Making YouTube videos can be a great way to have fun, share your creativity and passion with others, promote your brand, and perhaps even gain recognition and make money.
But what do you need to make YouTube videos? Of course, you should be able to shoot nice videos using only your smartphone. This can be a good option if you start with a limited budget.
But if you’re interested in making great YouTube videos, here is everything you need to achieve high-quality results.
1. Original ideas
Before you start buying expensive equipment, you need to have original ideas. Every YouTuber is trying to stand out, so if you want people to watch your videos and subscribe to your channel, offer them something new.
Think of the type of videos you want to create and the topics you want to cover. It’s a good idea to start making storyboards for each video so you will know what you need to shoot for each.
2. A good video camera
Now that you know what you want to shoot, you need a good video camera to start shooting.
You don’t have to buy the most expensive video camera on the market, but you do need to look for a camera that will record high-quality videos. At the very least, you want to be able to shoot 1080p videos.
Depending on the type of content you want to create, a webcam or an action camera might be good choices for you.
3. A video editing software
The footage and audio you record will need to be edited. And if you want to be able to do it like a pro, you need video editing software.
Many options are out there, and some are even free to use. Others are meant for professional videographers and have a lot of features you will probably never need.
Shop around to find the best video editing software for your needs, and then spend some time editing your footage, adding animations and music. You should also use subtitling services to translate the video in different languages. In addition, consider cutting unnecessary scenes.
4. A tripod
You should invest in a tripod unless you plan on only shooting videos with an action camera. It will save you from shooting unsteady and shaky footage, automatically making your videos more enjoyable.
Be sure your tripod is sturdy enough to keep your camera safe.
5. A quality microphone
Your video camera already has a built-in microphone. And perhaps this microphone can record quality audio. But if you rely only on it, you might be disappointed.
Consider getting a high-quality external microphone, making recording only what you want easier and eliminating ambient noises.
Take a moment to learn about the different types of microphones available so you can choose the best one for your needs.
6. Lighting equipment
To make YouTube videos, you will also need some lighting equipment. Even if you plan to shoot your videos outside, lighting equipment will help you adjust brightness and create the ambiance you want.
An on-camera light is perfect for shooting indoors. A softbox helps replicate the soft light coming in from a window. A ring light eliminates shadows on your face, and reflectors help you maximize your lighting.
7. A good computer
If you don’t already have a good computer, you might need to acquire one to help you make your YouTube videos.
First, you need enough hard drive space to save all the footage you record with your camera. Then, you also need a powerful system to edit your footage and create quality videos that you will upload to YouTube.
8. A simple photo editing software
On top of video editing software, you might want to get photo editing software. Although YouTube can pick a random frame from each of your videos to use as thumbnails, your channel will look much more professional if you design them.
For this purpose, even simple and free-to-use photo editing software will do the trick.
9. Keywords and tags
Finally, to make YouTube videos, you must know the keywords you should use. Of course, this will not help you make your videos, but it will help the right viewers find them, which is as important as shooting high-quality footage.
After uploading it to YouTube, find popular keywords relevant to each video’s content, and use them in its title, tags, and description.
Anyone looking for these keywords will be more likely to find your video and keep watching it if it looks good, interesting, and relevant.
