Camera

As many as 99% of the UK adult population own a smartphone.

So there’s a pretty big chance that you already have a high end video recorder right there in your pocket. The latest smart phones come with a camera that can record in high definition.

Standard definition is usually defined as 480 vertical lines whereas high definition can be up to 1,080 lines. Some smart phones can even record in 4k (up to 4,000 lines). However for most social media use high definition is more than good enough.

Sure you can invest in a DSLR as most of them will be able to shoot video too. That will give you a number of additional options like multiple lenses and more manual control but for most of us, a smartphone is more than enough for the job.

However there are a few other items we suggest you invest in.

Tripod

Without a tripod your options for filming become more limited. This can throw up a few problems too.

Without a tripod you have three options. Holding it yourself, propping it up somehow or asking someone else to hold it for you. None of these are ideal.

Holding the phone at arms length while you film yourself can make the camera shaky which is hard to watch. You will also have one hand occupied which limits what you can do.

You could ask someone to hold it for you but they won't be as still as a tripod either. Plus you'll need to find a friend to help in the first place.

Finally, leaning a phone against something usually ends up with the camera being below your eye line and pointing up at an angle. In the finished video this can appear as if you’re looking down on the viewer, pretty intimidating.

Upshot is a tripod is a must have. There are plenty of inexpensive options to choose from ranging from full height floor standing to flexible tripods that you can wrap around any object. The type of video you intend to make will often dictate which option is the best for you.

We recommend:

Ulanzi MT-33 flexible tripod (get it here)

Geekoto 79" light Aluminium tripod (get it here)

Microphone

While the microphone on your smart phone can do an ok job at close range, take it any more than an arms length away and it starts to struggle. Remember it's really designed for recording voice notes or actual phone calls (remember those?)

Your phone has an omni-directional mic which means it will pick up audio from all directions. The further away you get from your phone the more sounds your voice will have to compete with. So if you want to film someone else or you're popping your phone on a tripod, you'll need to invest in an external microphone that can do a better job for you.

Lavalier microphones are tiny mics that clip to your collar or top. Because they are closer to your voice it doesn't matter how far away from the camera you get.

You can buy several different types, some work via Bluetooth while others will connect to your camera or phone with a cable.

Your other option is a better quality mic that attaches to your phone or a specially adapted case. This may be an option if you're interviewing someone and don't have time to faff around with attaching a lav mic to them. It's also good for picking up audio from a whole room for example.

We recommend:

Movo WMX-2 wireless lavalier microphone (get it here)

Movo VXR10-Pro Exernal video microphone (get it here)

Lights

While not essential you'll find that, in time you will probably want to invest in some lighting. To get professional looking results you will need to first learn a little about how to light whatever you want to film. Then, armed with that knowledge you'll be better placed to know which lights work best for you.

For example if you're lighting a face (perhaps your own) you will get better results with not one, not two but three separate lights (called three point lighting). We've written a whole other blog about lighting and you can find out about three point lighting by clicking here.

What we don't suggest is that you rely on one light for faces. Especially ring lights. These can make your face look flat and often un-flattering. However if you want to film something else (like an object or product) you can get pretty good results with a smaller, single light.

We've given you a few suggestions here based on what you want to achieve. They are all under £100 too but you can get much higher end, more durable kit if you are willing to invest some more.

We recommend:

Aputure Amaran AL-M9 LED light (get it here)

Vevelux 3000k - 6000k softbox lighting kit (get it here)

Neweer Tabletop LED video light kit (get it here)

Editing software

There are lots of options here. Choosing the best one is a little like choosing a car.

Some of the free apps and software options available will get you from a to b but if you want to do it in style with a few more whistles and bells you will need to invest in a little more money (and probably up the spec on your computer so it can cope).

The software we use the most comes from Adobe. They have a suite of programmes that work together that provide you with a myriad of tools.

• Premiere Pro for editing video
• Audition for editing audio
• Photoshop and inDesign for graphics
• After Effects for special effects

The Adobe suite is fast becoming the industry standard for film (even movies like Deadpool and Avatar were edited using Adobe).

We recommend:

Adobe have a paired down ‘Fisher Price’ version of Premiere Pro called Premiere Rush. It has a much simper interface but contains all the essential tools so you can perform simple editing techniques. There's even a smartphone app version.

Rush comes with a tutorial when you launch it for the first time that holds your hand through all the features. It's perfect for beginners. Click here to find out more.

Anything else?

You will be able to make a really good video with the shopping list above but there are endless other things to consider and you can spend more money investing in higher end versions of the kit we have suggested here. This will be mostly dictated by the types of video you want to make.

However all of the options above are fairly easy to get to grips with and you can make a great looking video with relative ease.

Want to learn more about making video?

If you'd like to learn more about the best ways to make your own videos, why not get in touch and book a 20 minute call. I'd be more than happy to answer your questions.

Alternatively you can get together with some friends or colleagues and book a workshop where we can cover lighting and a whole lot more. Click below to take a look.