How to Take Moving Shots with Insta360 Pro 2

Viral Gala

9/24/20252 min read

🎥 The Invisible Filmmaker: How to Take Seamless Moving Shots with the Insta360 Pro 2

The world of 360° VR filming is thrilling, but it comes with a unique and infuriating challenge: moving shots.

Unlike traditional cinematography, the Insta360 Pro 2 sees everything. If the camera operator walks while holding the camera, they instantly become the star of the show. How do you achieve smooth, realistic, eye-level movement when there's literally nowhere to hide?

As Viral Gala from 360 VR Photography, I've spent years tackling this exact issue. Here’s a breakdown of the common frustrations and the ingenious, practical solution we developed to master the art of the moving 360° shot.

🛑 The Limitations of Common 360° Movement Techniques

When trying to move the Insta360 Pro 2 through a scene, most methods fall short:

1. Handheld or Tripod Movement at Eye Level

The Problem: The operator is always visible. No matter how you try to hide, you, your hands, or your shadow will appear in the footage.
The Result: You compromise the immersive experience by forcing the viewer to constantly look at the operator, or you create hours of tedious post-production work.

2. High Tripod Movement (The "Floating" Shot)

The Problem: Placing the camera high above the head helps hide the operator below the stitch line.
The Result: While the operator is gone, the footage feels unnatural. In VR playback, the viewer has a disconcerting "ghost" or "floating" perspective—they are unnaturally towering over everyone else. Realistic VR demands a human eye-level view.

3. Post-Production Patching (The Editing Nightmare)

The Problem: Some filmmakers attempt to digitally paint or "patch" the operator out during editing.
The Result: This is an incredible drain on time, often taking many hours per shot. Worse, in complex or crowded environments, shadows, reflections, and traces of the operator frequently remain, leading to imperfect, non-professional results.

💡 The 360 VR Photography Solution: The RC Robot Car

To deliver perfectly smooth, realistic, and truly invisible moving shots, we engineered a better solution: a custom-built RC (Remote Control) robot car.

We essentially created a self-driving camera dolly that removes the human element from the frame entirely.

Our Custom Robot Car Specs:

Remote Operating Range: A wide 500m control radius for expansive scenes.
Payload Capacity: Robust 30kg capacity, easily handling the Insta360 Pro 2 plus a stabilizer or heavy tripod.
Key Feature: Suspension System: This is critical! The suspension ensures the movement remains perfectly stable and smooth, eliminating the jarring jitters you get from handheld movement.

How It Works:

By mounting the Insta360 Pro 2 securely at human eye-level on the robot car, the camera moves seamlessly through the scene, while the operator remains safely outside the 360° capture radius.

This simple yet effective method provides the following advantages:

✅ Realistic Perspective: Maintains that crucial, natural human eye-level view for true immersion.
✅ Stable Movement: The suspension system provides a professional dolly-like glide.
✅ Operator Elimination: The operator is simply not in the footage, reducing post-work to zero.
✅ Flexibility: Works brilliantly indoors (factories, convention centers) and outdoors (streets, grounds).

✨ Viral Gala’s Final Tips for Mastering 360° Movement

Moving shots require precision and planning. Here are a few must-do steps from our team at 360 VR Photography:

Test Your Path Thoroughly: Always run the course without the camera first. Look for minor bumps, cables, or cracks—even small obstacles can ruin a 360° shot.
Ensure Maximum Security: Double- and triple-check that the camera is secured tightly to the robot car mount or tripod head. The Pro 2 is too valuable to risk.
Sync with Storyboard: If the movement is timed with people or action, rehearse the movement speed to sync perfectly with your script or shot plan.
Review On-Site: Review the footage immediately using VR goggles or a monitor to confirm the movement is smooth and the operator is completely out of the frame before wrapping the shoot.

Need expert moving shots for your next VR project? Contact Viral Gala at 360 VR Photography today!