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Starting a YouTube channel can get pretty expensive especially if you want top-notch quality. You can always start recording and uploading videos from your phone, but if you believe it's time to start with a camera and other equipment, we have some great tips for you!
All of the items linked are items we've personally used. If you would like to see these products in action, please check out our CEO's YouTube Channel.
Disclosure: Some links provided in this blog are affiliate links, meaning, we will earn a small commission if you decide to make a purchase at no extra cost to you. We are sharing these products with you because we have personally purchased, used, and loved them. We have provided photos and videos of these products in order for you to see them in action.
CAMERAS
A camera is the first equipment you will need when it comes to recording your videos. Most YouTubers tend to use cameras with flip-out screens, but if you prefer to save, a camera without a flip-out screen will work as well.
When it comes to purchasing a camera for a content creator, the Canon Video Creator Kit is a great option! This kit comes with a Canon Camera, a 18-55mm 3-5.6 IS STM lens, a RODE Mic, and a 32 GB SD card. The Canon Video Creator Kit comes with the essentials you need to start recording your YouTube videos. We purchased this kit because it was it was useful for us; we were able to purchase all of the items we needed to film video content while saving for other products.
As of right now, the video creator kit retails for $849.99 on the Canon website but on Amazon, it is now $649.00. You can check the kit out on Amazon here!
MICS
If you're just starting out on YouTube, you may want the sound quality of your videos to be the best. If you're not interested in purchasing the Canon Video Creator Kit that comes with the RODE Mic, you could always purchase it separately.
The RODE Mic retails for $98 on Amazon. There is a cheaper option, the TAKSTAR SGC-598 Mic which retails for $20.99. Some YouTubers prefer to use their phone as a mic for their videos. We've never tried using our phones as a mic for videos, but here's a video we found that explains how to do so.
If you're thinking of purchasing a camera, it's always great to purchase a full kit with essentials such as a backpack for your camera, small tripod, flash, camera remote, SD card USB, and MORE. Buying a kit like this allows you to save money instead of purchasing all of these items separately. We found a camera accessory bundle that Canon is selling on Amazon for $859.00 check it out here! We purchased a full camera bundle because it permitted us to purchase more items while saving.
PROS to Camera Bundles:
The USB SD Card Adapter, cleaning kits, extra SD cards, and bag are extremely handy. Usually when you purchase a camera, it only comes with the camera body, lens, battery pack, battery charger, and a neck-strap for over $500, but with a full camera bund
CONS to Camera Bundles:
The tripod that comes with the bundles aren't the best. These tripods tend to be flimsy, short, and are unable to hold the weight of the camera. As a content creator, you need a durable tripod that you're able to travel with since you are filming content in different locations.
HERE'S A VIDEO OF US UNBOXING OUR FULL CAMERA KIT
TRIPOD
A sturdy, long-lasting tripod is extremely helpful for content creators, but finding an affordable tripod that is sturdy and long-lasting is hard to find. Most tripods that are sturdy and long-lasting cost over $65, but the Bonfoto Camera Tripod costs $36 on Amazon. This tripod is 55 inches and is perfect for content creators who want to film at different angles. Whether an object you want to film is high up or on the floor, the Bonfoto Camera Tripod will help you capture all of your content.
PHONE TRIPOD
If you plan on recording videos on your phone, the Acuvar 50" Inch tripod is perfect for smartphones. This tripod retails for $13.68. You can check it out here!
VIDEOS WE'VE FILMED WITH AN IPHONE AND THE ACUVAR TRIPOD
LIGHTING
One affordable way to light your YouTube videos is to use natural lighting, but if you believe that the quality of your videos will increase with artificial lighting, here are some affordable lighting kits we've personally used.
The Neewer Ring Light is a GREAT affordable dupe to the Diva Ring Light which costs $199 to $400. On Amazon, the Neewer Ring Light costs $76 and you can mount your camera, iPad, tablet, AND phone. This ring light is one of the best affordable ways to light your videos. If you're interested in saving, you could use a Neewer Ring Light for the time being while saving for more lighting. This ring light kit from Amazon comes with a travel bag and a wireless remote. Check it out here!
VIDEO OF MARLINA UNBOXING THE NEEWER RING LIGHT
Please keep in mind this Neewer Ring Light is different than the one above. The one above is the updated version. The older Neewer Ring Light is currently unavailable.
Lighting kits aren't the most affordable, most are $100 and up, but Neewer is here to save the day once again. A great beginner lighting kit is the Neewer Umbrella Lighting Kit. This kit comes with two umbrella lights, one small light, and small traveling bags. This kit retails for $52.99. You can check it out here!
The Emart Softbox Lighting Kit is astounding because each softbox has four bulbs. The lights are extremely bright and are able to light up every subject in a photo and/or video. We purchased this kit when we realized we needed brighter lights for our video and photo contents. This kit is easy to use, but the setup process is a bit tedious. It took us approximately twenty minutes to set up the lights and hook the head of the softbox. After setting up these two softboxes, eight lightbulbs in total, we turned them on and were in awe of how bright they were. Users have the options of choosing how many bulbs they would like to be on or off. We've used this kit alone and we've used it with the Neewer Ring Light and the Neweer Umbrella Lighting for extra lighting. This kit retails for $59.99. Check it out here!
PHOTOS WE'VE TAKEN WITH THE EMART SOFTBOX LIGHTING KIT
VIDEOS WE'VE FILMED WITH THE EMART SOFTBOX LIGHTING KIT
BACKDROPS
Paper Backdrops
Paper backdrops are extremely popular for photography and video usage. These types of backdrops tend to cost $35 to $90 depending on the size. With paper backdrops, you need to be aware of what you'll be using it for and how many models/subjects will be used for the backdrop. A paper backdrop that is 53 inches is perfect for just one person. If you plan on using it for YouTube to film videos alone, a 53-inch backdrop is perfect for you. On Amazon, backdrop papers that are 53 inches Wide x 18 feet Long tend to be $35. If you plan on filming videos in groups or need extra spacing for a video you're filming alone, a paper backdrop that is 86 or 107 inches would be a better fit. Please keep in mind that paper backdrops crumple up and rip easily. If you prefer a backdrop that's long-lasting, then a fabric backdrop would be a better fit.
LINKS TO PAPER BACKDROPS WE'VE PURCHASED AND LOVED:
Yellow Backdrop (53 inches Wide x 18 feet Long): $35.00
Blue Backdrop (53 Inches Wide x 36 Feet Long): $43.95
Pink Backdrop (53 Inches Wide x 36 Feet Long): $47.96
Brown Backdrop (53 Inches Wide x 36 Feet Long): $47.96
White Backdrop (107 Inches Wide x 36 Feet Long): $69.99
Here's an example of the backdrop sizes provided by Savage Universal.
Backdrop Stand
If you plan on using a paper backdrop, then you will need a stand!
The Emart Backdrop Stand is easy to set up and use and it's affordable! This stand is perfect for backdrops of all sizes. You're able to use it for backdrops that are 53'' and elongate it for backdrops that are 107 inches. This stand is $38.70. You can check it out here.
Dollar Tree Backdrops
One alternative for paper backdrops is using Dollar Tree colored poster-boards as backdrops. These poster-boards are only 22 x 28 inches and can mainly be used in a small frame. If you would like to save on backdrops for the time being, the colored poster-boards at Dollar Tree are great and they're only $1.
DOLLAR TREE COLORED POSTERBOARD WE USED AS A BACKDROP
Fabric Backdrop
Fabric backdrops are cheaper than paper backdrops and they last longer. You can find fabric from nearby fabric stores or art supply stores like Hobby Lobby or JoAnn's. Fabrics tend to be $5-10 per yard. You will need to iron or steam the fabric in order to get rid of wrinkles. If you don't mind the wrinkles, then you don't need to iron or steam the fabric.
DIY YOUR OWN BACKDROPS TIPS
OTHER USEFUL ITEMS
HARD DRIVES
Hard drives are great to save all the content you've produced such as videos, photos, editing files, and more. As a content creator, you will have a lot of files, videos, and photos. With an external hard drive, you're able to save all of your projects in one device. This ensures that your projects are safe and it eliminates saving your projects on your laptop which will get full.
Here are some links to hard drives we've personally used:
Seagate 8TB Harddrive (It was $149.99 when we purchased it. It is now $217.29)
EDITING SOFTWARES
iMovie
Final Cut Pro
Two of the best editing softwares are iMovie and Final Cut Pro. iMovie is FREE for ALL Apple users therefore, you can edit videos on your iPhone, iPad, iMac, and MacBook for free. Final Cut Pro is a paid software that costs $300. You can try Final Cut Pro free for 30 days.
If you're a college student, Apple offers a pro apps bundle for education for $200. This bundle contains Final Cut Pro, Motion 5, Logic Pro X, and more.
HERE'S A VIDEO ON HOW TO FILM AND EDIT YOUR YOUTUBE VIDEOS
HELPFUL VIDEO FOR YOUR YOUTUBE JOURNEY
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Thank you for taking the time to read our post! We hope all the information we provided is useful to you. Please feel free to leave us a comment and ask questions.
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