So, you want to be a content creator?
If you’re reading this blog post, chances are that you’re either thinking about being a content creator and starting a YouTube channel or have already started one and are looking for some equipment to help improve the quality of your videos.
If you haven’t started yet, my first tip would be to just start by using what you already have and be creative. Don’t feel like you need to have a fancy expensive camera, studio lights, etc. in order to make your first few videos. I filmed my very first video on my iPad, in front of a window.
My Very First YouTube Video
Do those things greatly improve the quality of your video content? Yes. But if you’re not ready to invest, wait until you can. Check out my most recent video to see how I’ve leveled up over the years.
My Most Recent YouTube Video
The most expensive thing I’ll be sharing in the starter kit guide is my camera, of course, and for the most part, a lot of the equipment is pretty affordable (it just all adds up). I’ve shared a lot of these tips over the years on Twitter in my Instagram story highlights, but I thought it would be a good idea to put it all together in a blog post so that y’all could easily refer to it.
Ok, here we go: A thread with tips that I’ve learned so far on YouTube + tips for new YouTubers. Planning, Equipment, etc.
— Theresa Seyi | Style Influencer (@FlyFierceFab) April 3, 2017
Grab a pen and a notebook so you can jot down what you want to add to your wishlist (and also so you can write down your video ideas!).
Here we go!
Camera
I film 99% of my videos with my refurbished Canon T6i (with the standard kit lens, they’ve since released both the T7i and T8i. My camera still works great, though!), which I purchased from the online Canon store a few years ago.
Refurbished means that it’s not brand new, but it’s like new and still in excellent condition (Tip: When I purchased my camera, I used Rakuten so that I could get a little cashback. I think with the percentage they did at the time, I may have gotten $50? But you know what that means: more money to buy more equipment. Or makeup. Or clothes. You get the gist).
What I love about this Camera:
- The photo and video quality is amazing
- It has a flip-out screen so I can see myself while I film (very important)
- It has autofocus (also very important, and it autofocuses silently)
- It has WiFi / NFC so I can access my photos and videos on my phone / iPad / etc by directly from my camera via wi-fi (through the Canon Connect app).
- Using the Canon Connect app (which is how I can connect to the camera from my phone, to access my photos), I can also take pictures using my phone as a remote. I can also see myself on my phone, so I know what everything looks like.
Big Tip: Learning how to customize your white balance and shoot in manual mode is a GAME CHANGER
Camera Accessories
Backup Batteries
It’s a good idea to have a backup battery so that when one dies while you’re filming, you can pop the next one in and keep going. You don’t have to do this immediately, but if you can, you should (so that you can keep filming or taking pics when the first battery dies).
Grey Card
A grey card is essential to customize your white balance on your camera before you start filming. Customizing your white balance ensures that your colors are true and consistent while you’re filming, and it’s well worth the $7 not to have to color correct each clip individually. That was the biggest pain in my behind, and the fix for it was the $7 grey card. It’s super easy to use, and I can customize my white balance in like 30 seconds with this.
Memory Card
You basically want to get one with a decent amount of space so that you don’t run out of space while you’re filming (then you have to stop and transfer footage/images, or worse, delete things if you’re out on location). I started with a 32GB SD card (the smallest amount of space that I would recommend), and I have a 64GB SD card too.
Timer Shutter Release Remote
If you’ve been trying to figure out how to take your pictures by yourself, the Neewer LCD Timer Shutter Release Remote is the answer to your problems. Yes, the Canon T6i has a built-in timer, and yes, I can also connect it to the app on my phone to take my own pics. You could also get a mini remote and try to shoot that way.
However, with this remote, I can set it to take however many pictures I want (and set how much time I need in between each shot to move and pose) and be able to take them all hands-free. I’ve been using this a lot to take my own pictures, especially since I don’t always have somebody around to help me out. This remote runs on two AAA batteries.
Tripod
I don’t know why I waited so long to buy a tripod (actually, I do. Low funds lol. I used to stack my camera on books and boxes), but getting one was one of my best investments because it gives me more options for my filming set up (especially when I want to shoot lookbooks).
I really like this one by K&F Concept because it allows me to flip the camera underneath the tripod and film with the camera facing down (so if I wanted to film a nail tutorial on a table, I could very easily do that). It’s super lightweight and easy to use.
Microphone
When I started, I didn’t have a microphone either. I wasn’t using one in my talk-through videos, and for voiceovers, I was recording those on my iPhone and then adding them to the video when I edited. I ordered the Takstar SGC-598 Interview Mic for Canon and & Nikon on Amazon, and the difference is night and day. This is an excellent quality mic for the price; I’ve used it for years now and have never had any issues.
Cardreader for iPhone
While I can easily connect my camera to my phone over WiFi to transfer my pictures, it is a bit of an undertaking if I’m shooting pictures with somebody else and we need to transfer them. I purchased this $12 card reader on Amazon, and it’s been clutch. You plug it into your phone, put the card in the reader, and then open your photos (and hit import). It definitely comes in handy if you take pictures with other people regularly (or don’t have a camera that connects via WiFi)
Lighting
Starting out, you could try filming in front of a window during daylight hours. I used to do this for a long time; however, this isn’t always the most reliable option. I started out using daylight, but if the sun wasn’t out or it was cloudy, guess who couldn’t film after having to wait all week for my filming day?
If it’s not a nice bright day, or if you have an issue and need to start over…there goes your lighting. Good lighting is definitely an important investment, and it doesn’t have to be super expensive. Don’t let them swindle you; you don’t have to spend $$$ on a ring light.
My ringlight is from Neewer on Amazon, and back when I bought it, the only option was a bulb (which is why I also purchased a diffuser cover for it as well). It looks like now they make them using LED lights, and the one I’m linking in this post has similar dimensions to the one I own. Mine also didn’t come with a stand, so I had to spring for that as well. This kit is more all-inclusive, though.
Softboxes
Softboxes have also been a necessary part of my lighting setup, and I use one on either side of my ringlight when I shoot sitdown videos (and set them up strategically when I shoot a try-on haul). This softbox lighting kit (complete with the bulbs and stands) has held me down for years. I might upgrade soon, but that’s to try something more compact as I have a small filming space.
Work Light
I use a work light that I purchased from Home Depot to light my backdrop. I have the Husky 3500 Lumen LED Worklight (Retail $54.99). If you make a lot of sitdown videos or beauty tutorials, this would be useful for you. I prop it up behind me, and it faces it towards whatever backdrop I’m using. It gives me that nice illuminated halo effect, and it also adds a nice touch to my overall lighting setup. I can definitely see a difference now that I’ve added it to my setup. It’s cool to the touch, so I don’t have to worry about the heat. I was kind of tight about the price, but it does make a difference.
Reflectors
Using a reflector also gives my lighting set up a nice touch and makes me look like I’m glowing. I purchased this set off of Amazon, but I seriously underestimated how large it was (as a budding scientist, I should have taken a better look at the dimensions, LOL). I place mine on my table underneath me when I’m filming, and I also use it when taking makeup pictures.
Backdrops
2 yards of fabric and a cheap clothing rack from Target never fail me. I drape the fabric over the clothing rack and clip it so that it doesn’t fall or move while I’m filming. If you plan to do mostly lookbooks or fashion videos (anything that’s not shot with close-ups), this probably isn’t the way to go for you. This works best for like sit-down videos (makeup and hair tutorials, etc.).
I bought the seamless backdrop paper in the past, used it once, and found it too much to deal with personally.
EditinG
Software
I have a Macbook Pro 13″, and I use Final Cut Pro X (they have 90-day trials if you have a Mac) to edit my videos; retailing for $300, it is expensive, but it is a lot of the pros use. Adobe Premiere is also a popular editing option, but I’ve never used it before and can’t speak much about it. If you are a student, be sure to check out the educational pricing and the bundle with the software that includes Final Cut Pro to save you some coin.
On the Free.99 – Inexpensive route, you can also use iMovie or whatever free editing software you already have on your laptop. I know some people who edit on their phone; this could work depending on how long the video is and how large the file is). When I edit mini clips on my iPhone, my go-to app is InShot (free to download, but you do have to pay to use some features).
Effects
There are many YouTube channels that you can watch to teach you how to edit (like Shameless Maya) or do certain effects without plugins (heyyyy King Tuts Pro). Many creators (myself included) use plug-ins for special effects or get certain templates for things. My go-to shop for this is Pixel Film Studios; bear in mind that their plug-ins only work with the most current version of FCPX.
Thumbnails
I get many questions on how to make thumbnails and stuff for YouTube, and Canva will be your best friend if you’re a creator. It’s completely FREE (however, you can upgrade for about $12 to a paid version for access to more features. I highly recommend the pro version, but you can still do tons without it), and it has templates for everything from thumbnails to resumes. I use both the site and the app for everything (all my thumbnails, my resume because the post-graduate job hunt was REAL, blog graphics, Snapchat filters, invitations, my media kit, etc.)
So there we have it guys, this is my guide to everything that you need to start a YouTube channel or to upgrade your content creation equipment. This is all based on my experiences, and I tried to keep things budget-friendly. If you have any questions holla at me in the comments.
Are you a content creator or influencer? What has been the best addition to your equipment setup? Let me know in the comments!
Stylishly Yours,
Theresa Seyi
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