Let me guess: One of the things holding you back from filming videos is having the PERFECT equipment. The right camera, tripod, an “expensive” software – you name it. I gave you a break down of how to get started in this post and today we’ll talk about what things you need to film videos.

3 Things You Need To Film Videos

I’ve filmed and edited over 200 videos – either for my clients or my own Youtube channel – and throughout all of them, I’ve picked up on the bare minimum of what you need to film a good video.

Substance

I was going to write “story” but not every video is a story time type of video. When you’re looking to film videos, think about the end goal. What is the substance of the video? Is it a quick tip? Is it a review or recommendation? Is it an actual story so the viewer can get to know you better? You want the viewer to leave with something substantial, whether that’s having learnt something or gotten entertained by you.

A camera with good audio

I highly recommend starting with your smartphone if you’re not in the market for a DSLR. The new iPhones have 4K capabilities and the audio is very good. If you have a DSLR, you HAVE TO buy an external microphone for it. Don’t film without it. It won’t pick up your voice well and it will sound very low and muffled otherwise. If you’re looking for a simple microphone that’s easy to use, I recommend this one.

Camera Presence

This one only gets better with practice but you have to switch yourself into “on camera” mode. When I film videos, I’m a heightened version of myself. Not fake – but a more energetic me. The camera muffles your energy a lot so you need to come across present and optimistic to catch the viewers attention. Practice does make perfect as you get a better feel for talking on camera and how you want to present yourself.

Those are the 3 things you need to film videos, the bare necessities. I’ll dive deeper into editing in an upcoming post, but to me, that’s post production and not part filming videos. Do you need help with your videos or want to chat all things Youtube? Contact me here! Please also leave me any questions or upcoming post ideas in the comments or on my Instagram @victorialevitan.