One of the most important accessories that many food photographers in Los Angeles opt for after buying their first camera is a tripod stand. Most tripod stands come in three legs on the bottom and a top part, commonly referred to as a head, and it is where the camera is mounted. Typically, the head features a handle that can be tightened or loosened to allow for a change of angle at which the camera is situated.
Basic tripod stands cost between $25 and $50, which makes them quite affordable for food photographers looking to invest in some gears to help them take stunning photos. However, like any other accessory out there, one of the limitations of trip stands involves the head: they are mostly non-removable, which means that you are bound by its constraints.
To get the most out of your tripod head, there are so many factors to consider that you may be left in a state of confusion with no apparent answers. For inspiration, therefore, here are three factors that you should take into account in your next tripod head purchase:
1. Are you looking for a quick release head? This implies that you have a small plate that screws on your camera and then the plate snaps into the head. You need to keep a screw driver handy as the screws will tend to loosen up while you are shooting. The other option is where the camera screws directly into the tripod head plate.
2. A ball head versus 3-way head: Generally, a ball head has a pistol grip, which you can press to move your camera in the direction that you desire. A 3-way head allows your camera to move in one direction at a time—vertical, horizontal, or to swivel right or left.
3. Do you plan to shoot videos as well? To take your LA food photography to high levels, you will need a few videos for photo compositing and other photography tricks. If this is the case, you need to scout for a smooth fluid head that will allow you to move the tripod head as smoothly as possible during video shooting. Although such fluid heads are often expensive, many of them will not allow you to shoot still photos in a vertical format—you need to take this into account as well.
When you are ready to spend a few bucks on a good tripod head, you definitely don’t want to make a bad choice. Hopefully, the above three factors have given you a better idea of what to look for next time you visit your local camera shop.