Stand Alone, Hold Tight: Camera Stability Techniques

DIY Tripods| How to Stabilize Your Camera without Buying a Tripod

Richard Bennett

Oct 26, 2023• Proven solutions

0

When you’re trying to grow a channel on YouTube it can feel like equipment is a barrier, but it shouldn’t be. If you can’t afford a high-end tripod, for example, there are loads of ways to get by without one.

DIY Your Video with Wondershare Filmora

Wondershare Filmora has the best video stabilization tool is your videos have a bad frame or were recorded in dim lights. If a video is shot in bad weather or unfriendly situation where you don’t have all the equipment required for a quality recording, Wondershare Filmora can help you in the background to edit your videos like a pro. And it has all the relevant tools like effects, transitions, background removal, overlays, and background music that could turn your normal video to a professional one.

Here are 3 of our favorite DIY tripods.

DIY smartphone tripod using binder clips or hair clips

You’re a solo operation and your best camera is on your phone. That’s pretty common.

If you have a DSLR then you can set it down on any stable surface while filming yourself, but your phone can’t stand up by itself. It needs something or someone to hold it. Do you just accept that and shoot everything as a selfie?

No. No, you don’t, because there are common household items that can help you out of this problem. For this DIY tripod, you need either 2 binder clips or 2 ‘claw clips’ (also called ‘hair jaws’).

Hold your phone in landscape mode (horizontally, so it’s long rather than tall) and attach clips to the bottom corners. If you are worried about scratching your screen, fold up some paper to place between your clip and your phone.

Here it is with binder clips:

And here it is with hair clips:

Now you can set your smartphone upon any stable surface, like a table or a stack of books.

Here are some more cool ideas!

DIY adjustable tripod using books and a towel

You’ve probably heard a million times that you can stabilize your camera by sitting it down on any stable surface – on your desk, on a stack of books, up in a tree, etc. This is very true!

But if you can use any stable surface, why do people buy tripods?

Because it isn’t convenient to rearrange your furniture whenever you want to make a video, and also because tripods are adjustable. You can change their height, you can use them to pan or tilt, and it’s pretty easy to move them a bit forwards or backward while you’re setting up your shot.

To get similar functions from the ‘any stable surface’ solution you can use a table, a stack of books, and a towel.

1. Set up the area where you’re going to sit while you’re filming on one end of the table.
2. Put the towel down over the approximate spot you want your camera to be.
3. Stack your books on top of the towel.
4. Put your camera on top of the books.

Now if your camera isn’t up high enough, or is too high, you can adjust it just by adding or taking away books. If you want to move it closer or farther away from you, just pull the towel forwards or backward.

DIY gripping ‘Gorillapod’ using wire and tape

Gorillapod’s are cool because you can use them like normal tripods, carry them around like selfie sticks, or attach them to things like fences and posts. Here’s how you can make something similar using wire, electrical tape or duct tape, and a 1/4 bolt.

Your wire should be fairly stiff and you’ll need three pieces the same length, which should be at least 10 inches. Old clothes hangers work well. This needs to be something strong enough to support the weight of your camera, but soft enough that it’s not impossible for you to bend.

All of your supplies plus the finished product.

Readying your legs

Step 1: Bend 2 inches at one end of each wire into a ‘U’ shape. You will probably need pliers for this.

Step 2: Pick up one of your pieces of wire and wrap one end with electrical tape. Go around 5-10 times (to prevent it from coming undone at the end) and then, without cutting your tape, start moving up and wrapping the rest of your wire. Stop before your ‘U’ section.

Repeat this with the other two wires.

Attaching your legs

Step 1: Place the ‘U’ section of a leg against your bolt. The bolt’s threading should be pointing away from the leg. Now, use your tape to attach them. Wind it around 2 or 3 times, then repeat the process with both of the other legs individually.

Step 2: After all the legs are attached, wrap some more tape around all 3 as tightly as you can.

Your camera will mount onto the bolt! You’ll be able to use this as a normal table-top tripod or use the flexible legs to grab onto different things like a Gorillapod. Read more at Instructables.

Note: make sure the bolt is a fit for your camera before you get too far into this process.

Richard Bennett

Richard Bennett is a writer and a lover of all things video.

Follow @Richard Bennett

Richard Bennett

Oct 26, 2023• Proven solutions

0

When you’re trying to grow a channel on YouTube it can feel like equipment is a barrier, but it shouldn’t be. If you can’t afford a high-end tripod, for example, there are loads of ways to get by without one.

DIY Your Video with Wondershare Filmora

Wondershare Filmora has the best video stabilization tool is your videos have a bad frame or were recorded in dim lights. If a video is shot in bad weather or unfriendly situation where you don’t have all the equipment required for a quality recording, Wondershare Filmora can help you in the background to edit your videos like a pro. And it has all the relevant tools like effects, transitions, background removal, overlays, and background music that could turn your normal video to a professional one.

Here are 3 of our favorite DIY tripods.

DIY smartphone tripod using binder clips or hair clips

You’re a solo operation and your best camera is on your phone. That’s pretty common.

If you have a DSLR then you can set it down on any stable surface while filming yourself, but your phone can’t stand up by itself. It needs something or someone to hold it. Do you just accept that and shoot everything as a selfie?

No. No, you don’t, because there are common household items that can help you out of this problem. For this DIY tripod, you need either 2 binder clips or 2 ‘claw clips’ (also called ‘hair jaws’).

Hold your phone in landscape mode (horizontally, so it’s long rather than tall) and attach clips to the bottom corners. If you are worried about scratching your screen, fold up some paper to place between your clip and your phone.

Here it is with binder clips:

And here it is with hair clips:

Now you can set your smartphone upon any stable surface, like a table or a stack of books.

Here are some more cool ideas!

DIY adjustable tripod using books and a towel

You’ve probably heard a million times that you can stabilize your camera by sitting it down on any stable surface – on your desk, on a stack of books, up in a tree, etc. This is very true!

But if you can use any stable surface, why do people buy tripods?

Because it isn’t convenient to rearrange your furniture whenever you want to make a video, and also because tripods are adjustable. You can change their height, you can use them to pan or tilt, and it’s pretty easy to move them a bit forwards or backward while you’re setting up your shot.

To get similar functions from the ‘any stable surface’ solution you can use a table, a stack of books, and a towel.

1. Set up the area where you’re going to sit while you’re filming on one end of the table.
2. Put the towel down over the approximate spot you want your camera to be.
3. Stack your books on top of the towel.
4. Put your camera on top of the books.

Now if your camera isn’t up high enough, or is too high, you can adjust it just by adding or taking away books. If you want to move it closer or farther away from you, just pull the towel forwards or backward.

DIY gripping ‘Gorillapod’ using wire and tape

Gorillapod’s are cool because you can use them like normal tripods, carry them around like selfie sticks, or attach them to things like fences and posts. Here’s how you can make something similar using wire, electrical tape or duct tape, and a 1/4 bolt.

Your wire should be fairly stiff and you’ll need three pieces the same length, which should be at least 10 inches. Old clothes hangers work well. This needs to be something strong enough to support the weight of your camera, but soft enough that it’s not impossible for you to bend.

All of your supplies plus the finished product.

Readying your legs

Step 1: Bend 2 inches at one end of each wire into a ‘U’ shape. You will probably need pliers for this.

Step 2: Pick up one of your pieces of wire and wrap one end with electrical tape. Go around 5-10 times (to prevent it from coming undone at the end) and then, without cutting your tape, start moving up and wrapping the rest of your wire. Stop before your ‘U’ section.

Repeat this with the other two wires.

Attaching your legs

Step 1: Place the ‘U’ section of a leg against your bolt. The bolt’s threading should be pointing away from the leg. Now, use your tape to attach them. Wind it around 2 or 3 times, then repeat the process with both of the other legs individually.

Step 2: After all the legs are attached, wrap some more tape around all 3 as tightly as you can.

Your camera will mount onto the bolt! You’ll be able to use this as a normal table-top tripod or use the flexible legs to grab onto different things like a Gorillapod. Read more at Instructables.

Note: make sure the bolt is a fit for your camera before you get too far into this process.

Richard Bennett

Richard Bennett is a writer and a lover of all things video.

Follow @Richard Bennett

Richard Bennett

Oct 26, 2023• Proven solutions

0

When you’re trying to grow a channel on YouTube it can feel like equipment is a barrier, but it shouldn’t be. If you can’t afford a high-end tripod, for example, there are loads of ways to get by without one.

DIY Your Video with Wondershare Filmora

Wondershare Filmora has the best video stabilization tool is your videos have a bad frame or were recorded in dim lights. If a video is shot in bad weather or unfriendly situation where you don’t have all the equipment required for a quality recording, Wondershare Filmora can help you in the background to edit your videos like a pro. And it has all the relevant tools like effects, transitions, background removal, overlays, and background music that could turn your normal video to a professional one.

Here are 3 of our favorite DIY tripods.

DIY smartphone tripod using binder clips or hair clips

You’re a solo operation and your best camera is on your phone. That’s pretty common.

If you have a DSLR then you can set it down on any stable surface while filming yourself, but your phone can’t stand up by itself. It needs something or someone to hold it. Do you just accept that and shoot everything as a selfie?

No. No, you don’t, because there are common household items that can help you out of this problem. For this DIY tripod, you need either 2 binder clips or 2 ‘claw clips’ (also called ‘hair jaws’).

Hold your phone in landscape mode (horizontally, so it’s long rather than tall) and attach clips to the bottom corners. If you are worried about scratching your screen, fold up some paper to place between your clip and your phone.

Here it is with binder clips:

And here it is with hair clips:

Now you can set your smartphone upon any stable surface, like a table or a stack of books.

Here are some more cool ideas!

DIY adjustable tripod using books and a towel

You’ve probably heard a million times that you can stabilize your camera by sitting it down on any stable surface – on your desk, on a stack of books, up in a tree, etc. This is very true!

But if you can use any stable surface, why do people buy tripods?

Because it isn’t convenient to rearrange your furniture whenever you want to make a video, and also because tripods are adjustable. You can change their height, you can use them to pan or tilt, and it’s pretty easy to move them a bit forwards or backward while you’re setting up your shot.

To get similar functions from the ‘any stable surface’ solution you can use a table, a stack of books, and a towel.

1. Set up the area where you’re going to sit while you’re filming on one end of the table.
2. Put the towel down over the approximate spot you want your camera to be.
3. Stack your books on top of the towel.
4. Put your camera on top of the books.

Now if your camera isn’t up high enough, or is too high, you can adjust it just by adding or taking away books. If you want to move it closer or farther away from you, just pull the towel forwards or backward.

DIY gripping ‘Gorillapod’ using wire and tape

Gorillapod’s are cool because you can use them like normal tripods, carry them around like selfie sticks, or attach them to things like fences and posts. Here’s how you can make something similar using wire, electrical tape or duct tape, and a 1/4 bolt.

Your wire should be fairly stiff and you’ll need three pieces the same length, which should be at least 10 inches. Old clothes hangers work well. This needs to be something strong enough to support the weight of your camera, but soft enough that it’s not impossible for you to bend.

All of your supplies plus the finished product.

Readying your legs

Step 1: Bend 2 inches at one end of each wire into a ‘U’ shape. You will probably need pliers for this.

Step 2: Pick up one of your pieces of wire and wrap one end with electrical tape. Go around 5-10 times (to prevent it from coming undone at the end) and then, without cutting your tape, start moving up and wrapping the rest of your wire. Stop before your ‘U’ section.

Repeat this with the other two wires.

Attaching your legs

Step 1: Place the ‘U’ section of a leg against your bolt. The bolt’s threading should be pointing away from the leg. Now, use your tape to attach them. Wind it around 2 or 3 times, then repeat the process with both of the other legs individually.

Step 2: After all the legs are attached, wrap some more tape around all 3 as tightly as you can.

Your camera will mount onto the bolt! You’ll be able to use this as a normal table-top tripod or use the flexible legs to grab onto different things like a Gorillapod. Read more at Instructables.

Note: make sure the bolt is a fit for your camera before you get too far into this process.

Richard Bennett

Richard Bennett is a writer and a lover of all things video.

Follow @Richard Bennett

Richard Bennett

Oct 26, 2023• Proven solutions

0

When you’re trying to grow a channel on YouTube it can feel like equipment is a barrier, but it shouldn’t be. If you can’t afford a high-end tripod, for example, there are loads of ways to get by without one.

DIY Your Video with Wondershare Filmora

Wondershare Filmora has the best video stabilization tool is your videos have a bad frame or were recorded in dim lights. If a video is shot in bad weather or unfriendly situation where you don’t have all the equipment required for a quality recording, Wondershare Filmora can help you in the background to edit your videos like a pro. And it has all the relevant tools like effects, transitions, background removal, overlays, and background music that could turn your normal video to a professional one.

Here are 3 of our favorite DIY tripods.

DIY smartphone tripod using binder clips or hair clips

You’re a solo operation and your best camera is on your phone. That’s pretty common.

If you have a DSLR then you can set it down on any stable surface while filming yourself, but your phone can’t stand up by itself. It needs something or someone to hold it. Do you just accept that and shoot everything as a selfie?

No. No, you don’t, because there are common household items that can help you out of this problem. For this DIY tripod, you need either 2 binder clips or 2 ‘claw clips’ (also called ‘hair jaws’).

Hold your phone in landscape mode (horizontally, so it’s long rather than tall) and attach clips to the bottom corners. If you are worried about scratching your screen, fold up some paper to place between your clip and your phone.

Here it is with binder clips:

And here it is with hair clips:

Now you can set your smartphone upon any stable surface, like a table or a stack of books.

Here are some more cool ideas!

DIY adjustable tripod using books and a towel

You’ve probably heard a million times that you can stabilize your camera by sitting it down on any stable surface – on your desk, on a stack of books, up in a tree, etc. This is very true!

But if you can use any stable surface, why do people buy tripods?

Because it isn’t convenient to rearrange your furniture whenever you want to make a video, and also because tripods are adjustable. You can change their height, you can use them to pan or tilt, and it’s pretty easy to move them a bit forwards or backward while you’re setting up your shot.

To get similar functions from the ‘any stable surface’ solution you can use a table, a stack of books, and a towel.

1. Set up the area where you’re going to sit while you’re filming on one end of the table.
2. Put the towel down over the approximate spot you want your camera to be.
3. Stack your books on top of the towel.
4. Put your camera on top of the books.

Now if your camera isn’t up high enough, or is too high, you can adjust it just by adding or taking away books. If you want to move it closer or farther away from you, just pull the towel forwards or backward.

DIY gripping ‘Gorillapod’ using wire and tape

Gorillapod’s are cool because you can use them like normal tripods, carry them around like selfie sticks, or attach them to things like fences and posts. Here’s how you can make something similar using wire, electrical tape or duct tape, and a 1/4 bolt.

Your wire should be fairly stiff and you’ll need three pieces the same length, which should be at least 10 inches. Old clothes hangers work well. This needs to be something strong enough to support the weight of your camera, but soft enough that it’s not impossible for you to bend.

All of your supplies plus the finished product.

Readying your legs

Step 1: Bend 2 inches at one end of each wire into a ‘U’ shape. You will probably need pliers for this.

Step 2: Pick up one of your pieces of wire and wrap one end with electrical tape. Go around 5-10 times (to prevent it from coming undone at the end) and then, without cutting your tape, start moving up and wrapping the rest of your wire. Stop before your ‘U’ section.

Repeat this with the other two wires.

Attaching your legs

Step 1: Place the ‘U’ section of a leg against your bolt. The bolt’s threading should be pointing away from the leg. Now, use your tape to attach them. Wind it around 2 or 3 times, then repeat the process with both of the other legs individually.

Step 2: After all the legs are attached, wrap some more tape around all 3 as tightly as you can.

Your camera will mount onto the bolt! You’ll be able to use this as a normal table-top tripod or use the flexible legs to grab onto different things like a Gorillapod. Read more at Instructables.

Note: make sure the bolt is a fit for your camera before you get too far into this process.

Richard Bennett

Richard Bennett is a writer and a lover of all things video.

Follow @Richard Bennett

YouTube Visual Identity Made Easy

YouTube Profile Picture Templates – Free Downloads

Richard Bennett

Oct 26, 2023• Proven solutions

0

Looking for a cool YouTube profile picture template for your channel? Here’s a list of free downloads!

These avatar templates are all PSD files, so you will need Adobe Photoshop to download and edit them. If you don’t have Photoshop, create your own profile picture in Canva using these templates as a guide (here’s a tutorial for Canva ).

1. NAJA - Template and Detailed Tutorial
2. SaltyKebab - 2 Free Templates
3. Little Danny B - 2 Free Templates
4. TxG Designs Profile Picture Template

Want to create your own logo? Check out these tools!

Polish Your YouTube Videos with Filmora

As one of the best video editing software for YouTubers, Filmora provides lots of templates and effects with an intuitive interface, which saves much time. Download the free trial version and get started now.

---

NAJA - Template and Detailed Tutorial

In this video NAJA not only provides you with a cool green profile picture, but they also take you on a detailed walkthrough of editing the image in Photoshop. This will be useful if you are trying to use any of the designs you find in this post. You can download NAJA’s avatar template by clicking here .

SaltyKebab - 2 Free Templates

SaltyKebab is a YouTuber graphics designer who, in addition to making gaming videos, posts templates for things like profile pictures and channel art on a regular basis. This is a sleek black and white option with a background that looks like broken glass. Click here to download .

Also from Salty Kebab, this free graphics package includes a profile picture, banner, and thumbnail template. The cool blue design with an archer’s silhouette will be perfect for gamers.Click here to download.

Little Danny B - 2 Free Templates

This fresh blue and green design from YouTuber Little Danny B is perfect for an upbeat, fun, channel. Click here to download .

Another offering from Little Danny B, this icon has a background with neon blue and purple paint splatters and bright yellow text. It’s a great option if you want to stand out. Click here to download .

TxG Designs Profile Picture Template

This is the template TxG Designs used for their own profile picture. It’s a dark purple, vaguely sci-fi, the background behind the white text with speed lines. Click here to download .

Do you need to create more graphics for YouTube, like video thumbnails? Check out these tools .

If you know anywhere else to get YouTube profile picture templates, let everyone know in the comments!

Richard Bennett

Richard Bennett is a writer and a lover of all things video.

Follow @Richard Bennett

Richard Bennett

Oct 26, 2023• Proven solutions

0

Looking for a cool YouTube profile picture template for your channel? Here’s a list of free downloads!

These avatar templates are all PSD files, so you will need Adobe Photoshop to download and edit them. If you don’t have Photoshop, create your own profile picture in Canva using these templates as a guide (here’s a tutorial for Canva ).

1. NAJA - Template and Detailed Tutorial
2. SaltyKebab - 2 Free Templates
3. Little Danny B - 2 Free Templates
4. TxG Designs Profile Picture Template

Want to create your own logo? Check out these tools!

Polish Your YouTube Videos with Filmora

As one of the best video editing software for YouTubers, Filmora provides lots of templates and effects with an intuitive interface, which saves much time. Download the free trial version and get started now.

---

NAJA - Template and Detailed Tutorial

In this video NAJA not only provides you with a cool green profile picture, but they also take you on a detailed walkthrough of editing the image in Photoshop. This will be useful if you are trying to use any of the designs you find in this post. You can download NAJA’s avatar template by clicking here .

SaltyKebab - 2 Free Templates

SaltyKebab is a YouTuber graphics designer who, in addition to making gaming videos, posts templates for things like profile pictures and channel art on a regular basis. This is a sleek black and white option with a background that looks like broken glass. Click here to download .

Also from Salty Kebab, this free graphics package includes a profile picture, banner, and thumbnail template. The cool blue design with an archer’s silhouette will be perfect for gamers.Click here to download.

Little Danny B - 2 Free Templates

This fresh blue and green design from YouTuber Little Danny B is perfect for an upbeat, fun, channel. Click here to download .

Another offering from Little Danny B, this icon has a background with neon blue and purple paint splatters and bright yellow text. It’s a great option if you want to stand out. Click here to download .

TxG Designs Profile Picture Template

This is the template TxG Designs used for their own profile picture. It’s a dark purple, vaguely sci-fi, the background behind the white text with speed lines. Click here to download .

Do you need to create more graphics for YouTube, like video thumbnails? Check out these tools .

If you know anywhere else to get YouTube profile picture templates, let everyone know in the comments!

Richard Bennett

Richard Bennett is a writer and a lover of all things video.

Follow @Richard Bennett

Richard Bennett

Oct 26, 2023• Proven solutions

0

Looking for a cool YouTube profile picture template for your channel? Here’s a list of free downloads!

These avatar templates are all PSD files, so you will need Adobe Photoshop to download and edit them. If you don’t have Photoshop, create your own profile picture in Canva using these templates as a guide (here’s a tutorial for Canva ).

1. NAJA - Template and Detailed Tutorial
2. SaltyKebab - 2 Free Templates
3. Little Danny B - 2 Free Templates
4. TxG Designs Profile Picture Template

Want to create your own logo? Check out these tools!

Polish Your YouTube Videos with Filmora

As one of the best video editing software for YouTubers, Filmora provides lots of templates and effects with an intuitive interface, which saves much time. Download the free trial version and get started now.

---

NAJA - Template and Detailed Tutorial

In this video NAJA not only provides you with a cool green profile picture, but they also take you on a detailed walkthrough of editing the image in Photoshop. This will be useful if you are trying to use any of the designs you find in this post. You can download NAJA’s avatar template by clicking here .

SaltyKebab - 2 Free Templates

SaltyKebab is a YouTuber graphics designer who, in addition to making gaming videos, posts templates for things like profile pictures and channel art on a regular basis. This is a sleek black and white option with a background that looks like broken glass. Click here to download .

Also from Salty Kebab, this free graphics package includes a profile picture, banner, and thumbnail template. The cool blue design with an archer’s silhouette will be perfect for gamers.Click here to download.

Little Danny B - 2 Free Templates

This fresh blue and green design from YouTuber Little Danny B is perfect for an upbeat, fun, channel. Click here to download .

Another offering from Little Danny B, this icon has a background with neon blue and purple paint splatters and bright yellow text. It’s a great option if you want to stand out. Click here to download .

TxG Designs Profile Picture Template

This is the template TxG Designs used for their own profile picture. It’s a dark purple, vaguely sci-fi, the background behind the white text with speed lines. Click here to download .

Do you need to create more graphics for YouTube, like video thumbnails? Check out these tools .

If you know anywhere else to get YouTube profile picture templates, let everyone know in the comments!

Richard Bennett

Richard Bennett is a writer and a lover of all things video.

Follow @Richard Bennett

Richard Bennett

Oct 26, 2023• Proven solutions

0

Looking for a cool YouTube profile picture template for your channel? Here’s a list of free downloads!

These avatar templates are all PSD files, so you will need Adobe Photoshop to download and edit them. If you don’t have Photoshop, create your own profile picture in Canva using these templates as a guide (here’s a tutorial for Canva ).

1. NAJA - Template and Detailed Tutorial
2. SaltyKebab - 2 Free Templates
3. Little Danny B - 2 Free Templates
4. TxG Designs Profile Picture Template

Want to create your own logo? Check out these tools!

Polish Your YouTube Videos with Filmora

As one of the best video editing software for YouTubers, Filmora provides lots of templates and effects with an intuitive interface, which saves much time. Download the free trial version and get started now.

---

NAJA - Template and Detailed Tutorial

In this video NAJA not only provides you with a cool green profile picture, but they also take you on a detailed walkthrough of editing the image in Photoshop. This will be useful if you are trying to use any of the designs you find in this post. You can download NAJA’s avatar template by clicking here .

SaltyKebab - 2 Free Templates

SaltyKebab is a YouTuber graphics designer who, in addition to making gaming videos, posts templates for things like profile pictures and channel art on a regular basis. This is a sleek black and white option with a background that looks like broken glass. Click here to download .

Also from Salty Kebab, this free graphics package includes a profile picture, banner, and thumbnail template. The cool blue design with an archer’s silhouette will be perfect for gamers.Click here to download.

Little Danny B - 2 Free Templates

This fresh blue and green design from YouTuber Little Danny B is perfect for an upbeat, fun, channel. Click here to download .

Another offering from Little Danny B, this icon has a background with neon blue and purple paint splatters and bright yellow text. It’s a great option if you want to stand out. Click here to download .

TxG Designs Profile Picture Template

This is the template TxG Designs used for their own profile picture. It’s a dark purple, vaguely sci-fi, the background behind the white text with speed lines. Click here to download .

Do you need to create more graphics for YouTube, like video thumbnails? Check out these tools .

If you know anywhere else to get YouTube profile picture templates, let everyone know in the comments!

Richard Bennett

Richard Bennett is a writer and a lover of all things video.

Follow @Richard Bennett

Also read: