A Beginner’s Guide to Tripod Photography
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It has been a few years since I got my first tripod and it took me a fair amount of research, trial and error, and consistent use to figure out how to get what I wanted from it. Here I will share with you everything I have learned in order to help you get the ball rolling; I will fill you in on why I decided I would benefit from buying a tripod, what to consider when you're in the market, and some different ways to trigger a camera shutter when using a tripod.
While reading, keep in mind that throughout this post I am referring to my personal experience with my camera body and equipment. The things I like/dislike may or may not apply to your set-up, or your style!
Why I use a tripod
There are a number of reasons that I had my mind set on adding a tripod to my photography gear, but the main reason has to do with my personal growth in developing my style. When I first started my adventure account on instagram [long before I had an actual camera or any dogs] most of the photos were of Niko, myself, and the landscapes we explored -- they told a story of our adventures. Even today, five+ years later, I can take one glimpse at any of those photos and a flood of nostalgic memories come rushing in.
Fast forward a few years to when we first got our dogs. I was so focused on capturing Oakley and Everest that I essentially stopped taking photos of anything else. Niko brought this to my attention and encouraged me to start telling my stories through my images rather than just through my captions. To me, any moment we capture on camera is valuable, but having moments of us with our dogs, friends, and family are the memories we hold closest to our hearts -- they embody relationships, capture experiences, and transcend the limits of time. As much as I sometimes dislike the actual act of assembling and disassembling my tripod, I love that using it forces me to slow down, be more intentional with my photos, and gives me the ability to capture more candid moments.
To cut to the point, the most common reason why I use my tripod is because I want to be in the photo. This doesn’t necessarily require a tripod — Niko and I have done balancing tricks with rocks and backpacks before, but the results when using a tripod put those attempts to shame. The fact is: a tripod will give you a variety of heights and angles as well as a level of safety for your camera that a rock or backpack cannot offer. I am not saying everything instantaneously became better the second I purchased a tripod — it took a lot of practice — but it puts the power in your hands. You will now have control over many more variables, especially when it comes to framing your shot.
When to use a tripod
Here are the circumstances in which I would break out my tripod to be in a photo:
When I am hiking alone, or with people who do not have photography experience
When I am hiking with Niko and // or other people, and we all want to be in the photo
When I have a very clear image or want to push myself as a creative, regardless of who I am with
When I am hiking with Niko and he is not in the mood to be in the photo, or behind the lens
When I am taking indoor photos
I also use a tripod when shooting with long exposure settings. Low light situations require a longer shutter speed, and because of this it is sometimes not possible to get a clear photo without my tripod:
Astrophotography
Sunrise and // or sunset
Capturing smooth-looking moving water
Timelapse
Purchasing a tripod
I currently use the travel tripod by Peak Design. It is designed to set up and break down very efficiently. While it isn’t the lightest tripod I have ever met, the added features are a great trade off. It allows me to orient my camera in landscape and portrait modes, as well as every angle in between. It has a good range of heights to shoot from and is very straightforward to maintain. The independently adjustable legs allow me to find balance on just about any surface. It also has a hook to hang added weight for those super windy days when your tripod could be at risk of blowing over. It comes with a nice case to protect it from the elements while I am hiking, and is very compact when it is packed away. I love that it has a phone mount included so that if I want to take a video on my phone I am not limited to needing someone’s help.
Still not convinced that you need or want one? Rather than paying full price for one I would highly recommend renting one or borrowing from a friend. If you are are committed to getting your own tripod, check out these thoughts, questions, and topics to help you in your search.
Size: I love that my current tripod fits in the side pouch on the exterior of my bag. It doesn't take up extra space and it allows me to keep the rest of my hiking essentials safely inside of my bag. If you drive to all of your photoshoots, you may not be too concerned with how small the tripod can become. This is important because the compacting ability, among other features, often relates directly to price. Another important aspect of size is to contemplate what range of heights you need the tripod to have. Think about your subject and shooting style — when I am shooting a headshot of a person I am going to be face level, whereas if I wanted a headshot of my dog I would have to crouch way down.
Weight: while you might think the most ultralight tripod is the best, there are some things to take into account. How heavy is your camera body? What about your biggest lens? Can an ultralight tripod support the weight of all of your set ups? Can it resist the pressures of high winds? The lightest option sounds great on paper, but they don't come cheap and going for a lighter weight can mean a trade off for stability. I do everything I can to mitigate the risk of damage to my camera and lenses because I'm already clumsy as it is.
Side tangent: weight specifications will really come down to personal preference at the end of the day. For me, the items I could see myself using during a hike are going on that hike, even if my pack is a couple of pounds heavier for it. If you’re intimidated, try to change your mindset. An outlook that helps me is that carrying extra weight will make me a stronger, more conditioned hiker — is this true? Maybe, maybe not but it makes me feel better when my pack feels heavy. Another mindset I keep is that I’ve carried those extra pounds all that way and I will not let it be for nothing. In other words, just bringing my tripod is great incentive to actually use it. I would be lying if I didn’t tell you there have been times when I didn’t feel super inspired to break out my tripod; however, once I flip my mindset and get set up, the creativity can start to flow. Even if you don’t come out of that particular shoot with stunner photos, you will probably have learned something. I cannot emphasize this enough: it is always better to try than to have regret over a missed opportunity.
Price: determining a price range is something only you can do and it could very well be the most limiting factor. If you are stuck debating between multiple tripods and the deciding component is cost, keep in mind that sometimes you pay for what you get — the well-built tripod with excellent customer support and replacement parts could greatly elongate the lifespan of your equipment. All that said, each tripod serves the same purpose even though some have more bells and whistles. Having a more expensive tripod will not automatically make you a better photographer. If your price range is limited, my advice is: do not be afraid to start somewhere small, you can always upgrade down the line.
Mounting system: bag mounting clips are a super popular way to carry a camera hands free, and accessibly. Will your tripod be compatible with your mounting clip or will it take time to interchange them? My mounting systems for my bag and first tripod were not compatible. Swapping out the mounting systems was something I became quicker at doing, but it was still an added step. If you think this may dissuade you from using your tripod it may be worth it to go with compatible accessories.
Camera settings for tripod use
There are a lot of options when it comes to camera settings while using a tripod. I have two go-to methods I will explain below followed by examples of photos I have taken with those methods.
Remote control: There are multiple options for remotely activating the shutter depending on how much you would like to spend. I have tried a few but the only remote I would recommend is called the pebble by Aodelan. It is a two piece system — one piece plugs directly into the camera, and the other is your handheld shutter that communicates via bluetooth. This remote gives you the option for an instant shutter, or a 2 second delay; I forget to use the two second delay but it would be plenty of time to tuck the remote out of sight. It takes a series of three photos with each click of the shutter to give you options but not overload your memory card. A benefit to the blue tooth technology is that the handheld remote does not need to be facing the camera to initiate the shutter, and it has a relatively far reach — we have yet to encounter a scenario in which the bluetooth was out of range. Of note, it is battery operated so you may want to carry a spare in addition to flipping the battery around when not in use. A potential downside is that because it is a two piece system you need to remember to bring them both along.
Interval shooting: I start by turning on my interval shoot function in settings, and manually focusing on my subject. You can choose how many photos you want your camera to capture, and how many seconds you want between each frame. There is an option for a continuous autofocus on my camera, but I don’t find that it works very well. Not every camera body has this interval function, but it is possible to purchase an external intervalometer -- some people with an internal camera body function still prefer the external option because it allows more manipulation as far as settings go. Utilizing this setting may result in a large excess of photos which could be frustrating but I find that I always prefer to have options. This function can be used to create a time lapse or a GIF.
Closing Tips
Practice, practice, practice! I wish I had forced myself to use my tripod more regularly in the beginning. The more you practice the quicker you can get your tripod set-up, get your camera in the right settings, and master your visions. It is also important to note that progress is not always linear with art so give yourself some grace when you capture a complete flop — have a laugh and keep on trying.
Try the different shutter settings I mentioned above to see which set up works best for you — I still use both and there are a few more options out there!
If you don't have a person to use as a focal point when focusing manually, use a backpack, a big rock, or have your dogs stand in place as the focal point until you can jump in.
Take tester photos — or if you don’t, at least go back and quickly review your photos prior to breaking down your set up. The main things I am looking for in a test shot are: how I feel about the composition, whether my settings are adequate for the conditions (esp. lighting), and that the shots are in focus.
Be patient. There is always a learning curve when you try something new. Don't expect your tripod photos to turn out as good as your favorite photo you have ever taken. I think there is always room for growth and improvement so long as we are challenging ourselves.
Ask questions. Can't figure something out? Photos aren't turning out like you wanted despite the practice? Search the internet or ask an experienced friend for some insight.
