Set up your video studio with an overhead hands-only camera mount with PVC pipe. An easy and inexpensive DIY camera mount tutorial idea.
I have to say I am mighty proud of myself for this project.
Several weeks ago I attended a Bloggers Retreat at Ponderosa Ranch near Zion’s National Park. The entire week was absolutely amazing. Throughout the retreat, there was a big emphasis on video and how to capture your adventure. So we went on many adventures including horseback riding, four wheeling, and I even got to go on a helicopter ride. Now that was truly amazing! Anyways, we also had a couple classes on video, and how to do lighting, sound, and editing. The weekend was indeed an awesome adventure and when I left I had a new excitement for videos and decided I wanted to take the leap and do more videos on my blog.
I do hands-only videos at work (meaning an overhead shot and all you record is your hands, no front shot of your face) and I have really enjoyed doing them. I began to think about how I could do that at home. At work, we have a really nice setup that probably cost several thousand dollars, if not more. But I need something on a smaller scale but still produced a high-quality shot. After exploring online and seeing what others have done, I came up with this setup.
I purchased my supplies at Lowes, but I have included links to where you can find them online. Usually, the hardware store will have supplies for cutting onsite, so if you are purchasing online you will need to get a PVC pipe cutter too.
Supplies Used: Some links may be too similar items when exact items couldn’t be found online.
- 1, 10-foot piece of 1/2″ PVC Pipe
- 2, 1/2″ PVC Caps
- 3, 1/2″ PVC Elbows
- 2, 1/2″ PVC Tee
- 1, 1/4-20 x 1/2-inch bolt
- PVC Pipe Cutter (optional)
- Hand Held Drill
- Smartphone Mount (optional)
(optional)
Like videos? I have a video tutorial if you would prefer to watch the tutorial. Please subscribe to my YouTube Channel so you don’t miss out on any future video tutorials!
Click through to the next page for the picture tutorial!
How cool is this? So glad you’re inspired to do more videos! You are genius to figure this out. I love it!
And PS: Your video is adorable!
That is so great! Yesterday I was looking at tripods and they are so expensive. And that video is just hilarious! Ha! 🙂 Lisa
OMG I PIN’d this….what a genius idea!!!
This is SO awesome! I am definitely going to try to make one!
How impressive and creative. I just can’t figure out where you ( and your sisters) got all of your creative talents from.
It’s a mystery to us too!
Just kidding, Mom. Love you!
Thank you so much for this posting on making a camera mount for hands only video making! I’m thinking this will come in handy – no pun intended! I am a constant viewer of your blog stalking. This posting just makes me admire you even more. You are one fantastic digital friend!
Oh, thank you for such a kind comment!
I haven’t done a lot of videos with it yet, but I am excited about the possibilities.
OK this is great. Really love it. I don’t have much experience with videos (might need to do a retreat to learn) but I can definitely see this as being very useful.
Thanks for sharing at The Weekend Social. Looking forward to seeing what you have for us next week.
Ricki @ The Questionable Homesteader
What a great solution for those hard to manage angles! Thanks for sharing at Fridays Unfolded!
Alison
Nancherrow
…In fact, you’re one of this week’s features! Congrats!
Alison
I love this set up…..it’s perfect for doing videos and affordable!! Pinning
This is such a great idea! It can be hard to get a good overhead shot, and this is genius! We’ll be featuring this over at Someday Crafts tomorrow! 🙂
What a clever idea!
GENIUS!!
I love this! It is so inexpensive. It would also be great for taking tutorial pictures if you don’t do video. 🙂 I’m assuming that you stand behind it, with your arms around the upright while filming?
Thank you, I am glad you like it. I put the straight up pole away from me when filming so I don’t have to reach around anything, but I think either way would work.
AMAZINGLY CREATIVE!!! Thank you for sharing this awesome tutorial. Wish I could have been to the retreat, it looked so fun. Maybe next year. Carrie, A Mother’s Shadow
Pinned and stumbled!
Such a great idea I pinned for later and Shared it on this weeks The Creative Exchange Features. Thanks so much for stopping by!
I featured you this week on The Creative Exchange Link Party Highlights
Oh wow! This is so smart! I need one! Off to pin… (If you had a second to come by and link up with us at The Makers link party, that would be great!)
Omgosh this is so amazing. Pinned!
This is an amazing project! I did 31 days of crafting with PVC pipe last October and this would have been a great addition to my month of crafts! I would love it if you linked up with us this week, I could totally see something like this being featured!
Pinned Katie, great tutorial, great idea.
Joy
Such a great idea! Amazing! Thanks for coming and linking up at The Weekend Social. Please be sure to come back next week starting Thursdays at 9PM EST on culinaryflavors.gr ! I hope to see you there!
Great idea – thanks for sharing with us at BOTW! Pinned
Thank you for sharing this post at City of Creative Dream’s City of Links last Friday! I loved this post so much that I chose it to be featured for this weeks party. 🙂 Go grab a button you deserve it!
What an awesome tutorial! I take a lot of overhead photos for my blog, and my hands are so shaky that I have to take a million pics to get one focused shot;) Thanks for sharing this!
Oh my gosh I love this! Featuring it on SSM this week. A few weeks ago I was trying to rig up something just like this to photograph the planners I make. Just one little nit-picky detail: flat ended screws are called bolts. That might help to make sure people understand what you’re talking about! (I could totally see myself missing that detail and damaging my camera!!)
Thanks for the “bolt” tip. Good call!
Good work! You nailed this one 🙂
This is great! I am going to have to take on this project myself! Thank you for your inspiration and the detail in showing how to do make this!
This is GENIUS! Thank you for sharing!
Such a brilliant idea!!! Pinning for sure!!
Wow, this is so clever! I’d love it if you shared this over at The Makers link party going on at my blog right now, UpcycledTreasures.com. Hope to see you there!
Thanks for sharing at the Say G’day party. I’ve just pinned your posts to the Say G’Day Saturday Board.
Hope to see you again this weekend!
Best wishes,
Natasha in Oz
OMG THAT IS TOO SIMPLE AND WHAT A SMART IDEA. I HAVE AN EXPENSIVE TRIPOD TO DO THIS WITH BUT IT IS HEAVY AND HUGE! THIS IS SIMPLE ENOUGH TO MOVE ON AND OFF THE DESK. IT’S JUST WHAT I NEED TO START DOING SOME DRAWING VIDEOS. I AM INDEBTED TO YOU FOR THIS.
Won’t your video be upside down then?
It actually won’t be, but you can flip it if needed when editing.
That was my concern too! So Katie, when you say “edit”, what program do you use? Love how you came up with this set-up! I have a tripod small enough to put on my table, but was wondering how to get it to view from the same view as I see?
I have a mac so I started with iMovie to edit. It’s really a good program and pretty simple to learn.
I see you posted this some time ago, but this is JUST what I needed today! Thank you
you’re amazing for sharing this! you have no idea..
This is such a brilliant idea. Pinned and stumbled! Thanks for linking up and sharing with us at Funtastic Friday. Hope you join us again this week.
I started a blog, but haven’t posted a whole lot. I have a tripod that I used to make my first video but the space underneath was very limiting. This is awesome. I will pick up some PVC pipe next payday. I want to do more videos.
This is AWESOME! Thank you SO MUCH for doing this for us! I Pinned it!
Valerie, you are so welcome! I am glad that you found it useful.
you blew my mind. I spent the longest time deciding what camera to get and researching on what overhead mount i had to buy/make. Now i dont need to buy a camera and saved myself more money with the mount. THANKYOU!
I am so glad that I could help Angelica!
This is so awesome, thank you for sharing. I’m planning on going out to get the materials soon!
I so glad that you like it, Anny! Thanks for stopping by.
I’m not pinning this, I’m MAKING IT TODAY!!! Thank you for this simple, yet genius design!
HA HA HA! I am so glad that you like this DIY camera mount. It has come in handy many times.
I made this yesterday without the help of the Home Depot guy or my sons or husband. It was easy, even drilling the hole for the bolt.
I’m going to make another sturdier one for my DSLR camera.
Thank you for your clear instructions.
You are so welcome Patricia! I am So glad that it worked out well for you!
Made this yesterday! SO easy! Thank you so much for your clear, precise instructions! I can’t wait to get started shooting!
You are so welcome Kelli! I’m so excited for you! Will you use it for still shots or video?
Absolutely what I was looking for. I just started creating some video tutorials and till is exactly what I need.
Happy to help!! I’m glad it you found the tutorial useful. 🙂
OMG this is so simple and so brilliant
It will work well with a DIY PVC book “scanning” station
I am so glad you like my design! Thanks for stopping by Gary!
I’m doing it!!! Yay!! An easy inexpensive starting solution!!. Sadly you didn’t make a automatic desk cleaner. But I think I can use the kitchen table and leave my crafting desk au natural.
Do it, Connie! I’m sorry I can’t help with the desk cleaner – I need one too! 🙂
Great idea!! I made it for less than $6. Thank you for sharing, it’s exactly what I needed! (I’ll post my photo after I screw the hole for the bolt).
Thank you, Cyndi! I am so glad this tutorial was able to help you!
Katie,
This is brilliant! I jut saw this last week and already made it today! I had to clean a little in my craft space first,LOL! But it is great! Like a lot of others, I just did not want to spend a bundle on an overhead set up! Because I purchased the pvc pipe cutting tool, I actually spent $28.35, without that I would have been in the $12.00 price range! Thank you so much, it has inspired me to star making videos! I might even send you my first one! Ha,ha
Thanks again
Rachael
I am so glad you were able to make your own camera mount so easily. I’d love to see your first video!
is it just me or is your audio weird?
For whatever reason, it doesn’t work on some devices. It works fine on a desktop or laptop but it goes wonky on some mobile devices. I’m sorry, not sure why it does that.
So many thanks!
My boyfriend found this for me today. We went straight to home depot after work, found all the parts and were out of there in 15 minutes, AND it was only $12! I’m so excited to try it out later!
-Danette
Yay!!! I am so glad it works for you too!
Awesome stuff, thanks for this, it gives me an idea on how to rig one up for an upcoming video I have to shoot soon.
You are so welcome, Sam! I am glad you found the tutorial helpful!