Learn to get that overhead shot in your tutorial films

Whether or not or not you’re making a cooking video, a product analysis or just want to film your matter from an fascinating perspective, understanding strategies to get that good overhead shot is indispensable info in your creative toolkit.

Why use an overhead angle?

Speaking as a YouTuber who blends superheroes, education and personal life tales into my very personal films, top-down footage are invaluable to my work. They help me showcase the exact books and comics I’m discussing, incorporate fulfilling props, and provide visually fascinating backdrops for audio clips and interviews. Overhead footage moreover allow me to relate further personally to my viewers. Nothing says, “that’s going to be a personal video,” like defeatedly laying on the bottom whereas discussing heavy issues. Pleasurable stuff!

Excessive-down views are moreover immeasurably helpful for lots of educational films. It locations the viewer inside the great place — correct above the movement, seeing what you, as a result of the creator, see. When your films have a clear seen perspective, it’s easier for the viewer to watch alongside. That leads to a larger experience for everyone.

Start with the correct digicam and lens

So how do you film overhead footage? Aiming the digicam down at your matter is an efficient start, nonetheless there’s loads to consider when crafting a shot that stands out. First, let’s talk about your digicam.

A big issue to keep in mind when trying to rearrange your top-down shot is your digicam setup, notably your lens. Should you want a close-up angle, nonetheless solely have a wide-angle lens, you’re going to should maneuver your digicam really close to your matter. Nonetheless, this will impression how loads you have to work and manipulate irrespective of it is you’re filming.

In a cooking video, as an illustration, you almost certainly don’t want to have a digicam correct up in opposition to a mixing bowl. Points might spill, you’ll actually really feel cramped, and it’s solely a unhealthy time. Having a telephoto lens is correct for a lot of circumstances. This will likely can help you place the digicam further above the subject nonetheless nonetheless seize the scene from an in depth perspective. As always, this decision will depend on the topic materials and your creative imaginative and prescient.

A tripod might be all it is important get the overhead shot you want

There’s various strategies to get the correct digicam place for an overhead angle. If you already have a tripod, merely place it over your matter and tilt the digicam to face downward. You will virtually positively need a ball head mount between your digicam and tripod to dial inside the exact place you want. In actuality, it’s safe to pick out up a ball head mount for almost all of these choices; they’re good and pretty low price!

Clearly, having an unlimited tripod hovering over your matter may be cumbersome, and the legs of the tripod might get inside the shot by probability. So, fiddle with the angles to see what it’s possible you’ll get. Nevertheless must you’re not pretty getting what you want, listed under are various totally different choices that will help maintain your digicam out of the way in which by which whereas getting that good shot!

Get creative with mic stands

In case you need further room to work and don’t want a digicam or stand to get in the way in which by which, a tripod development microphone stand is an effective reply for capturing overhead angles. It consists of a vertical pole that’s used to get the correct high and sits comfortably to the side of the subject whereas a horizontal pole extends outward, hovering over your matter. It creates a great deal of space to work and maneuver in with out getting in the way in which by which of you or the shot. Make sure that to anchor the underside of the stand with one factor like sandbags so it’s further safe. The very last item you want is in your pricey digicam to return toppling to the underside.

Should you want to get further creative, it’s possible you’ll get what’s often called a suspension stand or scissor arm stand. They’ve obtained a bunch of names. It’s difficult. Nevertheless they’re primarily a form of adjustable clamping microphone stands that folk use a lot for podcasting or streaming. Similar to the expansion stand we merely went over, these are largely used for microphones. Nonetheless, you possibly can even join a lightweight digicam to them.

Moreover, the beauty of these is that they are extraordinarily adjustable. You probably can clamp them to a desk or workbench fully to have a turnkey top-down filming reply. Merely join your digicam, swing out the arm to go looking out that good angle, and start filming. When you’re accomplished, you probably can tuck it away without having to disassemble your tools.

A phrase of warning–this a smart reply, nonetheless may not work in case your digicam is just too heavy for the arm to hold up. These InnoGear and Rode stands can keep as a lot as 4.4 kilos (2 kg), which should be tons for a lot of DSLR cameras. Double-check the load functionality on the model you buy.

Funds choices for overhead angles

One different clamping reply you possibly can try is friction magic arms. These are a lot smaller, however as well as a lot cheaper. You probably can clamp them onto one factor you already have that’s extreme up above your matter (a floor lamp, a shelf, and lots of others.) and modify virtually infinite angles to go looking out the correct shot.

This can be one different turnkey reply that could be fully clamped someplace, otherwise you probably can switch it spherical. You probably may even use these to point out your tripod proper right into a development arm stand by way of using the magic arm as a result of the horizontal pole that helps maintain the tripod out of the way in which by which. Truly, these have been invaluable to me as a consequence of how versatile and moveable they’re. They undoubtedly reside as a lot because the time interval “magic.”

One different straightforward reply within the similar vein is to utilize a wrapping tripod, similar to the Gorillapod. Its adjustable legs may be wrapped spherical one thing extreme above your matter that you already have in place.

Previous the digicam

These choices ought to assist you get the correct overhead shot in your video! Nevertheless determining strategies to shoot a hen’s eye angle is barely the beginning. Once you’ve obtained all of it framed up, it’s time to be creative and make your shot stand out with lighting and background design!

You need to use anybody amongst these choices to mount lights above or to the side of your matter as successfully. For a lot of regular features, getting shiny, tender lights will assist you out in all probability essentially the most. I actually like these small, straightforward LED panels. They’re cheap and produce pretty tender mild with out the need for added diffusion. These versatile LED lights by Neewer are moreover shiny and lightweight — good for illuminating a scene whereas not weighing down any stands you place them on. Experiment with gels or shade LEDs in order so as to add further character and visual intrigue to your image.

And consider to keep the background of your shot fascinating and relevant, as successfully. Want to maintain the backdrop clear so the subject stands out? White or black foam boards add a straightforward however expert tone to the shot. Vibrant poster board, alternatively, creates a vibrant, whimsical actually really feel. For a rustic DIY vibe, you need to use some scrap picket, and outdated decreasing board, or even some graph paper.

Take into accounts what tone you’re trying to grab and take into consideration what colors, patterns, textures, and lighting sorts will help highlight the topic materials and ship the exact vibe you want.

Time to file

Okay. You’ve obtained your digicam hovering above your matter. The lighting is dialed into the correct setting. And the background is amplifying the seen mannequin you’re aiming for. You’re capable of seize an overhead shot that viewers will look down on… nonetheless in an effective way!