I just realized that I’ve been making blog videos for THREE whole years. Honestly, I can’t believe it. Purchasing my DSLR camera and committing to recording video content is one of the biggest upgrades and best decisions I ever made for my business.

When I first got my camera it took me an entire weekend of trial and error to figure out how to record. I couldn’t get the light right. The video was blurry. The sound was echo-y.

But with practice I found my rhythm. There are now more than 200 videos uploaded to my YouTube Channel!

I get asked a lot about how I create videos, what tools I use, etc.
So today I’m taking you behind the scenes with a more “vlog” style format in my new apartment. I hope you like it!

Here are the tools I use for my videos:

Camera

Nikon D3300

Guys, I know basically zero things about DSLR cameras. I bought this one because I wanted to up the ante and record with HD video. From my research (back in 2014) this was the best bang for my buck. I’ve never looked back or compared to other cameras.

Microphone

Sony Lapel Mic (got mine on Amazon)

One thing I learned the hard way is that the headphone jack on your Apple earbuds and the jack on a camera microphone are NOT the same size. I bought a microphone when I moved to a location where the sound had a lot of echo.

Lighting Kit

This is my newest upgrade as of the summer 2017. If you can get natural light or use lamps / other lights in your home I say DO THAT. The only reason I bought a lighting kit is because my new office has almost no natural light.

Editing Software

iMovie (came with my Apple computers)

This software is good enough for me and super easy to learn. When editing, it’s easy for me to grab my background music, copy, and paste into a new video. At some point I’ll probably hire someone to help with this but for now it’s pretty quick and easy 🙂

Some filming tips for newbies:

1. Start with what you have. Do not put off creating video until you get a nice background, a better camera, a mic, or fancy lights. I started with my MacBook webcam.
2. Stick to one format. It’s easy to get overwhelmed by the creative possibilities when you start doing video. Pick a format and stick with it! You’ll notice that almost every single one of my blog videos follows the same format.
3. Batch, baby! Block off a whole afternoon for filming so that you can crank out 3-5 videos at a time.
4. Document your process and create a checklist. You’ll get faster at this with practice, too.