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!

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

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 " !

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

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💛

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

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!

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 🙏🏽❤️

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

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.

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 !

this was great! Thank you!

Another Wonderful Video!💙✨

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 ;)

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

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

Yaaayyyy, finally it's here ❤️🥳😍

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

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

Simply love your videos! Greetings from Brazil

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

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.

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.

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?

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...

Thank you so much for this!🙌🏾💖

I appreciate your efforts

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

extremely Helpful

Thanks for a excellent video 👏👏👏🇬🇧

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.

Thank you!

Thank you amazing always😍😍😍

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.

Very helpful

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.

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!

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.

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.

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

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.

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

Here for the color grading 👍

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

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.

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

What quick release plate should I buy 😅

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

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.

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.

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.

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

Big Hiiiii from Austria 🌷💚❤💛📸

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?

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!

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!

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...

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.

what brand of C Stand would you suggest getting?

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!

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

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

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)

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

That Giant Tripod Came from a Sci-fi Film 🦀

It’s so hard to choose the right tripod!

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.

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

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.

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

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