Last week on Instagram I shared a list of the tools beginner creatives need to produce amazing content. I didn’t give specific product names but rather a general look at the different tools you should have in your kit. Today, we are going deeper. I’m going to share with you every piece of equipment I use, from my cameras and lenses to my lighting and storage. Remember you don’t need these exact tools. Use this list as a guide to help you shop for your own content creation equipment.
My Cameras
Canon EOS Rebel T5i
The main camera I use to self shoot pictures and videos is my Canon EOS Rebel T5i. I purchased this DSLR (or digital single lens reflex) camera from Youtuber Jake Kendle (aka Lipstickncurls) while I was in college and it has served me well. DSLR cameras are the big daddies of the photography world. They give you the greatest amount of creative freedom because they can do so much. My T5i is out of date but it’s still getting the job done.
Canon Powershot G7x Mark II
One of the downsides of a DSLR is its large camera body. These cameras are mainly meant to operate under stationary conditions. If you are looking to capture quick snapshots or videos on the go, a smaller point and shoot camera will do the trick. I purchased the Canon Mark II G7x camera this year for vlogging and have been loving it. It’s lightweight, has a flip up screen so you can see yourself while recording and is small enough to fit into your purse. It also takes good quality pictures. I say this is a great starter camera for someone looking to learn photography basics before splurging on a DSLR.
iPhone 6s
Before I had my T5i or the G7x, I had my iPhone. Your phone is your secret weapon as a beginning creative. The cameras in today’s phone are so sophisticated, you’d be crazy not to use it to create content. Learn all the features of your phone and get to work.
My Lenses
Canon 50mm lens
Search online for the best camera lens for beginners and I can bet the Canon 50mm lens will be on the list. This lens is the G.O.A.T. Not only does it take amazing photos but since its a zoom lens, it gives you those perfectly cropped videos that most beauty and lifestyle Youtubers use. Want that super blurred out background you see on your fave influencers’ feed? The 50mm can help with that. And the best part is that its really affordable. Camera lenses can get real pricey, real fast. But at only $126, the Canon 50mm is a steal.
Sigma 35mm lens
Sigma is known throughout the photography community as the maker of some of the highest quality lenses on the market. The Sigma 35mm lens is no different. This lens was another 2020 purchase and I have to say its some of the best money I’ve ever spent. This lens is on the pricey side but you get your bang for your buck. Crisper images and clearer videos are both products of this lens. Invest in this lens once you have a good grasp of photography basics. This lens is more for intermediate- advanced levels.
My Lighting
I mainly use natural sunlight to shoot my content. Every now and then though, I may need to use artificial light to get the look just right. I have two different options in my kit of content creation equipment.
Diva Ring Light Super Nova
The Diva Ring Light Super Nova was the first piece of lighting equipment I ever purchased. I’m sure you’ve seen ring lights all over the internet. These lights give a concentrated, continual light source that helps blur out the skin and soften the appearance of your surroundings. Ring lights were really popularized by beauty Youtubers. I love this light in particular because its dimmable, giving me greater control over how my subject is lit.
Softboxes
After using my ring light alone for a few months, I began wanting changes in my lighting plan. The ring light is great for making sure I am well lit but often my background could use a little love too. I remembered from my college filmmaking class that directors often use a 3 point lighting system. This system features one main light to light the main subject and two additional lights to fill shadows and and brighten the subject’s surroundings. So I purchased soft boxes from Amazon. Softboxes are another affordable option for continuous lighting sources. They produce a more diffused amount of light than a ring light, making them great options for mimicking natural sunlight.
My Storage
External Hard Drive
There are few things worst than getting the “your storage is almost full” notification on your computer. Creating content and storing it requires a ton of space so an external hard drive is a must. You may be a fan of cloud storage but I’m a bit old school. One little glitch and a data wipe can destroy the servers holding your content. That’s a risk I’m not willing to take. I use the external hard drive to hold all my content. With 1 TB of space, it will be a while before I fill this bad boy up.
So there you have it. The full list of all my content creation equipment. If you want me to write a post on the apps and software I use to edit, leave me a comment below! And be sure to follow me on Instagram for a behind the scenes look at my creation process.
Until next time!
