23 Feb Becoming A Successful Content Creator – What Equipment You Need To Start Out
Has working from home during the pandemic suddenly made you question everything, and are you now looking to turn your creative passions into a full-time gig? Have you been toying with the idea of becoming a content creator, but simply don’t know where to start? Are you looking for inspiration and a little push to get you to finally stop everything and focus on becoming a successful content creator? Are you wondering what equipment you need in order to start?
If you answered “yes” to any (or all) of the above questions, then this three-part series that we’ve entitled “Becoming A Successful Content Creator” is for you.
As two content creators who have worked in the creative field for over 15 years, we have managed to create the perfect content-creating kit. Yes, our equipment has been upgraded over time, and we’ve bought a few extra bits and pieces over the years, but we want to use this post to share our absolute basic essentials, to prove that you don’t need a million dollars (and a hundred pieces of equipment) to start out as a content creator.
In case you missed the other article in this series:
- Why 2021 Should Be The Year You Become A Content Creator
- Inspiration And Resources For Content Creation
Becoming A Successful Content Creator – What Equipment You Need To Start Out
Filmmaker / Videographer / YouTuber
This is for you if you have stories to tell. Filmmaking goes hand in hand with photography but it’s less about singular moments and more about a succinct and interesting story told through a variety of moving images. You probably grew up watching Spielberg, Tarantino, Anderson, and Scorsese, and admire modern-day creators like Zach King, Casey Neistat, and Sam Kolder.
Whether you plan on shooting for clients or making documentaries (Filmmaker / Videographer) or you hope to grow your own community (YouTuber), below is a list of the equipment you’d need to start out:
- Any kind of camera. Stevo uses a Sony A7iii and Chanel likes to switch between a Canon EOS 6D Mark II and Canon EOS RP.
- One lens (it’s all you need to start out). This is a good starting lens if you choose Sony like Stevo, and this is a good starting lens if you choose Canon like Chanel.
- A sturdy tripod.
- An ND filter.
- A camera bag to hold your gear on the go. This is the one we use (with a camera compartment insert).
- Dust air blaster (especially if you’ll be shooting outdoors a lot).
- Memory card(s). It’s worth getting two so you can swop and change as you’re copying raw footage onto your laptop.
- Laptop. You’ll need a pretty powerful machine for video editing, so look for more memory and a more powerful processor.
- An external hard drive. We found that investing in a good external hard drive from the beginning was well worth it.
- Ring light (made especially for YouTubers).
- Portable audio recorder (including lapel microphone). Great for recording sound effects and (obviously) voice overs.
Photographer / Instagrammer
This is for you if you like capturing moments, and always look for a creative way to tell a story through pictures. Your Instagram profile is probably art directed, and you throw words like “bokeh” and “depth of field” into normal everyday conversation. You also don’t mind getting up early for sunrise, staying up the whole night gazing at stars, and climbing to the toughest-to-reach peaks just to get “the shot”.
Whether you plan on shooting for clients only (Photographer) or you hope to grow your own community (Instagrammer), below is a list of the equipment you’d need to start out:
- Any kind of camera. Literally any. Stevo uses a Sony A7iii and Chanel likes to switch between a Canon EOS 6D Mark II and Canon EOS RP, but you can use anything that your budget will allow. As you get better, you can upgrade.
- One lens (it’s all you need when starting out). This is a good starting lens if you choose Sony like Stevo, and this is a good starting lens if you choose Canon like Chanel.
- A sturdy tripod.
- A variety of filters (not a necessity, but it helps take your photos to another level – just make sure they fit your lens).
- A camera bag to hold your gear on the go. This is the one we use (with a camera compartment insert).
- Dust air blaster (especially if you’ll be shooting outdoors a lot).
- Laptop – you won’t need the top of the range one if you’re starting out, but try look for one with more memory (it’ll make editing quicker).
- An external hard drive. We found that investing in a good external hard drive from the beginning was well worth it.
Writer / Blogger
This is for you if you have the need to journal everything, and the only way you can express yourself is through written words. You’re probably an avid reader, often escaping through books and blogs, and dream of one day having a Best Seller title next to your name.
Whether you plan on writing for clients and publications (Writer) or you hope to grow your own community (Blogger), below is a list of the equipment you’d need to start out:
- Laptop – you won’t need the top of the range one (just something light so it’s easy to carry and hold).
- An external hard drive (for safe keeping).
And that’s it.
Now here’s a photo of Stevo taking this good boy’s portrait in Austria.
Some more reading (in case you missed the other articles in this series):
- Why 2021 Should Be The Year You Become A Content Creator
- Inspiration And Resources For Content Creation
C&S
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