Best Tripods for Food Photography

[@CaitlinShoemaker]

Love this video! I started using a C-stand for overhead video per your suggestion. It's definitely a lot easier, but I struggle with camera shake after pressing the start/stop button. I think I need to purchase a remote ;)

[@Lucy-dk5cz]

You can fire it tethered or most vendors also have a free app

[@Nikkioverseas]

Also you can try the 2 or 10 second timer option - I use that for landscape long exposures all the time.

[@procarepharmacy2931]

yeah, for overhead shots, a tripod is just too finicky and requires a lot of patience. plus, it's nerve racking for me to hang my $4200 Canon EOS R5 plus my uber expensive lens in such a precarious position in an overhead scenario with a tripod.

[@silviam.6899]

I have gone with a C stand and a Manfrotto geared head in the end. I have concluded that a tripod would have never enabled me to go high enough, unless I splurged a significant amount on money. (I also like to keep my 105mm on sometimes I must say even for flat lays) This gives me the freedom to set a scene on a table or on a kitchen counter. It really was a no brainer. I also found that, and I am not sure about in the US or other parts of the world but brands that I came across when it comes to heads, do still have a plate that is fixed to them with a clamp, which doesn't strike me as the safest of the way to fix the camera, especially when it is orientated in portrait mode. Having said that, I have banged my head against once or twice against the C-stand already hihihi. Thank you very much Joanie, as always, a pleasure to listen to your videos

[@davidhardy879]

Thank you so much for this fun , more importantly , INFORMATIVE video ! It's always great to let somebody go ahead of you " across the rope bridge " ! lol ! Your super helpful info tripod heads ( didn't know ! lol ! ) , quick release heads , the importance of " weight loads " , etc . just makes my journey back into photograpy that much easier ! You are an AWESOME " presenter " !

[@AlinPurcaroiu]

Love the tripod advice ! I have a little hint for the c stand position at 13:45. The arm in the grip head should always be mounted in a tightening position (the upper hole) . In the example the weight of the camera can loosen the grip and accidents can happen !

[@robreneau2959]

The most comprehensive tripod learning guide I have seen. This lesson allowed me to make a critical checklist for what I need and compare it to what works. Now I can go into the camera shop or online and not be overburdened by everything. Thank you so much.

[@bogdanpopescu8406]

yes, but finally she hasn't presented any tripods, like Manfrotto 058b.

[@jasoncario7063]

Very educational video! Best thing is that you discussed the tripods WITHOUT cross-promoting brands. Thanks you!

[@janesmith7874]

This was incredibly helpful, thank you for making it so clear and easy to follow.

[@muriellebanackissa]

Amazing video Joanie! I’ve been thinking of updating my tripod in the next few months and this video has been so so so helpful! Thank you so much for sharing 🙏🏽❤️

[@TheBiteShot]

You're so welcome!

[@lavanyalakshmanan8197]

Hello Joanie. Thank you so much for this vedio. Been waiting for this ever since you announced the topic! Will be buying mine soon and you've been of immense help in understanding the different types of heads. Love💛

[@carries76]

Hello. I love your videos. I am just starting out with food videos and wondered if you could recommend a good, but less expensive version of a tripod or c-stand with an overhead mount. The Manfrotto is pretty pricey. Your help is greatly appreciated.

[@ntiyisomkhabela-mlotsha4794]

Thank you so much. Find it frustrating using the manfrotto 055 and it frustrated me getting a proper flat lay without the legs. So I have opted to get a c stand next. Thank you so much. And for tackling the weight of the camera to a tripod.

[@madhumenon]

At 5:45 you can avoid vertical orientation instability by using an L-plate for your camera instead.

[@JosueIsraelMusic]

Hiii, thanks for your amazing videos… Talking about security, 😕 I bought the manfrotto 155RC and it was great until I saw this warning “PROPOSAL 65” 😕 do you know anything about it? And why it would be on this adapter? Thanks for sharing your knowledge I also loved your book, is beautiful and really informative

[@andywira]

Such a great and informative video! On top of it, also is very entertaining to watch. Thanks for the tips Joanie!

[@lirazdemasure936]

Thank you so much for the information. You always explain in such a clear and easy to understand way. And you're lovely as well!

[@Nikkioverseas]

Great video Joanie. I really need to buy a better head. My Manfrotto did come as a package with a ball head which is ok but can be a bit finicky. And I find that I have to periodically tighten up the plate to my camera and the screw on the top of the tripod where the plate slides in otherwise the camera starts slowly moving down when it's mounted vertically. I also highly recommend Peak Design quick release strap clips for your camera strap. I don't like having the camera strap on when I'm using a tripod.

[@ateanggevlog4257]

Im so inspired watching all your videos...as a beginner im learning alot.Thank you...

[@urviarora12]

My first tripod was a Benro and it lasted me 6 years until one flight to Qatar and i found a piece of it broken, which freed one leg. Now I'm looking for a new and heavier tripod. Thanks for this guide!

[@leoluzprofessor1983]

Simply love your videos! Greetings from Brazil

[@alangacitua9525]

Great video! Good info, definitely very helpful towards my next purchase!

[@stevemartin3157]

You give excellent advice and I wish you had been around when I was starting out. Thanks. I don't know what the situation is in the US but in the Netherlands used FOBA or Hensel studio tripods (1m75cm high) are often found on our CraigsList for €100-200. I mount a Manfrotto side-arm with geared head on mine for all overhead work. The tripod base weighs around 50lbs and is on castors and I don't have to worry about the weight of my Nikon D800 + grip +90mm macro. Overhead shots are just so much easier with these old (small) studio tripods. You don't want the much larger studio tripods because domestic ceilings are usually too low.

[@anjumanalam]

I've been pushing off buying a tripod. Thanks so much for this information Joanie!

[@melissalucero3185]

What quick release plate should I buy 😅

[@omeilsway]

Thank you amazing always😍😍😍

[@andyvan5692]

yes, at 12:02 not the best solution for heavy rigs, and tele lenses!, but I guess thats where a "salon" stand comes in handy, the large post, and the counterbalance weight on the mast, so sturdy, and the post has a longer reach, due in part to a heavy cast iron base so it can't topple easily.

[@heyspicysakura]

Ugh I did the same thing with my first tripod, this was a great help to begin researching a new one! Love your videos Joanie!

[@vinceknowseverything]

Another Wonderful Video!💙✨

[@Rocking_J_Studio]

I'm on my second pistol-grip head because they don't last very long. They start slipping and you can't torque them down enough to grip properly. I do have different heads for different shooting styles though. My favorite at the moment only has vertical adjustments which I use for landscapes. I use a leveling adapter to get the platform level, then I can adjust the vertical as needed. It's very quick to set up and use. I also like my 5-way panning head & ball head. The tripod & head will also depend on the camera I'm using (I'm a hybrid shooter using everything with size varying from mirrorless up to large format view camera.

[@photograph_your_food]

Yaaayyyy, finally it's here ❤️🥳😍

[@Dmarcoot]

this was great! Thank you!

[@barrydillon8801]

It is worth mentioning: consider the floor the tripod is on . Moving around near the tripod during exposure can cause vibration in the tripod particularly suspended floors. So stay still

[@bogdanpopescu8406]

Yes, I has the problem, and in the compositing technique (more shots of the same picture) is very critical

[@Babalola683]

Thanks so much for this great information. I really needed this information because am struggling with my short tripod. so thanks a lot.

[@goranahmed4680]

I appreciate your efforts

[@TexasPelican]

Manfrotto for the win! I have one and gosh, it's awesome and I use it constantly.

[@TheBiteShot]

It's amazing how well they hold up with all the wear and tear. Definitely have gotten my money's worth out of them!

[@bikecommuter24]

Geared ball heads 😆, try adjusting a Tilt and Shift lens. I got an old beat up MeFoto Roadtrip but I hardly use tripods anymore, LOL I think I use my selfie stick and Switchpod which I use for Zoom calls. Time for a new one.

[@railtonvilhena5159]

I love everything about this video! Your charisma amazes me every time :)

[@raypowell6783]

Thanks for a excellent video 👏👏👏🇬🇧

[@idontlikechocolatebrownies3281]

Thank you for making this video! Really appreciate the advice. Sometimes I wish there'd be a recommendation for casual users. I just don't see myself starting my own food photography biz and making money to pay for all that expensive gear anytime soon...

[@HarrySarantidis]

You might want to try a tripod with a fluid video head like the Manfrotto 500ah. Combine them with an arcas swiss l plate and you ll wonder how you were working all this time. So easy to adjust and you can also use them for your video needs. I can never go back to anything else.

[@mostafamohamed9329]

Very helpful

[@RosalynnDaniels]

Thank you so much for this!🙌🏾💖

[@TheBiteShot]

Happy to help!!

[@Acorable]

Thank you for all this amazing knowledge! I'm still a beginner so these tips are great!

[@katkavojtek8813]

Wonderful and helpful as always! Thank you Joanie. I am now looking into a beter tripod, especially for my overhead shots in those winter months. And I kinda fell in love with tethered shooting=). I called a camera shop and they advised Manfrotto 420B combi boom stand, have you ever tried it?

[@randalwolfinger279]

extremely Helpful

[@youtubeaddict1]

Here for the color grading 👍

[@jody1622]

Joanie, I have a Manfrotto 055 with a horizontal arm that I haven't used much. Soooo, how do I get the camera level when it's on the horizontal arm? Even if the tripod legs are straight, the arm looks kind of 'not level' and I don't know how to get it adjusted...

[@TheBiteShot]

Haven't run into that issue myself. Might be dependent on the tripod head you're using and adjusting accordingly? I use a spirit level to gauge if the camera is level.

[@RollinLeonard]

I'm 100% sure you know this so I'm just saying it for anybody curious about geared heads. The gear turning is not the only way to adjust. You can turn a second knob or ring (depending on the model) and it will freely move so you can move fast but will still have to adjust all three axis as opposed to a single ball like our favorite food photographer uses. The speed, for me, is with the geared head. This is because I usually need things to be ultra straight since my subjects have hard edges or are perfect circles and being a little bit off makes it look bad. When you need to get it exactly right the ball head makes my life really hard because you can't isolate one axis and really small adjustments are not as easy to make. You get it perfect up to down but bumped it a little left or right etc. With a geared head you can get it in the ballpark with the gears unlocked then dial it in really easily. I don't have to support my very heavy camera, I just turn a knob while looking at my monitor. SO EASY.

[@josephguzzoiii8781]

Do you have one you’d recommend for medium to large loads? *ff with moderate to beefy lenses

[@jrivas665]

Thank you!

[@mellamodanielaloera]

I love my Manfrotto but I have found the legs to be too out of control sometimes. I kind of wish each leg stayed in a fixed position and the height is the only thing that changed. I know some people need that range of motion but I actually find it makes leveling the tripod so difficult. Anybody else feel that way?

[@TheBiteShot]

Not sure if this helps, but when I use my tripod I extend all of the legs fully so they're all equal, then I release the top section of each individually lowering them down to the height I need. When I get to adjusting the third leg I then watch the spirit level on the tripod and shimmy the final leg until the bubble is level and I lock and and I'm good to go. Usually doesn't take more than a minute or two...will have to time myself next time I do it :)

[@mellamodanielaloera]

@@TheBiteShot Thank you, that’s helpful! I’m wondering if there’s a better tripod suited for shooting interiors like I sometimes do. I need varying heights throughout the shoot as I walk around and adjusting height and keeping it level can be difficult.

[@Sugarjukebox]

@@mellamodanielaloera Perhaps a geared center column is the thing you need for shooting interiors. A geared center column has a swivel handle and is useful if you want to set the height with exact precision and is more stable than a regular column. You only turn the swivel, the rest of the tripod stays untouched.

[@bp-blackshark]

@@mellamodanielaloera First tip: if you adjust the hight from your tripod legs, put them all together, so they stand vertically on the ground (like that: III)...adjust one leg to the lenght you want...open the locknuts from the other legs, which doesn´t reach the ground, or which are to long now, and they will "adapt" itself to the lenght from the sections from the first leg, you did adjust. All legs/sections should have the same lenght now. And now, spread the tipod legs and take amazing pictures! Second tip: use a leveling plate between your tripod head and your tripod, so you will always have your tripod head leveled. Regardless how uneven the ground would be.

[@TriniRoyQuiReyes]

I love your tutorial. Joined your Channel. As an up coming food vlogger, your creative Advice will come in handy for our Channel. Thank you for your dedication, your explanation is clear. | Qui

[@jazzkafunda]

a dumb question from a beginner. can i use a camera tripod for mounting continuous light?

[@TheBiteShot]

Good question. No, you'll want a light stand or a c-stand for mounting lights.

[@josepereda7412]

No Patience, same as me! Luv your content since 2018

[@bp-blackshark]

In your studio or homestudio, you don´t have a "weight restriction" for the weight from your tripod...just go for a heavy one, which is rock solid, even if it would be a carbon tripod. I have a carbon tripod with a geared center column, which weights 8 pounds/3,7 kg. And it is also very tall, so i can easily make shots from above head level (nearly 7 feet/205 cm max height without tripod head). The most important detail is the diameter from the leg sections. Thin legs will easily bend at a certain lenght, so if you want a tall tripod, you want legs with a certain diameter. My carbon tripod have legs with that diameters on their 4 sections: 1.54 - 1.35 - 1.15 - 0.98 in ...or 39.2, 34.2, 29.2, 24.8 mm. This stats from my tripod might sound like "overkill", but if you use it at max hight, you will know, why this tripod have this stats. I didn´t mentioning the name or the brand from my tripod, because that should only be suggestions for your own needs. But if you ask, i will answer. (I also have a small tower stand with a horizontal arm, so i can make photos directly from above a table...but thats not everyones choice) I am not a professional photographer, so i might have other priorities, how fancy, shiny or expensive my stuff should be. I am looking out for this: performance, price and comfort! :) Weight is only a thing for my bagpack stuff. But that´s an other story.

[@bogdanpopescu8406]

Why don't you give the name of your tripod ? What are we supposed to do with your information ?

[@SS-eriously]

Interested to know the name of your tripod, which brand and model it is?

[@madst7521]

My preferred tripod head is Manfrottos XPRO Geared Three-way pan/tilt tripod head - www.manfrotto.com/global/xpro-geared-three-way-pan-tilt-tripod-head-mhxpro-3wg/ - it's all the precision of a geared head, but speeds up like the pistol grip. Only downside is the weight if you're moving it around.

[@anthonyhitchings1051]

My old pan and tilt would move the line of sight as you tightened the handles - so its been retired

[@randalwolfinger279]

what brand of C Stand would you suggest getting?

[@TheBiteShot]

I own three by Impact and have been very happy with them. One silver, two black. They're linked on my gear page: thebiteshot.com/my-gear

[@whatsupdate]

If you don’t use a large full frame camera make sure you get a plate style that won’t block access to your battery door if possible.

[@goranahmed4680]

Big Hiiiii from Austria 🌷💚❤💛📸

[@masonneal1654]

I have a cooking channel and I can say I will be getting that pistol grip😂 videoing 4 things at a time would be sooooo much easier!!!! I liked the cooking and baking comparison!

[@withhelenblog]

Joanie, without you, I would be missing a lot of pieces to my tripod when I first started. Thank you for all these helpful tips!

[@frankluo230]

C stand is not for on location foodie. Too heavy and too bulky to carry around even with a normal car. Two identical tripods with connecting overhead rod might be a more travel friendly solution.

[@anthonyhitchings1051]

If you buy used you can get more bang for the buck (i.e., an old high end tripod is still a high end tripod)

[@StreetHierarchy]

"There is a lot to know about Tide Pods" Gen Z: go on...

[@TheBiteShot]

lol...nailed it

[@adiskiros9976]

😂

[@benharris3949]

I am here for this 😂😂

[@Adiera]

At 5 feet tall I can rarely use the level on my tripod also because if i can get over the top of it my old eyes won't focus on it!

[@MZA_ZEE]

Last shoot I shot using a cardboard and a book as my tripod actually tettrapod🤣

[@vinceknowseverything]

That Giant Tripod Came from a Sci-fi Film 🦀

[@TheBiteShot]

Totally! If it becomes self-aware I'm in trouble!!!

[@annaheya2109]

It’s so hard to choose the right tripod!

[@dahab-kitchen.]

Thanks pleas make video how to shoot by Samsung photo &video 👍👍👍

[@MZA_ZEE]

I think mam, you should often make some videos like "reviewing or critiquing your food photography" and we will send you our food photos. Select few of them, So that you can polish our do's don'ts n give advices for our betterment.

[@bro7269]

Tripods are one of those things that you really can’t skimp on. Do not spend $300 4 times. Spend $1000 once and get a good one.

[@savagefrieze4675]

Surprised you aren’t shooting with an L quick release so you can move from landscape to portrait quick and easy.

[@stevemartin3157]

Sorry. Shouldn't call them studio 'tripods'....they're column stands.