COLLAPSIBLE CAMERA ASSEMBLY

A camera assembly including a stand having a base portion adapted to rest on the ground and extend about an area to be photographed, a structure projecting upwardly from the base, and a camera mounted by the latter structure and aimed downwardly to photograph the specified area. The base of the stand includes a member extending along one side of the area to be photographed and carrying two leg units at two opposite sides of that area and mounted to the member for pivotal movement between downwardly projecting active positions and more horizontal retracted positions preferably lying in essentially the plane of the mentioned "member." The upwardly projecting camera carrying structure may also be movable to a generally horizontal retracted position to reduce the overall size of the assembly to a minimum for portability. A flash gun may be mounted to one of the leg units, preferably on an arm which itself can retract from an outwardly projecting position to a folded position of extension alongside or near the leg unit.