Video Production Equipment Checklist for The Beginner

As a company whose passion lies in the beauty and art of video production, we can say with confidence that there are basic types of equipment that bring any form of video to the next level, even if you’re a beginner. These tools will help you bring videos to life and tell a compelling story with emotion, conviction and clear messaging. Both the individual and the business can benefit from the basic video production equipment ensemble. The right set-up and equipment can aid in the successful delivery of company messaging, journalistic interviews, quick training videos and even video conferencing.

Video Production Equipment Necessities

While it’ll take more than an iPhone to make the jump from amateur to professional, you also don’t need the inner workings of Paramount Pictures at your disposal either. Let’s get into a few of the basics that every filmmaker ought to have to create the basic video.

Camera Equipment

This will be your first major investment as a filmmaker (whether you’re an aspiring artist or just looking to create a decent internal video for your business). It’s important to do your homework to find the camera that is perfect for your intentions. For example, if you’ll mostly be shooting outdoors, a simple camcorder might suffice. If you’re looking to do some more advanced filmmaking, you’ll want to invest in a digital cinema camera with more bells and whistles. Fortunately, with the rise in video production interest and necessity, it’s not terribly difficult to find a camera that will meet your business’ needs and fits within the budget.

Audio Equipment

You (and more importantly, your audience) will be able to tell right away whether you’re using quality microphones or just relying on your camera’s built-in microphone. And while you might be able to get by with a run-of-the-mill camera and cheap tripod, you will want to splurge a little when it comes to your microphones and other audio equipment. Nothing is worse than taking your footage into the editing stages and realizing that your sound is muffled, choppy, or drowned out by white noise. This is especially important for interviews and public announcements where it’s important for the viewer to hear every word.

Lighting Equipment

Lighting has many purposes in the field of video production. Not only does lighting have practical applications by emphasizing details and form, but it can also set the tone for the scene. Angle, color and intensity all play a role in infusing emotion into the set. This not only emphasizes your message but also helps deliver it. However, complicated lighting techniques are not entirely necessary for simple in-house videos. A basic lighting setup (perfect for interviews and company message videos) typically involves three-directional lighting combined with a key light and should be excellent for most projects. Backlighting--situated at the back of the subject--brings the person forward from the background. Meanwhile, fill lighting supports the key light by reducing unwanted shadows.

What equipment do you need for video production?

Whether you’re an aspiring videographer or just looking to make a decent in-house video, a basic camera, audio and lighting set-up would be perfect to get you started. As you learn more about the types of video production, you’ll notice that there are certain pieces of extra equipment that make it all happen and may require assistance from a professional video production company, but for in-house training videos, virtual meetings or company messages, this set of basic video production equipment will get you off to a great start!