By Shanice Johnson
Content creation has been around now since the mid 2000s when the rise of Youtubers came along and started the “influencer era”, and what began as a hobby or side hustle has grown into a sought after career now for many. It seems everyone is trying to become a Tiktoker, Instagram influencer and content creator these days with niches from beauty and lifestyle to cosplay and gaming creators. Before, a celebrity was someone that was on TV or well known for something mainstream, but now it can be anyone who went viral online and gained a mega following. Tiktokers are now becoming leads in theatrical films and being paid thousands to advertise brands. They ultimately are creating a comfortable and luxurious lifestyle all by sharing their lives and content online. While others are purely doing it as a hobby, if their videos gain traction it can lead them to a mass of opportunities. Thus, the reason many are striving to become content creators. All you need is a smartphone with a good camera to start.
“Never let your equipment stand in your way of starting. You will grow as you grow,” says lifestyle content creator Amanda Weldon.
To that end, the Sheridan Sun compiled this tech shopping list for anyone who wants to make it big online.
“Shine bright like a diamond” – Tripod with ring light ($50)
This is an absolute must have if you want to be a successful content creator. No matter your niche, people won’t watch a video or like a photo that is blurry or has bad lighting. A tall enough tripod ensures your camera/phone is straight and stable and gives you the ability to film hands free. This way you don’t need another person to help you film, you can do it on your own. It allows freedom to experiment with different camera angles, play with lighting effects (such as dim or bright, saturated or white light) helping to capture the story you’re trying to convey to your online audience and do so aesthetically. Without this consistency people won’t want to hit that follow button. There are many affordable options on Amazon.
“Pass the mic” – DJI Mic Mini ($35)
Voiceovers and talking-to-camera videos are on the rise now on social media and so it’s important that the audio is up to par with the video quality. This mic comes with two sets of Bluetooth lavalier mics that can be clipped on your shirt or used handheld. It has a 32-bit float internal recording allowing sound to come through from a longer range and prevents distortion from loud noises or background sounds. When people see you holding a mic in your video, it adds another level of professionalism and people know you are serious about your content.
“Let’s fix that in post” – Capcut App ($19.99/month)
This is one of the most popular editing software apps out right now because it is beginner-friendly, easy to use on your phone and it also works great on the computer. It has a ton of advanced features tailored for social media that will help you produce viral worthy edited content. There are tons of free options to use such as cools texts, sound effects and templates but many successful content creators find upgrading to the premium version is worth it. Even though it is around $180 a year, it is still one of the cheaper options when it comes to industry used editing software’s, and you still have advanced features to create likeable content.
“Stick with it” – Suction cup phone mount ($64)
This is a highly recommended gadget by influencers right now especially vloggers and creators doing “come with me” type of videos. It mounts onto the car dashboard or windshields and can even stick to a ceiling if you want really creative overhead shots. It can basically stick to any smooth surface helping take your content to the next level to capture angles out of the ordinary but makes your content feel more immersive.
“Standing firm” – DJI Osmo Stabilizer ($89-$185.00)
This device is affordable, compact and beginner-friendly with features that will allow you to film videos professionally with your phone on the go, anywhere at any time. It is a lightweight handheld stabilizer which is great for vlogging and shooting videos that won’t come out shaky. It also automatically tracks your face and objects to stay in frame no matter where you move. There are different models available for purchase with slightly different features. This helps you capture cinematic and aesthetic content. Good quality footage helps drive your views and watch time up. Nobody wants to watch a shaky video.
With basic and good equipment, along with perseverance and having fun, your online audience will find you.
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