The Essential Toolkit: 5 Pieces of Gear I Can't Go Without

You have a story to tell, a piece of content to create. What is the next step?

Before you can hit 'record,' ensure you have the right tools for the job. And let me be clear: this does not mean you need the most expensive gear on the market. If you are willing to spend a little money, you can buy a very decent camera and lenses. However, you can also achieve fantastic, professional results by simply using your phone and ensuring your basic lighting is correct.

Throughout this post, I will give you my top five essential pieces of gear. Ranked by importance and value, these have brought me the most success in my professional video production work.

1. Audio Capture

Before you graduate from using your phone to a professional camera, you need to invest in one thing: a solid audio tool. People subconsciously despise watching videos with horrible audio quality. If the audience can't clearly understand what you're saying, the message is lost, and the immersion is broken. This is the one area where you should be willing to spend your money first!

• Pro Tool: I love using a boom mic like the Sennheiser MKE 600 Shotgun Microphone to capture clean, directional audio on set.

• Budget Option: There are fantastic budget options that work just fine, like the Rode Wireless ME Dual Compact Digital Wireless Microphone System. This is a must-have, so please spend the money on this first!

2. Lights

Just as important as the camera itself is the lighting of your scene. I literally cannot do my job without controlled lighting. Think of light as the brush that paints your scene. It determines the mood, the clarity, and the professionalism of your final image.

• Pro Tool: You can buy powerful LED lights for your scene, like the Aputure 300 (or similar models).

• Budget Option: If you're on a budget, use lamps from around the room, soft daylight from a window, or even cheap construction lights pointed at the ceiling for soft, diffused light. The budget options, when used correctly, will still give you great results.

3. Camera

As stated above, the gear is important, but the most expensive camera isn't always best for your situation. I would ensure you have a camera that can at least film in HD quality. For those of you wondering, most modern cell phone cameras can do this. If you’re on a tight budget, just use your phone and practice correct lighting and audio techniques.

• Pro/Starter Camera: For those ready to buy a dedicated camera, I would recommend starting with an entry-level mirrorless or DSLR from either Canon or Sony. Both companies make great, affordable products that shoot beautiful video, such as the Canon EOS Rebel series or the Sony Alpha 6000 series.

4. Lenses

I love my lenses! They are how you get character, depth, and a specific mood out of your image and video. However, like cameras, quality lenses get expensive, so be prepared to spend a little cash to get an amazing result.

• My Go-To Kit: My standard setup includes a 50mm lens for stunning portrait shots and a dynamic 24-105mm lens for versatility, perfect for zooming in and out of scenes.

• Budget Tip: For those on a budget, look for cheap used lenses on Facebook Marketplace or local photography groups. This is a great way to get high-quality glass without the new-in-box price tag.

5. Stabilization

You may see many fancy movements, such as running, panning, and tilting shots, in famous Hollywood blockbusters. While those look fun, they require a lot of time, effort, and expensive gear (like gimbals and dollies). For beginner videographers, we often don't have the time or resources to plan those complex shots.

You need a good tool for basic camera stabilization so that your footage doesn't have an annoying, distracting shake. I used to think I had steady hands, but after watching my clips back, I realized a tripod is always needed.

• My Workhorse Tripod: I use a very basic, reliable tripod that I can pack literally anywhere and stabilize the camera in nearly any situation, like the NEEWER 72 Inch Camera Tripod Monopod.

Ready to film your first scene? Make sure you have these five tools available. You will thank yourself, and so will your audience!

Remember: More important than any of the gear is the master mind behind it. Make sure you stay tuned for more blog posts where I teach you how to use this gear in the correct way.

As always, go out and film something new this week, and I'll see you in the next blog!