If you’ve taken a look at the 2018 Blogging Trends Report, then you know that enhancing your written blog content with video is a big deal. I finally got started with video earlier this year (actually before getting my hands on the Blogging Trends Report). Getting started was the hardest part.
As a newbie at shooting video for my blog and my (brand new) YouTube channel, I’ve had questions from readers/viewers about my equipment. I didn’t want to invest a lot of money into making video before actually giving it a try, so for the most part I just used what I already had. I did buy a couple of things though.
Basic Light Kit
Since I do most of my videos after my littles are all in bed, I have zero natural light to work with. I did my first video by grabbing all the lamps I could find around the house. It was a pain and didn’t look that great.
After some research, I chose this basic light kit. It makes such a difference! The kit comes with two umbrellas, three stands (2 tall, 1 short), three bulbs, and 2 carrying cases. The whole kit collapes down small and stores conveniently in two small bags, making it super portable.
The cost of my light kit was around $50.
Lavalier Mic
If there is background noise around, this mic does a good job of just picking up me and not the other sounds. It comes with a really long cord, so you don’t feel like your camera has you on a leash. It works with your smartphone, camera, or computer.
My camera has a pretty good built-in microphone, so I don’t always use the lavalier mic when I’m just filming at home after everyone has gone to bed.
The cost of my lavalier mic was under $20.
Tripod
I have two tripods and got them both secondhand. I actually see tripods pretty regularly at the thrift store, so I recommend checking there before you buy new. It’s pretty easy to tell if the telescoping legs work properly before you buy. Also, make sure the removable top piece that screws into the bottom of the camera is there.
Camera
My husband and I bought our DSLR, a Canon Rebel T3i, over 12 years ago. It was our Christmas present to ourselves before we moved to Guatemala for a semester. It has since been discontinued by the manufacturer, but you can still get it on Amazon.
If you’re just starting out, I would recommend using what you already have, whether that’s your phone or a DSLR. If you’re going to use your phone, be sure to shoot wide (not tall) though.
Screencast-O-Matic
I also paid for a one-year subscription for Screencast-O-Matic since I will be doing lots of screen-sharing budgeting videos. They have a free version, too, which is also great, but I wanted to remove their watermark and be able to make longer videos.
The annual subscription costs $18.
SD Cards
I purchased two additional 64 GB SD cards that I will use exclusively for making my videos. I wanted to have plenty of space because (as you know if you have started doing video) it takes a lot of footage for even a short video!
The SD cards were just over $20 each.
I think I did pretty well at keeping mhy costs low for starting to add video to my blog. My current set-up should be sufficient for me for a while!
How about you?
- Are you keeping up with the video trend in blogging?
- How have you kept your video set-up budget-frinedly?
This post contains affiliate links for products and services I actually use and love!
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