The gear you already own
Your phone is enough. That is not consolation. It is true. What separates amateur material from usable material is almost never the camera.
The three things that actually show
- Sound. A viewer forgives a soft picture but switches off at bad sound. A simple lavalier microphone in the phone is the cheapest quality upgrade there is.
- Light. A window is free and better than most lamps. More on placement in the next course.
- Stability. A tripod, or the phone leaned against something. Shaky footage looks accidental, and accidental is not the same as authentic.
What you do not need to buy yet
A system camera, a ring light, a green screen, a microphone arm. All of that solves problems you do not have yet. Buy when you hit the limit, not before.
Tidy the frame
Look at what is visible behind you before you press record. Half the impression of "professional" is that someone moved the laundry basket.
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