By Francis Polo Photo by Claudio Schwarz | @purzlbaum
So you’ve thought about starting a YouTube channel but you’re not quite sure where to start. Stop procrastinating, starting a YouTube channel is easier than you think. For every moment you hesitate, there are thousands of creators getting started on YouTube, and feeding content to your potential audience. You don’t want that as you may be missing out on a lucrative opportunity.
You can shoot, edit, and upload videos to YouTube from your iPhone, but if you’re a bit of a perfectionist like me then you’ll want to opt for higher quality videos you can get from a DSLR or mirrorless camera.
But first things first, you’d need to decide on your shooting style to engage your audience. A lot of creators choose the talking-head style: one person speaking directly to the camera. This is a very effective method for basic product reviews or personal vlog posts. While this style is the easiest to shoot, you don’t want to get too dependent on them. If you want to be a successful creator, you need to show some versatility in your content. If you’re a daily vlogger or if you have an interesting point of view on a niche topic, i.e. Model, Medical Student, Athlete, then you’ll want to try shooting some B-roll footage, using interesting angles, transition, and sound effects to keep your audience engaged.
Below is a list of entry-level to mid-level gear you’d need to kick off your YouTube aspirations!
Cameras under $1,000
Sony Alpha a6400 Mirrorless Camera
Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark II Mirrorless Camera
Canon Mirrorless Camera [EOS M6 Mark II]
Microphones
Rode VideoMic GO Lightweight On-Camera Microphone
Wireless Headset Lavalier Microphone System
Zoom H4n Pro 4-Track Portable Recorder
Lights
Neewer 2 Packs Dimmable Bi-Color 480 LED Video Light and Stand
Pixel G1s RGB Video Light, Built-in 12W Rechargeable Battery LED Camera Light
Neewer 20-inch LED Ring Light Kit for Makeup Youtube Video
Tripods and Stabilizers
Neewer Professional Heavy Duty Video Tripod
DJI Ronin-S Handheld 3-Axis Gimbal Stabilizer
Additional Tips from my YouTube Channel
