to light, movement, and rhythm 🎥✨.
That warm-up phase is where the real work happens. The camera rolls, and slowly the pressure fades. I stop trying to get the “right” shot and start letting moments unfold. The footage begins to breathe. There’s motion instead of stiffness, intention instead of caution. The first shot isn’t bad because I lack skill — it’s bad because I haven’t settled into the moment yet 🌄.
This is where action cameras reshaped my workflow. Cameras like the DJI Osmo Action 6 or the Insta360 Ace Pro 2 don’t punish you for rolling early. I don’t feel like I’m wasting footage. I can move, adjust, experiment, and let the camera stay on while I find my rhythm. That freedom turns the warm-up into part of the process instead of something I try to hide 🚲✨.
The Insta360 X5 pushes this even further. When framing isn’t locked in, the pressure drops instantly. I keep filming without committing to a perfect angle. I stay present, let the moment evolve, and trust that the story will reveal itself later. The footage improves because I’m no longer interrupting the moment to judge it 💭.
Even a compact stabilized camera like the DJI Osmo Pocket 3 fits this mindset beautifully. Once it’s rolling, I don’t stop and start obsessively. I let the camera flow with me. And almost every time, the clips that matter show up after I’ve stopped trying so hard.
What I’ve learned is simple and freeing: the first shot isn’t supposed to be good. It’s supposed to get you started. It’s the price of entry. The real footage lives a few moments later — once your thoughts quiet down and instinct takes over 🎥✨.
Now I keep filming past the awkward beginning. I don’t stop when things feel off — I stay rolling. And almost every time, the footage rewards that patience. The camera doesn’t need perfection. It needs continuity. It needs time.
The First Shot Is Always the Worst (And That’s Why I Keep Filming)
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Final Thoughts
The first shot is never the one I keep — but it’s always the one I need. It loosens my hands, quiets my thoughts, and opens the door to something better 🎥💭.
Staying rolling taught me that creativity isn’t about nailing it instantly. It’s about giving yourself space to arrive. When I stop demanding perfection from the first frame, the footage starts meeting me where I am instead of where I think I should be 🌄✨.
I don’t chase the perfect opening anymore.I let it be messy.I let it be awkward.
Because the best footage almost always comes after the first shot.