When starting to create video content, costs can add up quick. I’ve 100% been in your shoes, and know exactly what it feels like to have so many amazing video content ideas, but so few resources to make those ideas come to life! In this blog post, I’ll be sharing 4 tips for creating video content on a budget.

Tip #1: Find Free Alternatives to “Real” Gear

Having professional gear is great, but it’s not a must when it comes to creating quality video content. If you don’t have the budget right now for “real” video equipment, consider the following list of alternatives:

1. • If you don’t have professional lighting gear, make use of natural light.
   • If you don’t have a tripod, use a stack of books or a cardboard box to prop up your camera.
   • If you don’t have a DSLR or mirrorless camera, use your phone to record your video content.
   • If you don’t have a microphone, be extra diligent about finding a quiet space to film your videos. Unplug any appliances that produce “white noise”, such as refrigerators and fans.

Remember: We all start somewhere. Most creators can’t afford to invest in all the right video gear at once, so make the most of what you have in this moment and don’t be afraid to get creative with the rest!

For more info on essential video gear for beginners, check out the following blog post: The Essential Video Gear All Beginners Need

Tip #2: Have a Plan

Having an action plan for your next video project will ensure that you’re not wasting precious time and money ironing out the kinks on the day of the shoot. Nothing is worse than going into a shoot unprepared, not doing the best job, and then having to re-shoot the entire project at a later date. If you’re working with a limited budget, you need to see your time and effort as precious commodities to protect at all costs. Here are a few questions to help you get started with planning out your content:

• Who is my target audience?
• Where does my target audience like to spend most of their time on social media?
• What video dimensions would work best for the platform that I intend to share my videos on?
• What is an ideal video length for the platform that I intend to share my videos on?
• Do I need to create a script for my upcoming video?
• Where do I plan on shooting my video project, and do I need to secure/book this space in advance?
• What equipment will I need for the upcoming shoot?

 

This is by no means an exhaustive list of questions to help you prepare for your upcoming shoot, but it’s definitely a good start. If you’re looking for additional support for planning out your video shoots, I’ve created a checklist of the 5 most important camera settings to check before hitting “record”, which you can download for free.

Tip #3: Rent Your Gear Instead of Buying It

Sometimes, renting gear just makes sense. Here are a couple of reasons why you might want to consider renting your gear instead of buying it:

• Renting allows you to test out gear you’ve been considering buying for a fraction of the price, without the commitment.
• If you only plan on shooting video projects a few times a year, it might not be a smart choice to invest thousands of dollars into gear that is simply going to sit on a shelf for most of the year.
• With new products being released every few months, renting allows you to always use top-of-the-line equipment without the price tag that comes with it.

While I now own most of my equipment today, I rented almost all of my gear for paid gigs when I was first starting out. I still rent lenses and tripods occasionally for my current projects!

Tip #4: Use Free Editing Software

I spent the first 5 years of my video creation journey using free editing software, and it still allowed me to create video content that got noticed!

If you’re not feeling 100% ready to start editing videos from a computer or laptop, here are my video editing app recommendations:

• Adobe Rush
• InShot

My recommendations for those looking to start editing from their laptops or computers are iMovie (for Mac Users) and Windows Movie Maker (for Windows Users).

Some companies offer trial versions of their paid software, which you should definitely take advantage of! Adobe, for example, offers free 7-day trials for Premiere Pro.

 

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That’s all for this week’s tips! Let me know in the comments which tips resonated most with you 🙂

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