A holding assembly for a picture taking device such as a smartphone or camera, which holding assembly may be hung from various surfaces to position the picture taking device at eye level, the holding assembly including variable length rigid support having first and second ends, which variable length rigid support may be readily locked in various positions of length adjustment, the one end of the variable length rigid support being provided with a griping surface which may act as a handle, a C-shaped hook which extends upwardly from the first end of the variable length rigid support, and a removable ball joint assembly carried by the second end of the variable length rigid support, which ball joint assembly may receive the picture taking device.