5 Steps To Record Your First Video: Essential Gear & Tips
Learn how to record your first video for YouTube or social media. We cover the essential gear you need to get started and share tips on how to get the best quality results.
Have a great idea for a video but don’t know where to start? Learning to record high-quality videos is a key step in every successful content creator’s journey. It can make your content feel more professional, help engage your viewers, and improve your credibility as a creator.
But what equipment do you need to record your first high-quality video? How do you set it up? And how much money do you really have to spend? We’ve outlined everything in a simple 5-step process.
Step 1: consider where you’ll be posting the video
The platform on which you’ll be posting your video will massively influence how you approach your recording.
Portrait or landscape?
If you want to record short-form content for the likes of TikTok, Instagram Reels, or YouTube Shorts, then shooting your video in portrait (vertical) is your best bet. These platforms have aspect ratios of 9:16, so recording in portrait will save you from having to crop your videos during editing.
Landscape (horizontal) videos work best for longer-form content like YouTube Videos and Online Courses. Landscape videos are also easier to crop to different aspect ratios, making them a good option if you’d like to repurpose your content or post it on multiple platforms.
Smartphone or camera?
Short-form social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram are very forgiving when it comes to production value, and most of the viral videos you’ll see there are filmed with a smartphone. In many cases, a smartphone with a good-quality camera is all you need in terms of equipment to get started.
If your plan is to record videos for YouTube or Online Courses, or become a full-time content creator, it’s worthwhile investing in some proper equipment. We’ve outlined the essential equipment you need to record high-quality videos in the next step.
Step 2: get the essential equipment
Camera
When it comes to choosing a camera, look for a device that can record in at least 1080p (Full HD). Luckily, any big-name smartphone produced in the last few years will be able to record in this resolution. So if you own an Apple, Samsung, or Google phone, you’ll already have access to a great starter camera.
If you want to create videos with a more professional feel, or plan on becoming a full-time content creator, it’s worth investing in a DSLR or mirrorless camera. These cameras vary massively in terms of budget and capabilities. However, unless you’re an experienced videographer, a lower-budget option with good video quality and image stabilisation should suffice.
Top tip: visit your local camera shop for some advice, where you’ll also be able to pick up a great secondhand camera for £300-400.
SD cards
SD cards are a must-have if you’re recording with a camera. A great all-rounder is the Sandisk 256GB Extreme Pro SDXC card, which records quickly and gives you the option to upgrade to 4K footage for very high-resolution content.
Top tip: SD cards will vary in price depending on the length and resolution of your recordings, so it’s worth asking your local camera shop for advice.
External hard drive
Your computer’s built-in storage will max out very quickly once you start importing your videos, slowing it down considerably. An external hard drive allows you to store a large amount of footage safely, which is perfect if you’re filming longer videos, or don’t want to delete any past footage you’ve taken.
Top tip: you can buy a regular hard drive to store completed videos that you don’t want to delete, and also purchase an SSD that you can edit footage straight off of. The Samsung T7 SSD plugs straight into your computer and allows you to edit your footage without having to import it first. Buying both a regular hard drive and an SSD is definitely more of an investment, but it will save you a considerable amount of time when editing and help keep your computer working fast.
Microphone
Audio can have a huge impact on the quality of your video, and a microphone is an essential piece of equipment for most creators.
While some social media content creators often use their built-in smartphone or headphone mics, you can pick up a high-quality microphone for £10-£150.
Top tip: look for a microphone that can directly connect with your phone or camera via Bluetooth or jack. The Boya BY-M1 clip-on microphone is a very popular low-budget option, while the DJI mic is a wireless option that offers fantastic audio quality at a higher cost.
Lighting
Good lighting is absolutely essential for high-quality video recording, and you don’t have to spend a lot to get great results. You can pick up a good selfie or ring light for under £40, and many can be attached directly to your smartphone, camera, or tripod, with adjustable light or colour modes.
Depending on the kind of content you want to create, you may also want to invest in studio lights that can illuminate your background.
Tripod
Tripods help with image stabilisation and allow you to present your video without holding your recording device. Most tripods are compatible with both smartphones and cameras, and can be adjusted to various heights. You don’t have to spend a fortune to get a good product either – most entry-level tripods come in at under £40, with many available for under £20.
Top tip: some tripods come with a ring light attached, which is a great low-budget option for creators who simply want to film themselves talking to camera.
Computer
While there are many great apps you can use to edit footage on your smartphone, you’ll need a computer to import and edit the footage taken on a camera. Choose a computer or laptop that you can directly plug your SD card or SSD into.
Apple products like the Macbook Pro range offer fantastic processing power for editing. You can download iMovie for free for very basic editing, or subscribe to programs like Final Cut Pro or Premier Pro for more advanced editing capabilities.
Teleprompter
To help you minimise recording and editing time, you can import and read your scripts off a teleprompter app. Some teleprompter apps even allow you to record video in-app, so you can look directly into the camera while reading your script. You can download a free teleprompter app like Teleprompter Pro onto your phone, computer or tablet and keep it in view when it’s time to record.
Step 3: set up your recording space
Now that you know what equipment you need, it’s time to set everything up. We’ve laid everything out in a few simple steps.
Choose a suitable environment
If you’re presenting to camera, you’ll want to choose a quiet environment that’s free from any distractions. A white backdrop might be a little too plain, so choose a room in your house that’s free of clutter and works well with the aesthetic of your niche. If you don’t have lights, choose a room that’s well-lit – preferably with natural light – to improve your camera quality.
Make sure the room has enough space to accommodate equipment like your tripod and lights, so that you can comfortably record at a good distance from your camera.
To improve your sound quality, choose a location that’s free of any background noise. Soft furnishings like carpet, cushions, and curtains will help reduce any tinny sound or echoes in your recording.
Decide your composition and framing
Before setting up your equipment, you should consider the framing and composition of your shot. There are a few options you can try, depending on the kind of video you’re recording:
Wide angle: your whole body (or subject) is in the shot – great for demonstrations or videos where the background plays an important role in the narrative.
Head and shoulders: a relatively close-up shot of your head and shoulders that draws attention directly to your face. This kind of shot is perfect for talking to the camera, with minimal background distractions. If you tend to talk with your hands, you can widen the angle of the shot and capture yourself from the waist up.
Close-up: a close-up shot of something specific, whether it’s your face or an object. This shot is useful for reaction videos and product demonstrations where you need to show finer details.
Rule of thirds
You can use the rule of thirds to figure out how high your camera should be on the tripod and where you should stand. Imagine the shot is split evenly into three vertical sections and three horizontal sections.
You’ll want to set up your tripod and camera so that your eyes fall in the middle of the shot or slightly above. You can stand in the middle, or to the right or left section of the shot if you plan on using visual overlays to support what’s being said.
Top tip: if you have any doubts about your composition and framing, watch a few videos of your favourite creators. Take notes on how they frame and balance their shots – imitate this when it’s time to record your video.
Set up your equipment
SD card: place your SD card into the dedicated slot on your camera – this is a very important step to make sure you don’t lose any footage!
Tripod and camera: extend the legs of your tripod so that its height and distance from you match the kind of shot you want to take.
Lights: for a well-lit shot without shadows on your face, position your light(s) toward you, above your camera or to the side of it. If your lights have different power or temperature modes, you can test out which you like best by taking a few test videos first.
Microphone: whichever kind of mic you’re using, you’ll want to position it close enough to you so that the audio is clear. If you have a clip-on mic, you can clip it somewhere close to your chest area. Keep in mind that it may pick up audio from your clothes moving if you talk with your hands or move around. Therefore, it’s a good idea to wear soft, fabric clothing that won’t rustle too much, like a T-shirt.
Teleprompter: if you’ve downloaded a teleprompter app onto your phone, computer, or tablet, position it as close to the camera lens as possible to get cues while you’re presenting.
Step 4: record a test video
Once all of your equipment is turned on and/or connected, you should do a quick test video to make sure everything is set up properly. Record a 10-second introduction that you can play back before asking yourself the following questions.
- Is the microphone connected to your camera?
- Are you happy with the sound quality?
- Are you happy with the lighting?
- Does the shot look well-balanced?
- Is the SD card in place?
- Can you comfortably read the teleprompter while presenting?
If something isn’t right, make adjustments and repeat the test video until everything is perfect.
Step 5: record your video
Once everything is set up and you’re happy with how it looks and sounds, you can start recording your video!
Whether you record your video in segments or take on the whole thing in one go is up to you. If you’re recording in shorter bursts, be sure to double-check that the camera is actually recording each time – this will save you from any unwanted surprises when it’s time to edit.