Read Time: 4 Minutes

You’ve got the idea for a powerful video, but you’re concerned that filming it on your phone isn’t going to achieve the quality and results you want.

With many businesses now using the camera they have in their pocket to film videos that aim to professionally represent them online, I don’t blame you for wanting to do something a little different and stand out from the crowd.

At the end of the day, it’s your reputation on the line.

Whilst using a phone is good in some situations, for the most part, spending a bit of money on better-than-basic equipment will skyrocket your video quality, and set the tone for the experience your consumers can expect.

Let’s dive in!

It’s been highly requested that I do an equipment list of what I would recommend for those just starting their video journey. So, here’s a list of my five essential items you should have in your video creation arsenal if you’re making videos for your business:

• #1: My favourite microphone (Link Here)

A brand I’d highly recommend purchasing equipment from is DJI. Their quality is second-to-none, and at affordable prices.

They’ve just released a wireless microphone set that enables you to film up to two people simultaneously, which is great for interviews, podcasts, or on-the-go videos. Plus, you can plug them into your phone, or professional camera for next-level-sounding audio.

My rating: 9.5/10

• #2: My favourite camera (Link Here)

You can’t create a video without a camera, and for the last six years, my affordable choice has always been the Sony A73.

It’s a five-year-old camera, but don’t let that deter you from its incredible quality and very affordable price tag. (Yes, £1,000-£2,000 nowadays is considerably cheap for a good camera). For anything better, you’re looking upwards of £4,000. This also comes with a nice lens that will get you started!

My rating: 9/10

• #3: My favourite lights (Link Here)

Lighting is one of the most important elements of creating a professional-looking video, as it allows you to set the tone, and get the right aesthetic.

But lighting isn’t cheap, and great lights can range anywhere from the high hundreds, to the multiple thousands just for one light. My cheap go-tos have always been from a brand called Neewer. For just over £200, you can get a sturdy set of LED lights that allow you to get super creative with your company colours and style.

My rating: 8/10

• #4: My favourite tripod (Link Here)

Every great video requires a steady shot, and a tripod is a go-to piece of camera equipment that you can’t live without.

Manfrotto is the market leader in this industry, and it has great equipment for every budget. Whilst you could go all out and spend thousands, I’d stick with something basic that will last you many years to come, and that would be the Manfrotto BeFree Live.

My rating: 9.5/10

• #5: My favourite lens (Link Here)

Lenses are expensive, especially the good ones. You really do get what you pay for here, and a great lens can set you up for decades.

My recommendation for the start of your video journey would be one that can film both wide and close-up shots, such as this Sony Zoom Lens. It’s affordable, versatile, and won’t restrict the shots you want to get, regardless of what you’re trying to film.

My rating: 9.5/10

The video industry is expensive, and everything I’ve recommended is for those of you that are beginners just starting your journey, and don’t have large budgets to spare on fancy equipment - again, I don’t blame you.

When you’ve nailed the art of creating great videos with the basics, then you can start to upgrade to bigger and better equipment. But for now, this will set you up for the next few years of filming great videos for your business!

TLDR 💁🏼‍♀️

Consider upgrading your video equipment for better-quality footage and results with these items:

• DJI wireless microphone set for improved audio (Rating: 9.5/10)

• Sony A73 camera for quality and affordability (Rating: 9/10)

• Neewer LED lights for professional lighting (Rating: 8/10)

• Manfrotto BeFree Live tripod for stability (Rating: 9.5/10)

• Sony Zoom Lens for versatile shots (Rating: 9.5/10)

These recommendations are suitable for beginners with budget constraints and will last you several years before you need to purchase bigger and better equipment.

 Whenever you’re ready, here’s how I can help you:

1. Book a {60 MINUTE} Content Power Hour with me, and unlock the secrets to making your social media videos stand out online as I tweak your approach, and analyse how to improve your current videos.

2. Don’t have time to create incredible videos yourself? Focus on your business, whilst we focus on creating the videos you’ve always dreamed of. Get in touch to find out more.

Until then, I’ll see you in next week’s newsletter!