KITCHEN FILMING
How to film overhead cooking videos with your phone
The top-down shot looks like it needs a rig. In most kitchens it needs one bit of metal above the worktop.
The short answer
Fix your phone above the worktop, pointing straight down at the chopping board or pan, and record on the back camera. In many kitchens the simplest fixed point is a metal range hood: a magnetic mount sticks to it and swivels to face down at the counter. Check the frame, keep the phone out of the steam, and film.
Step by step
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Find metal above your worktop
A range hood is the classic spot, and metal shelving or a fridge side can work for a slightly angled view.
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Test the spot first
Not every steel finish is magnetic. Put the mount on the spot you want before you plan a shoot around it.
Sticks to magnetic metal, not wood, glass or plastic.
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Stick the disc on your phone
Put one of the two metal discs on the back of your phone or inside your case.
Thick case? The disc goes on the outside.
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Point it straight down
Place the mount on the hood, attach the phone and swivel until the back camera faces the board. The head and the base both rotate, so you can get a true top-down angle from the edge of the hood.
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Frame the board, not the flame
Aim at your chopping board or the front of the hob rather than directly over a hot pan, so the phone stays clear of steam and heat.
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Light it and record
Switch on the hood light or cook near a window so the counter is evenly lit, record a few seconds and check the frame before you start.
“I actually use this for recording cooking videos in the kitchen and it works perfectly. Recommend!”
No metal in your kitchen?
If your hood is glass or your cupboards are wood, a magnetic mount has nothing to hold. A vacuum mount sticks to smooth surfaces like glass and tiles instead; the magnetic vs vacuum guide explains the difference.
Get the top-down shot
Snap it to the range hood, swivel it down, record.
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