The Gear You Need to Start Shooting Video (and the Gear You Don’t)
In this episode, I’m going to tell you what you need to get started shooting video and what you do NOT need to get started. I’m also going to give you some suggested parameters for your first video if you’ve opted to go along with the video challenge I issued.
The Gear You Need to Get Started
In order to start shooting video for your portfolio, you only two things:
CAMERA: Since you’re going to be shooting video, the first thing you obviously need is a camera. Luckily, you probably already have one, either on your DSLR or mirrorless camera or even whatever device you’re listening to this podcast on, assuming it’s a mobile device.
CONSTANT LIGHT SOURCE: You do not need to go out and buy new lights off Amazon. Unless you live on Svalbard or in Lapland, the sun still rises every day. So, you already have at least one source of light. You probably also have lamps and lightbulbs.
For the Studio Builder YouTube channel, I currently use an old 18” ring light that I’ve had for 10 years. While I was testing my setup, though, I was using a $30 IKEA lamp that I have in my office and the ceiling light. I happen to have Philips Hue bulbs in those lights, so I can change the color and play around with the color of those lights, as well.
The Gear You Don’t Need to Get Started
I don’t have a fancy video camera and my Canon 6D shoots 1080p video at 30 frames per second as its highest resolution. If I wanted to shoot something in slow motion, I could use the video camera on my phone and export that footage. You don’t need a RED or Black Magic camera to start shooting video. In short, use the equipment and resources you already have at your disposal.
While it would be nice to get some LED panels from Amazon or some cine lenses, you can create awesome videos on a cheap Canon Rebel with a nifty 50mm and your imagination. You don’t need light panels. You don’t need a grip cage. You don’t need sliders or gimbals or drones or anything fancy to get started. Just get started.
Down the road, as you shoot more and more video, as you get better at this and want to try new techniques, you might want to use, borrow, or invest in gear that allows you to take your videos up a level then another level and another. But right now. Just shoot a bunch of footage that you can edit together into a video.
I’m going to talk about editing in the next episode, and give you a number of options that you can use to start editing your videos.
Parameters for Your First Video
Finally, I want to provide you with some parameters you can use to put together your first video.
VIDEO ONLY: Just focus on the video. Hard cuts and jump cuts only. No fancy wipes, star wipes, fades, dissolves, whip pans, etc. No dialogue. Don’t worry about sound. Don’t worry about creating titles.
KEEP IT SHORT: Start with a 60-second edit. Then create a second version that’s only 30 seconds. If you’re a commercial photographer, also create a third version that’s only 15 seconds.
Keep it simple and focus on making the video under these parameters only.
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