What equipment do you need to make YouTube videos with your smartphone?

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Welke spullen heb je nodig om YouTube-video’s te maken met je smartphone?

With over 2 billion active users worldwide, YouTube is one of the largest video platforms. Many people also use YouTube as a search engine, especially for explanations, reviews, and inspiration. If you want to build a large potential reach, YouTube is an interesting platform for uploading videos.

Good news: you don't need an expensive camera to get started. With your smartphone, good sound, stable images, and simple lighting, you can get surprisingly far. In this blog, we list the most important gear for aspiring YouTubers who want to start smart.

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The foundation for any YouTube video

Whatever type of video you're making, there are a few things to keep in mind for all videos where you film your own content.

  • Stable footage
    Stable footage looks calm. This allows the viewer to fully focus on what is happening in the video, instead of on erratic camera movements.
  • Good sound
    Especially on a video platform, good sound is one of the most important factors. If the audio is poor, viewers are more likely to tune out because the message comes across less effectively.
  • Sufficient light
    In a video, what you are filming must be clearly visible. Therefore, always ensure sufficient light. Especially when filming indoors, extra lighting can make a big difference.
  • A charged battery and enough storage space
    Your smartphone or camera must be ready to film. Therefore, check beforehand if you have enough storage space and if your battery is sufficiently charged. This is especially important for longer shoots.

This sounds simple, but it's a common beginner's mistake to overlook at least one of these points. The right equipment can be a huge help here. We'll come back to that later in this blog.

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First, decide what kind of YouTube videos you want to make

The equipment you need depends on the type of video you want to make. Someone who makes vlogs needs different accessories than someone who makes product videos, tutorials, or talking-head videos.

When vlogging, you often film yourself and your surroundings. A selfie stick is useful then (see image), because it allows you to hold your phone further away and capture more of the environment. For a product video, a selfie stick is less logical. There, you primarily want stable, fixed shots. A tripod is a better choice.

In short: first decide what kind of videos you want to make before buying accessories. This way, you avoid purchasing items that you will barely use in the end.

View equipment for making YouTube videos

  • MOJOGEAR TS4 Tracking Tripod with Selfie Stick - MagSafe & Clamp

    €49,95
    €49,95
    MOJOGEAR TS4 Tracking statief met selfiestick - MagSafe & Klem - Selfiesticks

  • Ulanzi A200 Wireless Mini Microphone USB-C - Black

    €74,95
    €74,95
    Ulanzi A200 Mini Mic draadloze microfoon USB-C - Zwart - Draadloze microfoons
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  • Telesin 360° Neck Mount Combo - for GoPro & Smartphone - Grey

    €37,95
    €37,95
    Telesin Neck Mount 360º Combo - GoPro & Smartphone - Grijs - GoPro Mounts

  • Telesin Neck Mount 360º Combo - GoPro & Smartphone - Black

    €37,95
    €37,95
    Telesin Neck Mount 360º Combo - GoPro & Smartphone - Zwart - GoPro Mounts

  • VIJIM K3 Desktop LED video light for streaming, YouTube and video calling

    €89,95
    €89,95
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    VIJIM K3 Desktop LED-videolamp voor streamen, YouTube en videobellen - Desktoplampen

  • Comica STA-U1 USB-microfoon voor streaming, studio, podcast

    €79,95
    €79,95
    Comica STA-U1 USB-microfoon voor streaming, studio, podcast - Studiomicrofoons

  • MOJOGEAR VS2 Selfie Vlog Monitor for iPhone and Android - White

    €54,95
    €54,95
    MOJOGEAR VS2 Selfie Vlog Monitor voor iPhone en Android - Wit - Overige producten

  • MOJOGEAR VS2 Selfie Vlog Monitor for iPhone and Android - Gray

    €54,95
    €54,95
    MOJOGEAR VS2 Selfie Vlog Monitor voor iPhone en Android - Donkergrijs - Overige producten

  • MOJOGEAR TS2 6-in-1 Mini Selfie Stick Tripod & Grip for Phone Magnetic - White

    €26,95
    €26,95
    MOJOGEAR TS2 6-in-1 Mini Selfiestick Statief & Grip voor telefoon Magnetisch - Wit - Statieven en toebehoren

  • MOJOGEAR TS2 6-in-1 Mini Selfie Stick Tripod & Phone Grip Magnetic - Black

    €26,95
    €26,95
    MOJOGEAR TS2 6-in-1 Mini Selfiestick Statief & Grip voor telefoon Magnetisch - Zwart - Statieven en toebehoren

  • Telesin MagSafe Smartphone neck mount extra large - Sky Blue

    €39,95
    €39,95
    Telesin MagSafe Smartphone neck mount extra groot - Sky Blue - Telefoonhouders

  • Telesin MINI Selfiestick Phone Tripod - with Magsafe & Remote

    €36,95
    €36,95
    Telesin MINI Selfiestick telefoonstatief - met Magsafe & remote - Selfiesticks

What equipment do you need per type of YouTube video?

Knowing what kind of YouTube videos you want to create will help you determine what equipment you need. Below, you'll find suggestions for accessories that may be useful for each video type.

  • Talking head video

    A talking head video is a video in which one person speaks directly to the camera. This type of video is often used for explainer videos, reviews, interviews, and educational content.

    Three things are important for a talking head video: stable image, good audio, and sufficient light on the person in frame. A tripod, microphone, and video light are therefore the most important accessories. If the person moves during the video, a tracking tripod can be useful. This keeps the person in frame while the recording remains stable.

  • MOJOGEAR Vlog KIT: mini-statief, telefoonhouder & extra lange selfie stick - Ministatieven

    Vlog

    A vlog is a video in which you record yourself and your activities. This type of video is ideal if you want to take viewers with you through your day, during a trip, or for a specific activity.

    When vlogging, you want to be able to film yourself and your surroundings well. Additionally, you want to be audible and prevent your phone or camera from running out of battery halfway through. Therefore, a selfie stick, wireless microphone, and power bank are useful accessories for this type of video.

  • MOJOGEAR Lumi Bicolor LED-lamp 6.5W - Mini - Cameralampen

    Product video

    Do you want to highlight a product or demonstrate how a product works as a company? Then a product video is a good choice. In a product video, everything revolves around the product: the details, functions, benefits, and use.

    For product videos, stable and well-lit images are extra important. A tripod and video light help with this. If you are filming with your smartphone, you also need a phone holder or rig to securely attach your phone to the tripod.
  • Ulanzi TT88 Overhead smartphone selfiestick - Wit - Selfiesticks

    Top-down video tutorial

    Are you making a video where you explain something, draw, craft, or demonstrate something on a table? Then a top-down video is often the best choice. This involves filming from above, so the viewer can clearly see what you are doing.

    For this type of video, you need a tripod that is height-adjustable and can be pointed downwards. An overhead tripod is ideal for this. In addition, good lighting is important so that everything remains clearly visible. If you want to provide explanations during the video, a microphone is recommended. You can talk along live or record a voice-over afterwards.

  • Telesin magnetische neck mount voor smartphone - Grijs - Telefoonhouders

    POV video

    A POV (Point of View) video is a video where the viewer sees the same perspective as you during an activity. Examples include sports videos, cooking videos, or videos where you're doing something with your hands.

    If you're filming with your smartphone, a neck mount is often the best option. This allows you to attach your phone in front of your body, so you can capture your perspective well. Depending on your smartphone and mount, this can be done with a phone holder or magnetic attachment.

    Want to know more about POV videos? Then read our blog: "POV video: what is it and how do you make one?"
MOJOGEAR TS4 Tracking statief met selfiestick - MagSafe & Klem - Selfiesticks

Common Mistakes When Making YouTube Videos

Making mistakes is part of the process, especially when you're just starting. However, many beginner mistakes can be easily avoided. Here are the most important ones:

  • Focusing only on camera quality
    A good camera helps, but camera quality isn't the only thing that matters. Sound, lighting, and stability are at least as important. A video with mediocre visuals but good sound is often more watchable than a video with beautiful visuals and poor audio.
  • Filming without a tripod
    Even if you think you have a steady hand, a tripod is often better. In video, small movements quickly become noticeable. This can make footage look restless, especially in explainer videos, product videos, or tutorials.
  • Accepting bad sound
    Many beginners think: "It's all about the visuals, right?" But sound is at least as important. If viewers can't understand you well or hear a lot of noise, they'll disengage faster. An external microphone can therefore be a big improvement.
  • Making images that are too dark
    Images that are too dark often come across as unprofessional. Especially indoors, there is usually less light than you think. A video light can then make a big difference to the quality of your recording.
  • Buying too many accessories without a clear purpose
    It's tempting to immediately buy all sorts of accessories. However, that's not always smart. Only buy accessories that you know what you're going to use them for. This prevents you from spending money on items that don't suit your type of video.
  • Not considering battery life
    Filming consumes a lot of battery. Especially if you make longer videos, film outdoors, or record multiple takes, your smartphone can run out of power faster than expected. Therefore, make sure you have a charger or power bank handy.

Smart start without buying too much gear

The right equipment can improve your YouTube videos, but you don't need to buy everything at once. Start with the basics and only expand when you know what you really need.

  1. Start with stable footage
    Stable footage immediately makes your video calmer and more professional. Depending on the type of video you're making, start with a tripod or selfie stick.
  2. Then improve your sound
    If your footage is stable, sound is the next step. A microphone ensures that you are more understandable and that your video appears more professional.
  3. Add light if you often film indoors
    Do you often film indoors? Then extra lighting is almost always a smart upgrade. A video light helps to make your subject more visible and improve your image quality.
  4. Only expand when you know what type of video you make more often
    Do you have the basics covered? Then you can expand in a targeted way. If you often make vlogs, a selfie screen monitor can be useful. If you film a lot of POV videos, a neck mount makes sense. If you want to start or stop filming remotely, a Bluetooth remote can be handy.

This purchase order is a recommendation. Be critical of what you need for the type of YouTube videos you want to make.

Conclusion: Which YouTube setup is right for you?

What equipment you need to make YouTube videos mainly depends on the type of video you want to create. For a vlog, you'll need different accessories than for a product video, tutorial, or talking head video. Nevertheless, the basics almost always remain the same: ensure stable footage, good sound, sufficient light, and a charged battery with enough storage space.

Therefore, don't immediately start buying all sorts of accessories, but first look at your goal. Do you want to film yourself, capture products, or create a POV video? From there, you can determine what gear is truly necessary. In most cases, you can get far with a tripod or selfie stick, a microphone, and good lighting. After that, you can specifically expand your setup with accessories that suit your filming style.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do you need an expensive camera to make YouTube videos?

No, certainly not. For many YouTube videos, a good smartphone is already enough. Especially if you ensure stable footage, good sound, and sufficient light. An expensive camera can become interesting later, but it is not necessary to start with.

What's more important for YouTube videos: video or audio?

Sound is often more important than visuals. Viewers are more likely to accept a video that looks slightly less professional than one with poor, crackly, or inaudible sound. Therefore, an external microphone is one of the first upgrades you should consider.

What equipment do you minimally need to start a YouTube channel?

The minimal setup consists of a smartphone, a tripod or phone holder, a microphone, and sufficient lighting. With this, you can already record talking head videos, tutorials, product videos, and simple vlogs. Later, you can expand with additional accessories such as a power bank, LED light, or gimbal.

Can you make YouTube videos without a studio?

Yes. You don't need a studio to make good YouTube videos. A quiet place, enough light, and a stable setup are often sufficient. For example, film near a window, use a tripod, and make sure the background isn't too busy.

How do you prevent your YouTube videos from looking amateurish?

Above all, ensure your image is calm. Use a stable camera angle, avoid filming in a messy environment, and pay attention to distracting background noise. Small improvements, such as better lighting, a fixed composition, and clear sound, will immediately make your video more professional.

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