How To Set Up An At-Home Video Studio
Want your videos to look more professional but don’t want to break the bank? We’ve got you covered. Setting up an at-home video studio is easy and there are many inexpensive options that will still give you great quality. Here’s a guide on equipment you can get and how to set it up for success.
Lighting
The best thing you can do for your lighting is to use natural light. This means shooting in a location that is well lit with natural light during the day. Some translucent curtains will do wonders to diffuse this natural light and give you great results. The subject should stand facing this natural light to avoid shadows or silhouetting.
Next, you can add some artificial lighting. This can be used alongside the natural light or on its own. If you don’t own any artificial lights, this right light for your desk is a great option. Want something a little more extensive? This larger-sized ring light is a great option. It comes with diffusers and has an attachment for your phone.
Just be aware of creating harsh shadows or creating reflections if the subject wears glasses. A DIY method of diffusing any harsh lights is to use a white sheet or a pillowcase to create a softer look.
If you want a more advanced lighting setup, here are a few options for you. These light stands are the same brand as the ring light and combined with the ring light, would give you three different sources of light, which would be perfect for a 3 point lighting setup. If you don’t know what that is, here is a great guide for setting that up.
If you own no artificial lighting and are looking for a more complete kit, this one comes with umbrellas to reflect the lighting and this one utilizes softboxes for a softer look. You could set up a three-point lighting set easily with one of these. And remember, just add sheets if the light is too bright or harsh.
With any lighting setup, you’re going to need to experiment to find what works. Just do your best to minimize shadows and make it look as natural as possible.
Camera
The next thing to consider is what to film on. The good news? You might already own an amazing camera that will work perfectly. Most newer smartphones have great quality cameras. And you can probably use yours or a friend’s and get good quality without purchasing anything. A lot of phones even film in 4K.
If you did want to buy an actual camera, something like the Canon EOS M50 would work great. Compared to a phone that you can use for free, this is the more expensive option. But compared to other cameras out there, this is a steal. If you go with this option, you will probably need a memory card or external hard drive to work with the larger video files.
Whether you use your phone, a DSLR camera, or the Canon EOS M50, you will also need a tripod. There are many options out there, but this lightweight tripod is inexpensive, comes with a phone attachment, and comes in various sizes. If you plan to film on a DSLR or larger camera, you may want to purchase a more heavy-duty tripod, such as this one.
Audio
Audio is extremely important to consider, but it depends on what kind of projects you will be creating. For talking head type videos, you will probably want a lavalier mic. If you think you will be needing a dual setup (for interviewing two people at once), this lavalier microphone is cheap and splits right into 2 for easy setup. This lav mic only has one microphone, but would give you better audio quality. If you want to go wireless, there are also Bluetooth lavalier mics that you can use. I personally believe that audio is almost more important than video, so it’s definitely something that you want to invest in for your at-home video studio.
Newer smartphones may also not have a headphone jack so you might need to purchase a USB C to 3.5mm converter (Apple) (Samsung).
For podcasting or voiceover type audio, you will probably want a USB mic. Here is one option that has amazing reviews and would give you great sound. And here is a more budget-friendly option. These types of mics plug directly into your computer and you can record from there using Adobe Audition or other audio recording software like Audacity.
The most important thing for good quality audio is to try to minimize any background noise on set. This means closing doors and windows and turning any central air or anything else that may hum in the background off.
Another tip is to record in a carpeted area or near soft furnishings. This will absorb some of the audio to dampen it. If the room is big and empty, you can sometimes echo or sound tinny.
Set and Location
Depending on where you decide to film, you may want to liven up the space a bit. This could be done with a colorful backdrop matching your brand colors. This is a great way to give your video a splash of color and make it look more professionally produced. There are many color options and different sizes available here. You can either purchase a support stand for a backdrop or you can tape the backdrop directly on a wall.
However, a blank wall also works fine as a backdrop and is the free option here. A nice plant on the side sometimes adds a lot too.
Lights, Camera, Action!
Now that you have your equipment, it’s time to film. Remember, experimenting is the best way to find the right setup for you. Move some lights and film a quick 10-second video. Close the curtains and do the same thing. You can then watch the clips and decide which look you want to go with.
With this guide, you’ll be able to create professional videos in no time! Good luck! And if your plan is to utilize Reels on Instagram, get our IG Reels Content Guide to help you build your strategy. Click the button below to learn more.
Equipment List Summary:
Selfie ring light ($24.99): Perfect for a simple setup to film TikToks or IG Reels with.
Ring light ($72.99): Quick note that ring lights are not the best option if anybody you are filming wears glasses. This one comes with some diffusers, which is great. And has an attachment for your phone.
More light stands ($159.99): Same brand as the ring light. Expensive, but would work great.
More extensive lighting kit option 1 ($59.90): You would need to set up the umbrellas the right way, but this kit has everything you need.
More extensive lighting kit option 2 ($98.99): I prefer softboxes to umbrellas, but this one is more expensive.
Camera Option 1 (Free): Your phone is probably the best option. Phone cameras are great nowadays and with good lighting and an external mic, you’ll be golden.
Camera Option 2 ($649): There would probably be a learning curve with a camera like this, but it has amazing reviews and would give you a great image.
Lavalier Mic Option 1 ($24.95):Has 2 mics, cheaper option
Lavalier Mic Option 2 ($62.90): Only one mic, but it would be better quality. I would recommend this.
Lavalier Mic Option 3 ($69.95): Bluetooth option
USB C to 3.5mm converter (Apple) (Samsung): You’d need this for the lav mics if your phone doesn’t have a headphone jack.
USB Mic Option 1 ($99.99): I prefer these types of mics to lav mics, but if you want to do talking head type videos, lav mics make more sense. USB mics are more for podcasting or voiceover work. Depends on what you want. This is the more expensive option.
USB Mic Option 2 ($49.99): Cheaper USB mic choice.
Lightweight Tripod ($26.33): This comes with a phone attachment. The ring light has a phone stand too, but sometimes in the middle of the ring light actually isn’t the best place to put your phone to film. You could always use a tripod and the ring light if you wanted more than one angle. Or just use the ring light solely for light.
Heavier Tripod ($37.99): Highly adjustable with good movement.
External Hard Drive ($99.99): For larger storage.
Memory Card ($29.99): For additional storage.
Paper Backdrop (~$40-$100): This is a great way to give your video a splash of color and make it look more professionally produced. There are many color options and different sizes available here.
Paper Backdrop Stand ($51.99): You can either purchase the support stand for a backdrop or you can tape the backdrop directly on a wall. But a blank wall also works fine as a backdrop. A nice plant on the side sometimes adds a lot too.
