I absolutely love making videos. Blogging and vlogging is not only my business but also one of my top mental wellness tools. I love the cathartic process of sharing my ideas, and the warm connection I get from my highly engaged community. If you are tempted to start vlogging, this blog will guide you through all the essential vlogging gear for beginners.
Starting Your Filming Adventures – Gathering Your Vlogging Gear
There are a number of reasons why you might want to start vlogging. Maybe you want to start vlogging as a hobby, just to share your thoughts and ideas. Perhaps, as I did, you want to start vlogging to document your gender transition. Or, perhaps you are looking to start vlogging as part of a business venture. Whatever your reason, you can start vlogging fairly easily on a tight budget. Or, if you prefer, you can spend a little more on higher-quality vlogging gear. This blog aims to cover all types of filming budgets.
Lets get stuck in and get you started!
The Most Important Vlogging Gear – light and Audio
The two most important things in making videos, are to make sure that your picture and your audio are clear. There is nothing worse than trying to watch a video where it’s too dark to see the person, or the sound is unclear. Therefore the key vlogging gear essentials are a good microphone and good lighting.
Lighting
Good lighting can be achieved very easily and inexpensively. For example, if you are filming indoors and have a room with nice big windows, then you can use natural light. To take advantage of the natural light, place your recording device in front of the window so the light is behind the device and in front of your face. However, the only problem with relying on natural light, is you are then dependant on filming at times of day when daylight is at its optimum.
A better way to ensure consistent lighting indoors, at an affordable budget, is to use a ring light. The entry-level ring lights are perfectly adequate. I have only recently started using one after years of relying on natural light and it has made a huge difference to my videos. I really love that now; I can film at whatever time I like. Plus, it doesn’t take up much room at all, compared to some of the more traditional light set ups.
If you will be using your smartphone to film (see further down) then you can also buy a mini-ring light. Although not as powerful as the larger versions, they work perfectly well for close-ups. The one I have has a flexible arm attachment for your phone, and a clip, so that it can be mounted to any surface. I use mine for my Instagram stories or when I just want to film something quick without setting up my main camera.
Sound
The best way to make sure that your sound is clear is to use a professional microphone. There are two main options for vlogging microphones, lavalier mics which clip to you, or on-device microphones which sit on your device.
Lavalier microphones are great if you want to focus on your own voice when vlogging, and are available both wired and wireless.
On-device microphones pick up a greater range of sound. They are therefore better if you want to record your entire environment and not just your own voice. On-device microphones are my preference because there is less hassle to connect to your device and it suits my style of vlogging.
I have the Rode video micro. I have been using this mic for years and I love it. It is especially good when I use my camera to film outside, it picks up sound perfectly when I take it to Glastonbury Festival. It comes with a wind shield which works superbly on the most blustery days. You can also attach the mic to your smartphone using a variety of accessories, which I have listed at the end of this blog.
Recording Device – Camera Vs Smartphone
Now you are aware of the two essential pieces of vlogging gear. Next, you need to decide how you will record your videos. Will you use your smartphone or a professional camera/camcorder?
It’s perfectly acceptable to use your phone to vlog. Recording on a smartphone is an easy and budget-friendly way to start your vlogging adventures. Most phones now can rival many professional cameras and camcorders. Which method you choose will depend largely on the type of vlogs you will be filming, and where you will be filming.
Smartphone
The bonus of using a phone is that it is easily portable and always to hand. The recording quality and inbuilt microphone on most phones are more than capable of recording vlogs.
There are some drawbacks to using a phone, especially when it comes to filming outside. On a windy day, the inbuilt microphone on a phone will pick up the wind noise. However, you can manage this, by using an external microphone, with a wind muffler. The other issue with using a smartphone is the battery life. Once you start recording, and using Bluetooth microphones or other accessories, the phone batteries drain very quickly. One solution is to carry a spare battery pack, as I do when I am vlogging on the go.
Camera
A professional camera will give you a far better quality video recording and a wider depth of field. It will also give you more options to change settings depending on the look you are trying to achieve. It is also far easier to attach microphones and accessories. And, you can easily carry a spare battery and not have to worry about running out of power.
My Filming and Vlogging Gear
For my vlogging gear, I use both a professional camera and my smartphone. For my main videos, I use my camera as this gives a much more professional look. My camera is the Lumix DMC-G7 mirrorless. As it is mirrorless, it is much lighter than the typical DSLR cameras and it is a pleasure to film and take pictures with.
For my vlogging on the go, I use my Samsung s8 to film my month in my life vlogs. The recording quality is still good, and as long as I avoid wind, the sound it pics up works perfectly. I have lots of different accessories, so it can be adaptable to wherever I am filming, making it as effective as my main camera in most situations.
Additional Vlogging Gear Accessories
There are a ton of amazing vlogging gear accessories available now, all at very affordable prices. There are gadgets making it easier to film on the go, and a ton of smartphone add-ons, making your phone highly versatile. Here are some of my favorite accessories and gadgets for vlogging on the go.
Tripod – The Gorilla Pod
The Joby Gorillapod is an incredible bit of kit. I have both a small and large version of this and they are so versatile because they can be attached to anything. I also use the larger one as a selfie stick. These tripods also come with adapters so that you can use it with your smartphone in both portrait and vertical mode. Newer versions now come with hot shoe attachments for adding a microphone and a light.
Tripod Mount for Smartphone
A tripod mount screws onto any tripod allowing you to attach your smartphone. Make sure to choose one that has a mount in the top as well, so that you can attach a microphone.
SmartPhone Gimbal
A gimble is great to get really smooth footage when you are filming on the move. I use this when I am filming outdoors and it helped to make my videos much easier to watch. My old ones were a bit seasick! You can see the difference in the vlog below.
Rechargeable Battery Pack
If you are using your smartphone to film, it is a really good idea to buy a rechargeable battery pack. The bigger ones can hold a lot of charges and be used multiple times. There are even some incredible solar power chargers too!
Camera Backpack for Carrying Vlogging Gear
If you are planning to be outside filming, a good quality bag is vital to keep your vlogging gear safe. I prefer a rucksack as it is far more secure. The one I use has an opening at the back, which is padded, to keep my camera safe.
Editing Accessories
Once you have filmed your vlog, you will also need to edit it, and create an eye-catching thumbnail if you are uploading it to YouTube. These are some of my favorite editing tools.
Adobe Premier Pro
In the beginning, it may work fine for you to use a free editing software package. As you grow and get more experimental, you may find that the free versions do not offer enough options. I love Adobe Premier pro. It’s easy to use, intuitive, and gives me great options to add graphics and text. I’m still only learning its amazing capabilities! If you are a student like me, then you can get some great deals!
Tube Buddy
With TubeBuddy, you can research keywords and trending videos, so that you can help to improve the likelihood of your YouTube video being found. TubeBuddy offers a ton of resources, such as topic planning, comparing other videos to yours, automating comment responses, and so much more!
Graphic Design Software
For a professional finish, especially if you are looking to upload to YouTube, you will want to create some eye-catching thumbnails. For really easy to use graphic design, I highly recommend PicMonkey. There are versions from free to pro, and it is so easy to use.
Practice Makes Perfect!
I hope this blog has inspired you and given you some tips to get you started on your vlogging adventures. The best way to get good at creating vlogs is just to practice! Over time, you will get better at the videos you create and the way you edit them. So, don’t worry about being perfect from the get-go, just start!
I would love to hear about your vlogging adventures, and help with any questions you may have, so please do leave me a comment. And, if you are also looking to start blogging alonside you vlogging adventures, you can take a look at my tips to start blogging.
Have fun!
Hello! My name is Finn and I have a passion for creating honest content, that inspires personal growth and promotes well-being.
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[…] I hope that was helpful, do let me know in the comments below. Have fun, enjoy the blogging journey, and if you also fancy trying your hand at filming, check out my post on vlogging for beginners. […]