What equipment is necessary?

- So in Chapter 1 we discussed how do I get the job. Now in Chapter 2 we're going to discuss how do I get the job done, and in our first lesson here we're going to discuss equipment. What I have, what I need. So starting out I mean at the most basic, you can have a camera and a tripod. I started doing that with my patch videos. I didn't even have any extra audio, and I was able to get work and put out products. Now camera, you can choose a DSLR or a camcorder. It really depends on preference and what you're looking for. I like the DSLR because if you're entry level, the price specs are lower. You have interchangeable lenses, manuals control, and HD quality. Even at the entry level ones you're looking at 1080p. Now there can be a variety and the sensor size, the crispness, full frame versus cropped, that's just something you're going to want to do a little research in yourself to, to see what kind of price point you have and what budget you have and what you're willing to explore. On the camcorder side they're a little more expensive, but they are camcorders. They're not cameras with video capabilities, and that way you can get even more manual controls and usually there's audio inputs for XLR and things like that. So sort of take into consideration what you're looking to film, what's your budget, and what you can get away with. Now what I would recommend though is if you're going to be doing this for a living, that you're going to need a little more equipment. So in addition to a camera and a tripod, I recommend you cover your audio. So if you're doing a DSLR you're going to need an external audio option. A great one I like to use is a zoom 4NH4n though there are other options out there 'cause that gives you XLR inputs. It records on an SD drive and you can plug a myriad of things into it whether it be a shotgun mic which you might consider getting or a Lav mic which is crucial for the business profile interview type settings. Especially when you're in a noisy business environment to have it just right up there whether it's wired or wireless, it's a life saver. You need it to do it 'cause you need that, the clients expect that sort of crispness. Now in addition to that you never know what your location's going to be it's good to have a light kit with you. So you can have you fill, your key, your backlight. They're a little expensive but they're worth it and it's good to at least, even if you can only start off with one or two with some umbrellas, it's going to be a world of a difference than having fluorescent lights in some office that you're trying to shoot with so make sure you have a light kit that you're comfortable with, practice with, that you can get going with. Now another thing, is you're going to want to invest in yourself and in your business you don't want to just get the basics and be like that's it I'm done 'cause projects are going to call for more equipment and better equipment and you want to be prepared that when someone calls up that you can say, yes I can do it so yes there are rental options but it's nice to have little things on hand too. Like a slider you can get for cheap, which just adds a next level of professionalism. Some sort of Steadicam options there's tons out there that you can do and even teleprompter. If you have an iPad you have a teleprompter, and for $100 more you can go online and buy a little stand for it with the beam splitter glass and that's a life saver. Clients love to hear that you have one of those 'cause they're like wait I don't have to memorize things that's great. So it's definitely something great to have, and be on the lookout for. Now with that said when you have this type of equipment don't just throw it in your pile and that's it. You can charge for this. You can raise your rates, this equipment costs money, they're paying for that equipment so if you have a slider or a teleprompter maybe get that an option. Be like hey oh we can include the teleprompter for 50 extra dollars, or we have the slider option and yeah X amount of dollars and another thing you're also going to want to look at investing in over time is lenses, you can have the greatest sensor but if your lenses aren't good it's not going to look great and it's okay to start off with a kit lens, if you get that with the camera. But depending on what camera you do, if you have interchangeable lenses there's a high range of quality you can go through and it really just depends on what you're willing to invest in but I would say have a spectrum of lenses though have your wide, have your 35/50 and then also have telephoto 'cause you never know in b-roll when you're going to need something further down the line so if you can cover from 18 to 200 with a few lenses you're going to have all the range in the world to shoot exactly what you want to shoot. Now don't forget the little things like memory cards, batteries, gloves, extra bulbs et cetera, you might think you have the basics but there's a whole bunch of little parts that you need too if you're going to function as a freelancer and you're going to want to make sure you have them all so your to do item for this lesson is to make an equipment checklist of everything that you need or you think you might need. Budget it out, have a wishlist, have a need list and you'll be set.