As the saying goes, it takes money to make money. For vloggers, that investment comes in the form of equipment. Thanks to viewers’ increasingly high expectations for production quality, many online creators find themselves needing expensive cameras, lights, and other high-end gear.
However, not every vlogger has the budget to go out and buy all the latest and greatest equipment. Luckily, there are plenty of ways to save money while still keeping up your production value.
Instead of buying specialty equipment, rent it for as long as you need it.
If you need a certain lens, mount, or other piece of equipment for your project, you don’t need to shell out a ton of money for something you’re only going to use a few times. Instead, consider renting the equipment you need for a few hours or a few days.
Check with your local camera shops to find out what kind of equipment you can rent and what their rates are. You can also ask nearby videographers or production companies. The great thing about renting from someone nearby is that you can ask any questions you have about the equipment in person.
Alternatively, you can rent filming equipment online as well. Stick with trusted, professional sites such as LensRentals or BorrowLenses instead of Craigslist or another classifieds site.
Find secondhand cameras and lenses on Facebook Marketplace or LetGo.
In the event that you want to purchase a new camera, lens, or something else you know you’ll use often, try to buy it secondhand rather than brand new. When you buy used equipment, you can still get high-quality gear at a much more affordable price.
Use Facebook Marketplace to find secondhand gear within driving distance. You can also look on reselling apps such as LetGo. Amazon also sells a great deal of used filming equipment.
Use your smartphone camera to shoot in 4K.
If you’ve recently upgraded your smartphone, then you probably won’t even need a new camera to shook in 4K. Phones that can shoot 4K include the iPhone X, the Samsung Galaxy S8, and the Google Pixel 3 XL.
Follow tutorials like the one below to get high-quality, cinematic shots on your phone.
DIY what you can.
Many pieces of equipment that you may think you need to purchase can actually be DIYed for much cheaper. For example, instead of buying a bounce card, you can just add a white poster board to your lighting kit.
You can find a lot of helpful DIY tutorials on YouTube. A few of the best pieces of equipment to DIY are sound absorbing panels, a lapel mic, and a Steadicam.
A top-notch set of equipment shouldn’t cost you an arm and a leg. DIY what you can, and buy all the other gear you need secondhand.
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Kristen Harris enjoys listening to a wide range of music, from Taylor Swift to, on occasion, Celtic instrumental. She also spends her time writing, reading, and baking.
Beautiful piece…thanks for sharing these tips.