Hi, nice to meet you! I'm Louie and I'm a Visual and UI/UX Designer in San Francisco.
PhotoBelt
A worn prototype helping photographers access a stable platform
A waist apparatus to provide the steady shot
This platform is actually my first physical prototype outside of an application and website. This was very exciting to explore and iterate upon. The belt essentially holds up an escalating platform where the photographer can place their elbow and support not only the weight, but help control the sway and pitch for the shot.
The process covered is also centered around a User Experience direction with updates applying to the platform as more users tested the platform and the process.
The Problem
Many photographers have to hold their camera’s for hours on end on days they are working. Their working days can lead to long hours, exhaustion, hunger and unstable shots due to fatigue. Their are products in the field that can help them with fatigue, but most are very expensive and are tailored to very specific needs.
The Solution
Increasing the weight the put near the top of their bodies is where the main problem stems from. Adding any weight the higher up your body will lead to fatigue and woud become unstable. The solution I developed would be a worn appartus that would provide a platform where the photographer can rest their arm and the weight of their handheld equipment.
The belt would also double as a personal storage for film, batteries, latches for additional lens and any other camera’s needed.
Interviews
I went out into the field and found two professional photographers and two enthusiasts and asked them if they were available for an interview. I gave them a base knowledge that I was going to create a prototype to help them in something in their field. It could’ve been anything, but all of them agreed, the weight was the key issue.
Interview Conduct
All interviews conducted weren’t on a lead format, but more open. I would provide a base question and from there it would lead to other information that the interviewee would provide.
I made sure not to directly ask the participant what was wrong with their field. I generally asked them of why they got into photography and their equipment. Never did I hint that I wanted to pursue a direct solution to a problem that they might have.
I wanted to get to know them and see what would get brought up. I provide the direction, but they lead the way. That’s the way I like to conduct interviews.
Example Questions
What is your favorite photo?
Do you bring your camera everywhere?
If you didn’t have a DSLR, would you take a photo with a phone? Vice versa
Do you prefer DSLR or Mobile photography?
Thoughts on Instagram/Tumblr?
Do you shoot alone?
What type of photos do you take?
Results
After the base interviews were completed, I compiled them and found that all interviewee’s hated the weight of their equipment. Len’s and camera’s combined can weigh as much as 15 pounds. Lifting and operating equipment on a daily basis can cause fatigue and unsteady shots in their reel.
Interview #1
Pain Points
Weight
Film processing time
Expensive
Saturated field
Experience
Wedding photographer
3 events/year
Professional 6+ years
Interview #2
Pain Points
Expensive
Scared to be alone
Weight
Theft
Long hours
Experience
Wedding photographer
9 events/year
Professional 5+ years
Interview #3
Pain Points
Expensive
Weight
Many pieces
Edit process
Experience
Student
Enthusiast
Interview #4
Pain Points
Expensive
Edit process
Weight
Experience
Student
Photography major
Shooting 3+ years
Key takeaway
All of interviewees mentioned that the equipment they had to carry around was expensive and heavy. The two professional photographers really harped that they wish that the lens and cameras weight could be lowered.
There’s no way to manufacture a weightless camera, but there could be a way to help support them carrying it. That’s something I could do.
Injuries
From the interviews and the weight issue of the equipment, I wanted to generate additional empathy for our users and did some research on what common problems professional photographers face. From here, I can also locate where not to find a solution.
Posture
Photographers tend to lean awkwardly to get the right shot and over time those bad habits generate bad posture.
Five examples of bad posture habits are:
• Elbows out
• Narrow base of support
• Hunched forward with chin and neck bent
• Leaning forward
• Locked knees
With these bad habits, a photographer will be lead to a number of injuries over their careers. The body will continue to support these habits until it will eventually fail and possible permanent injury can occur.
Examples of bad posture while using a camera
Prevention
To begin to build a product for our photographers, we need to know what they do now to combat bad posture.
Proper Posture
This is a great example of how to take a photo while still maintaining good posture. To decrease injury, a photographer needs to have a stable platform, stand above their base of support and keep everything as close to their center point of gravity as possible.
It’s important to note that even though this does elevate many long time risks of being a photographer, they still lift and manage heavy equipment every day they work.
Competition
Before I begin iterating what I wanted to develop, it was good to see what was out in the field already. I didn’t want to improve on a concept already created. I wanted to create something new and unique that could help my audience as effectively as possible.
ALZO BOD-A-BOOM
The Alzo Bod-A-Boom offers a sturdy platform to attach your video camera upon. Its multi-point attachment rig adheres to the users body and offers steady shots to be captured. The encompassing frame is anchored to the body via a belt and should harnesses.
Aimed at providing a hands free capture of your surroundings and no weight upon your shoulder, Bod-A-Boom is great for videographers at a stand still. This isn’t meant really for mobile photographers that I am aiming for. They want something minimal, not distracting and at an affordable price.
Flycam Galaxy Steadycam Arm & Steadycam Vest
Flycam Galaxy is an all encompassing upperbody stabilizer aimed directly for professional photographers and videographers. The multi-adjustable boom arm can be placed in any forward position and provide an immediate stabilized shot.
As advanced as this equipment is and as well as it can perform, this just isn’t appropriate for our audience. Its expensive, heavy and bulky.
Product Development
I took pen and paper to quickly sketch ideas on how to manage the weight of a camera. I wanted the field and ideas to be as many as possible before a direction was chosen.
Example Iterations
Drone Cameraship
Shoulder platform
Air Drone Cabinet
Direction
After sometime, I landed on this concept of a belt with pinpoints holding up a single arm that would provide a platform. That platform is where the users elbow would rest and where the weight of the camera would be held.
I dove deeper in this direction and started collecting what pieces I may need to create a proof-of-concept to begin the initial user tests.
Product Prototype
From the sketches, I went to the internet and found low cost equipment and begin building what I thought the apparatus could be.
PhotoBelt v1 Prototype
After assembly, I was eager to see if the camera could support any amount of weight and it did. I added as much as 20 pounds of weight to the end point of the arm and the belt performed as intended.
The parts needed for the structure were:
A padded riggers belt
(2) buckle straps
A telescopic arm
Styrofoam block
Assembly took roughly 30 minutes of trial and error.
In Use
Putting on the belt proved to be easy, but the initial adjustment and position of the platform was the most difficult. SInce this belt will be unique to each of its own user, this would only be performed once.
After the position was finalized, removing and wearing the belt was as easy as just buckling it up. I do like how the telescopic arm can be quickly removed in case the platform isn’t ready.
End of Project
As this project is apart of my current curriculum, this is the latest information I can provide at this time. I will complete this product at the end of this semester with a final update provided on my portfolio website.
Still in development and collecting:
• 2nd Round Feedback
• Product evolution
• Measurement of success
• Final presentation
• Video concept
