Tools for Content Filming—on your PHONE
When I’m out in the wild filming for a client, or even when I’m having a conversation over coffee with a fellow business owner, I get asked what kind of gadgets I use for filming. They are always quite shocked when I say I typically use nothing more than my iPhone, but I use several little tools to help make that content look slightly elevated versus just phone in-hand and shooting.
Without further ado, here are some social media content accessories I personally use and love!
TRIPOD
If you didn’t want to buy but only ONE accessory to help you film your own content, let it be a TRIPOD. Tripods allow you to 1) get amazing angles anywhere in the world you are. Say goodbye to stacking up books on a desk and relying on your [insert object here] to prop your phone up to film yourself.
You can bring your tripod outside, set up in the kitchen, sit at your desk, wherever.
Tripods are also extremely easy for anyone to use, so if you’re worried about some of the more advanced tech below, fear not.
Now, I have been through several tripods since I’ve been working in social media and I definitely have a current favorite. I’ve had some that are too difficult to open to slide your phone in, and I’ve had them on the flimsy side where they blow over in the wind.
THIS ONE has been my sidekick and opens easily, folds up nicely, comes in a nice color, and is sturdy!
I really don’t recommend a small one that is only a few inches tall (been there, done that) because they are 1) typically not as sturdy and will likely fall over and 2) their use is so limited to staying on top of a desk. Just invest in the better one with better sturdiness and has WAY more uses.
CLIP-ON LIGHT
Okay, I know the ring light has been a standard content creation tool since the days of the YouTube beauty influencer.
And while I DO love a ring light (I’ll show you one below as well), sometimes they can be clunky and bulky to lug around, plus you have to find somewhere to plug it in.
Let me introduce to you THIS little guy.
This light clips on directly to your phone so you can clip, turn it on, and start filming right away with 5 seconds of setup time ANYWHERE.
You can also adjust whether you want a crisp, cool tone or fake a golden sunset with your lighting, but also choose between fun RGB colors if you’re going for something a bit more artistic!
RING LIGHT
The queen of OG content creation tools—the ring light!
Ring lights give a strong, beautiful light affect to those who are filming direct-to-camera. I recommend this above the previously mentioned clip-on light if you are filming indoors and you are filming further away from the camera.
I use this when the camera will be much farther away from the filming subject, as this option gives a stronger light and it can be moved and adjusted on its own.
Similar to the above, you can change the warmth of the light depending on the lighting you’re naturally working with or preference.
Note: Sometimes I use the tripod on the ring light, but if I want a different angle from the light, I use my separate tripod.
WIRELESS LAVALIER MICROPHONE
Microphones come in handy for so many different scenarios.
If you’re outside and you are trying to film even just a couple feet away, your phone’s mic will pick up the wind and you may not be able to hear your voice clearly.
If you’re in a loud restaurant and you don’t want to seem obvious you’re filming and be too loud where other table guests can hear you, you can use this little mic and film incognito!
If you don’t want to talk loud and hear room echo, you can speak much softer with a mic.
The possibility is endless with this little thing! It comes in a pack of 2 in case you want to film 50 videos in one day, but one dies on you. They are rechargeable and can fit with both an Android and iPhone.
This one is probably one of my more advanced recommendations. If you are a pure beginner, revisit this one in a few months!
So, as technology stands, our front camera is not as good as our back cameras on our phone.
Just look at them—most phones come with 2-4 cameras on the back with various lenses. Our front camera has one—built in.
Your back camera will give you a much more accurate and more crisp picture, whereas your front camera will be distorted and blurrier.
People use their front cameras for selfies and videos because it’s easy to see what you look like, make adjustments, make sure you’re in frame, you like the angles, etc.
But the back camera has better quality.
I repeat, this is totally extra, however, I use this personally and I couldn’t go back to the old way.
This is a back camera monitor. All it does it mirror what is on your screen so you can see yourself when viewing your back camera…that’s it!
You can either clip this monitor on the back of your phone, of if you’re using a tripod, or set it up where you can see it and still make adjustments to your framing.
Doing this will give you a huge quality difference! (but again, totally extra and advanced)
GIMBAL STABILIZER
If you’ve got the basics down, this is a fun gadget to help you film while moving or with a moving subject.
If you’ve ever seen those videos of someone walking or running but their camera is pretty stable, they are likely using a gimbal!
These can have a small learning curve, but once you figure it out, there’s so much you can do and you’re not limited by filming content in a chair or having a stable-handed person film you while walking.
