3 Things You Need to Create a DIY Video Studio

Creating a video has never been easier. That being said, there is some things you need to make sure are of good quality for a final publish. And that means having some basic equipment in place to make things look polished and professional.

0:00 Setting up your studio on the cheap
0:15 The 3 main elements of a great video
0:36 Getting in-focus video footage
1:15 Making sure your video has quality lighting
2:10 Having clear audio for your video

In this lesson, we’ll focus some basic equipment you need to make your online videos look professional. The three main elements to a great video are in focus footage, lighting and good audio. If one of these is out of whack, it can really distract your viewers. We’re not here to endorse or recommend brands of camera and lighting. The types of equipment that we suggest can all be found online. And good lighting and audio should set you back a few hundred dollars. Let's dig into what you should have in your studio.

#1 Camera: Let's start with in focus video footage. This requires a camera and stabilization. And really there's three choices for cameras. A dedicated video camera, a DSLR camera or cell phone. The first two options aren't really the best place to start. The expense and learning curve take away valuable time in those first stage of learning. So, start with your camera phone. Most smartphones have cameras that shoot HD quality video. So, start there and ramp it up when you're ready. Stabilization of your camera will create still footage. If you're starting out with your cell phone, you're in luck because there's tripod and stabilization tools out there for you. Things like this are around $20. It doesn't have to be expensive. Now that you've got camera and stabilization figured out, let's talk about lighting.

#2 Lighting: Just like photography, you need to make sure your subject is well lit. And that means figuring out how to light things well. If your video's well lit, it's gonna look great. But doesn't necessarily mean that you need all that additional lighting. Large, naturally lit spaces will work just fine. The best way to figure out if you need lighting is to run a test video. If you find that the videos are starting to turn out a bit dark, it may be time to introduce a lighting solution. Lighting solution prices start from $15 to several thousands. But since we're just getting started,
a good ring light will work for videos where you're the subject. For creating cooking videos for your cookbook business, you're probably gonna be in a larger space and gonna need some extra lighting. It only starts at about $40 for some soft box lights. The goal is to light your subject. You can even use lamps you have around your house. Just fit them with a daylight bulb.

#3 Sound: Beautiful, well lit cinema footage can be easily ruined by a crackling, popping sound or audio that sounds like you're a mile away. There are a couple of ways to avoid this. If you're going be seated in your set, you can use a desk mic and place that under your chin to pick up audio. And since we’ll be using our smart phone, we suggest picking a lav mic. That way you'll sound a lot better. There are a few designs that start at $12 and go all the way up to $300 for wireless options. The key is to just start basic and then go from there. Good basics is better that botched advanced.

High quality footage, solid lighting and good sound are the three basic things you need to start making videos for your business. Ready to get started on creating content that promotes and markets your brand and your business? No matter your skill level or current situation, our GoDaddy Guides are here to help! Let us know in the comments below, if you have any questions.

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