So you want to start making YouTube videos? I’m so excited for you! My YouTube adventure, from uploading that first video to getting monetized to NOW where it’s actually my full time job has been amazing. I seriously have the best job in the world.
Every month I get questions about exactly HOW I make my youtube videos. Over the last six years, I have filmed, edited and uploaded over 700 videos. In that time, I’ve used a variety of equipment and have spent thousands of dollars trying to find the best combination of ease of use for me and quality of content for my viewer. I am VERY happy with my current set up and I’m thrilled to be sharing this very minimalist but effective list!
First let’s talk video. I started, as many vloggers do, with a mirrorless camera and it served me well for quite a few years but as phones have improved, the quality difference between a mirrorless camera and video shot on a phone has become almost imperceptible. I currently use ONLY an iPhone 13 pro plus and an iPhone 15 pro for all of my content. I use two phones as when I’m traveling, one is designated for filming and the other for actually communicating and navigating (I used to just have just one but trying to film AND figure out where you’re going on one device is a bridge too far). It’s the most convenient way for me to film and with the option of shooting in 4K, the fastest way to get high quality video from my “camera” to my MacBook Pro (more on that in a minute).
You’re also going to need a good tripod. Although I famously just hold my iPhone when I’m vlogging (which is not a best practice), when I’m filming here at home I use my tripod constantly. This one, from Targus, has served me well and is amazingly versatile. I had trouble finding the same one I have, but this one from Amazon is similar. Also, be sure you get an adapter for use with your iPhone.
Next, you need good sound. I tell my clients all the time it doesn’t have to be perfect, but they have to be able to see you and hear you. This has really been a journey and the place where I have spent wasted the most amount of money. I own some very pricey microphones and although they are good, most are difficult to use. For the last year or so I have been exclusively using the Hollyland Lark C1 wireless microphone.
As I have two different phones, I own the lightening one for iPhone 14 and older and most recently purchased the USBC version for my new iPhone 15. It’s relatively inexpensive ($99 as of this post), easy to carry, and it’s literally plug and play. ONE CAVEAT on this microphone: it comes with a difficult to see covering over the microphones and if you don’t remove them for first use, you’ll think they’re terrible. Ask me how I know;). There is no app to download and no setup required, just plug the receiver part into your phone, clip on the wireless mic and you’re all set. I also love the charging case and they stay charged forever (or at least I’ve yet to be able to use all the battery even on a marathon filming day). I also love that it comes with two mics so you can easily do interviews or vlog with someone else and have the same quality of sound. Absolutely love this product.
OK, so you’ve filmed and have good picture and sound, now you need to edit. I use iMovie and although I have tried other programs, I find it to be the easiest FOR ME. My kids keep telling me to use something more complex but I am of the “if it ain’t broke don’t fix it” school and I’m very happy with it. It’s free, it came with my MacBook and I love it. It took me almost the first full year of filming and editing to feel totally proficient and if you’re new to the process, be PATIENT. It’s like learning a new language but once you’re fluent, it’s fun and you will get faster over time. We don’t need to talk about how long it took me at first.
And yes, you DO need a lot of storage on your computer or be very diligent about using an external hard drive if you’re a creator. I do a combination of both and have a full terabyte of storage on my 16 in Macbook Pro which, although quite heavy and not great for travel, has served me very well. If you have an older computer without a lot of storage, you will find editing very slow and challenging, so be sure you have an external hard drive and if you plan on making this a business, or even just a hobby that doesn’t frustrate you, it’s best if you can upgrade your computer. If you’re going to spend a lot of money anywhere, spend it here.
Lighting is an entirely different topic and one that I feel most creators just starting out can skip entirely. Just film facing a window in a well lit room and you’ll be fine. I realize you can find MANY creators who disagree with me on this, but it’s a complicated matter and one I still have yet to fully decipher for myself. At some point I may feel confident making recommendations here, but the truth is if we go back to “can they see you and can they hear you” we are in good shape.
In the beginning I was easily influenced by youtubers who promised me that if I bought this gear or that gear I would have success. And although your gear is important, if you don’t have something to say that people need or want to hear and if you don’t present it in an appealing way, all the equipment in the world won’t help you. You absolutely don’t need to spend thousands of dollars to start creating youtube content and hopefully this will give you a good place to start!
Good luck on your own journey and I’ll see you on all the things!
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