If you're looking for an affordable, lightweight, portable and highly versatile setup to shoot overhead videos with your smartphone or small camera, yous're going to want to read this.

At least once a day, I'm asked to share how I shoot my overhead videos on my Instagram stories. My commencement answer is always, "I seize with teeth the phone between my teeth." Each time, I badly hope that someone actually believes me. I'm not positive, only I call back I managed to fool one person! Sweetness, sweet victory!

My second answer is ordinarily, "I have a DIY clamp-holder-thingy", which only leads to more defoliation because I'm not quite certain how to explain it.

For the near part, my Instagram stories are shot with my iPhone from a pinnacle-down/overhead/bird'south center perspective. Aside from a few in-between shots that I like to use while chopping certain vegetables, or the infamous final tasting scenes, all of my story videos are positioned above my cutting lath or cooking surface.

If you've never seen them, you tin can head to@primal_gourmet and scroll through the saved highlights in my bio. I share new recipes every 24-hour interval or ii so there'southward a potent chance that in that location'due south one live as you read this.

There are, of course, a diverseness of other ways to shoot a recipe or cooking video. In my experience, the overhead angle is the best one for demonstrating 'how to cook', since information technology allows viewers to envision themselves as the one doing the cooking.

Likewise, at that place are an equal number of ways to physically setup a camera to tape yourself cooking from an overhead perspective. Many of which are impuissant, expensive, complicated or impractical.

I've tried positioning my camera on shelves, tripods, stacks of books, you proper name information technology. All of which produced inconsistent shots and required bulky gear. I even went ahead and bought ane of those flexible clench holder thingamajigs from the dollar store because information technology looked and then convenient. The bendy arm collapsed from the weight of my iPhone and the clamp snapped into three pieces on the start twenty-four hours. Worst $two.99 I've ever spent!

Finally, I found a setup that worked like a charm and didn't break the bank and I've been using it ever since. I honestly believe this is the best overhead camera setup for smart phones or bespeak-and-shoots.

Unlike other DIY rigs, this setup is not just limited to shooting overhead shots. You could utilize it to shoot at virtually every bending with very little effort and no extra gear.

This makes it great for a multifariousness of filming purposes, such every bit filming your Brand Upward Tutorials or showcasing your DIY videos.

Nevertheless, there are a few things yous should know before you lot buy any of the gear.

THINGS You Need TO KNOW

  1. COMPATIBLE WITH Almost EVERY SMART PHONE:If you want a sense of scale, I have an iPhone 7plus, which is adequately broad and tall, and have had no issues.
  2. WORKS WITH Indicate-AND-SHOOT CAMERAS:I also occasionally use this setup to shoot videos with myCanon Gx7 MkII.This isn't the photographic camera I utilize to film my Instagram stories, but it might be useful for YouTubers looking for a face up-to-camera setup.
  3. NOT INTENDED FOR LARGER DSLRS:The swing arm and ball joint are simply also weak to support the weight of even a low-cal DSLR. If that'south what you're shooting with, this own't for you.
  4. Y'all NEED ALL Iii COMPONENTS FOR MAXIMUM Control:The dazzler of this setup is the unbelievable versatility in manipulating angles. Each component plays a role in making sure you lot can fully manipulate the angle of the camera so that it is perfectly level with your cooking surface.

WHAT MAKES THIS THE All-time OVERHEAD CAMERA SETUP?

  1. AFFORDABLE:The entire setup costs under $thirty USD on Amazon.
  2. LIGHTWEIGHT:I oasis't put information technology on a calibration, but the complete setup only weighs a few pounds.
  3. PORTABLE:The swing arm folds up and the other components come apart very hands, making it perfect for pocket-sized spaces or travelling.
  4. HIGHLY VERSATILE:As long equally you have each of the 3 components, you should be able to hit any bending and have a sturdy shot.

SWING ARM

The starting time component is the swing arm, which has two parts. The top role, extends and contracts and the base clamps down onto any surface with a edge that is under 2.five" thick.

Best overhead camera setup how to shoot cooking videos instagram stories easy cheap

BALL HEAD

The second component is the brawl head mount. This will give you a dynamic range of move. You can utilize any ball head you like and it doesn't have to be expensive since you're just going to be holding a smart phone or modest camera. Nevertheless, I recommend ownership a ball head that can articulate 90 degrees for maximum range of motility.

Note: The brawl head linked here will come up with a pocket-sized metal insert. Just unscrew the metal insert before threading it onto the bolt of the swing arm.

Best overhead camera setup how to shoot cooking videos instagram stories easy cheap

Telephone Clamp

The final component is the smart phone mount. This one tin can articulate 90˚ and tin be adapted to fit narrow and wide devices.

Of course, you'll need something to picture with, such equally your smart phone. Or even a signal and shoot camera.

Best overhead camera setup how to shoot cooking videos instagram stories easy cheap

HOW TO INSTALL

  1. Slide the base of the swing arm onto the lip of a countertop or table (I've fifty-fifty used the seat of a chair) and tighten the clamp. My counter's lip is quite shallow but this however works.
  2. Loosen the opening at the top of the base, and slide the swing arm down into the hole. Then tighten the screw.
  3. Spiral the brawl caput onto the threaded commodities of the swing arm.
  4. Screw the smart telephone clamp onto the ball head.
  5. Loosen the ball head and position the clamp so that you can attach the smart telephone. Adjust the smart phone clamp to fit your device, so tighten it to hold. Now you can position your phone to face the direction your shooting.
  6. Make sure each joint of the swing arm is dainty and tight and that'due south information technology! You're ready to roll!
  7. If you want to moving-picture show with a bespeak and shoot camera, but unscrew the smart phone clench and screw your camera directly onto the brawl head. *Merely, as mentioned, a DSLR won't work here because it's but too heavy.
  8. Once you're washed filming, unscrew and collapse the swing arm, remove the base of operations and tuck it in a drawer, under your sofa, or wherever else you keep your prized possessions.

Now you lot all know exactly how I film my pace-by-step Instagram stories and are fix to spin as many onions as your eye desires!

Notes:

Y'all can loosen the base of the swing arm and have it swivel 360 degrees.

Or you can loosen the ball head and have it articulate up and down 90 degrees, or 360 degrees effectually.