What equipment do I need to self-shoot my videos?

We’re asked a lot about what equipment is needed for self shooting and although we would have to recommend thorough research for what your particular needs are, we can tell you what equipment we use to produces great results. It’s so easy to set up a studio in your office or home if your looking to produce videos for a YouTube channel or your business, as along as you have some professional equipment you can produce quality videos whatever your budget.

Here are 5 essential pieces of kit to self-shoot your videos

External Microphone

In built microphones on camcorders and phones are usually poor and tend to make your audio sound echoey and tinny. They also have less reach, so they’ll pick up more surrounding noise less of your voice. Strange as it might sound, poor quality audio actually makes your video LOOK bad. Studies have shown that if the video’s audio quality is not passable, viewers are more likely to stop watching, no matter how good the visuals are. So, invest in a good quality external mic, try to get one that has a lead so you can place the mic as close to the presenter as possible without getting it in shot. You could even use a lapel or clip mic; these are a bit more expensive but will make a huge difference to the quality of your videos. The Rode NTG2 Short Shotgun Microphone and Sennheiser Lavalier microphones is what we use for our studio filming and we use the Rode Smartlav+ Lavalier for Smartphone  for some of our social media videos.

Tripod

Using a tripod for filming is always a good idea, it’s not impossible to film without one, especially if you’re using a phone which you could just lean up against some books or a wall, but a tripod makes life much simpler and allows you to frame exactly how you want. Using a tripod also helps keep your camera or phone still and avoid any movement and if you’re going to be setting up autocue it’s well worth the investment. The Syosin Selfie Stick Tripod is great if you’re filming on your smartphone. It’s compatible with iPhone, Samsung, Huawei as well as other models. It folds away nicely so it’s portable for on the go and works via Bluetooth with your phone. We use Neewer Professional Aluminium Alloy Tripod when we’re filming with our cameras, because it’s hardwearing and durable but budget tripods are available such as the Camera Tripod ESDDI which is both aluminium and lightweight.

Clean Background Or Green Screen

If you’re using a set for your background such as an office or maybe a room at home it’s important to keep the background clutter free and as minimalist as possible, if there is too much going on in the background such as ornaments, vases or any clutter as it looks fussy and can be distracting. You might decide to use a green screen which gives you the opportunity to get creative with your backgrounds. The Emart pop up green screen is’s both budget and easy to store away. On one side it’s got green screen and on the other it’s blue. If you have the space and looking for something more permanent, a green screen with a stand might be more suitable. If you are going to use green screen make sure you light it correctly.

Lighting

Having the correct lighting is essential to make your videos look professional. Three-point lighting is a standard and simple method to light a presenter for video. We use LED lights in our studio they can be expensive but are durable. If you’re making simple social media videos you might consider a Ring Light.

Teleprompter

Using a teleprompter is a great tool and means that you don’t have to learn long scripts to produce video content. It also allows you to spend some time on preparing your scripts which means you can ensure that you get all of your important messages in and nothing is forgotten. The Pronstoor Teleprompter Kit is a budget option, it’s portable and works with a remote control and your smartphone. If you’re looking for something a bit bigger without going professional than a Teleprompter that works with an iPad might be better.

If you would like to look at more items of kit we recommend for self-shooting, check out our equipment page.