In a world of abundant online opportunities, jumping into content creation can feel overwhelming. With numerous platforms and apps that encompass creation from video, audio, photo, and more, deciding what type of content you want to make can feel just as stressful as how you plan to do it.
Whether you’re looking to create short-form videos for TikTok or Instagram, longer-form videos for YouTube, or more static content for platforms such as LinkedIn, Instagram, X (formerly known as Twitter), or other social platforms, you’re going to want to start off by acquiring a basic tool-kit for creation.
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If you don’t know where to get started, let us break dow the basics. From cameras to lighting to essential software, ZDNET has compiled a list of everything you need for content creation, based on personal experience, hands-on testing and research by our team, and expert analysis.
A camera
It comes as no surprise that if you’re looking to enter into the content creating world that you’re going to need a camera. Since there are numerous models available across all price points, it’s best to consider what you’ll really be using your camera for the most (photos, video, vlogging, outdoor film, etc). Below are the best cameras for content creation based on ZDNET’s expert research and review.
Sony’s ZV-1F camera is specially designed with content creators and vloggers in mind, combining all the great elements of a Sony camera with easy-to-use content creation essentials all for under $600. This cam features an ultra-wide 20mm lens to ensure everything fits in your frame, even just at a arm’s length away, and is equipped with Eye-AF autofocus tracking technology to stay on the move with you.
This GoPro camera bundle includes the top-of-the-line Hero11 camera as well as several mounts and accessories to get your content creation started right out of the box. With an expansive field of view and 5.3K video quality, the Hero11 offers crips detail and cinematic image quality with ease. A water-repelling lens cover eliminates lens flare and high resolution and high frame rate capabilities allow for slo-mo playback and still-captures.
A long-standing camera among content creators, the Canon PowerShot is a sleek camera that features advanced sensor design and flexible image capacities. Equipped with a 4.2x lens perfect for zooming, you can ensure all your angles are covered.
Designed to withstand difficult lighting conditions, the PowerShot additionally offers an Optical Image Stabilizer to reduce shaking and incorporates a touchscreen LCD for easy use. The cam is able to connect to Wi-Fi or Bluetooth for mobile use.
The Dji pocket camera is also designed specifically for content creators–especially for those on the go. Built with a three-axis gimble to create smooth video on the move, and equipped with four microphones designed to record audio from different directions, you can always have high quality recording available in an easy-to-travel size.
The cam features a built in Glamour Effects and boasts a 93 degree angle view, creating more flexible capture and perfect shots for social media.
A tripod
If you’re looking to create content hands-free, a tripod is a great accessory. It can also maximize your options for the type of content you can create, too (no more relying on your best friend to take your Instagram pictures). Tripods come in all shapes and sizes, designed both for smartphones and traditional cameras. Here are some of our top picks.
This 60-inch tripod from Amazon comes with its own carry bag for easy transport and weighs under three pounds. It features adjustable-height legs and rubber feet for stability, offers tilt and swivel functions, and is compatible with most video cameras, digital cameras, still cameras, GoPro devices, smartphone adapters, and scopes.
This portable and flexible tripod comes with a wireless remote for easy photo and video control and is the perfect size for travel or on-the-go use. With a maximum height of 10 inches, this compact tripod ensures you can get great shots without the hassle of a larger setup. Shoot in either portrait or landscape mode thanks to a moveable ball head, too.
This two-in-one selfie stick and phone tripod is design for portability and is perfect for traveling abroad. With a built-in rechargeable wireless remote, take photos and videos with ease, wherever you are. The tripod features adjustable height and the mount is suitable for most Android and iPhone devices between 4-7 inches in length.
A ring light
Good lighting is a must for most forms of content creation, especially photo and video. Thankfully. there are plenty of options to enhance any lighting situation both at home and on-the-go, such as a quality ring light. The best ring lights offer customized lighting effects to make you stand on on video.
This selfie ring light also doubles as a tripod stand and smartphone holder, making it the perfect tabletop setup for live streaming or creating content like TikTok videos. The ring light features a max height of 10 inches, and is equipped with three different dimmable lighting settings: warm white, cool white, and daylight, each with 10 levels of brightness to choose from. This under $30 purchase is compatible with both Apple and Android phones.
Looking for something bigger? This selfie ring light is equipped with a 50-inch extendable tripod stand and a high sensitivity touch panel design that easily controls three light settings: cool white, warm yellow, and daylight, each with 10 brightness levels. The ring light comes with a Bluetooth remote for quick photo taking and is compatible with most devices, featuring a phone holder which extends up to 5.3 inches wide.
This clip-on ring light is designed to be placed on top of your laptop or monitor to create improved lighting for video calls, live streams, interviews, and more. The compact ring light features three color temperatures, each with five levels of brightness adjustments, and is equipped with 48 LED lamp beads. The clip allows for rotation to adjust the direction and angle of the added light, and the device is easily powered by a USB.
A backdrop or green screen
If you’re looking to create content from a space that doesn’t offer the aesthetics or set up you want, a backdrop or green screen is an easy and affordable way to streamline your content creation process while bringing cohesion and professionalism to your work.
This photo background support system is a lightweight complete setup that is adjustable to a maximum of 8.6 feet. The bundle comes with the aluminum backdrop frame, four clamps designed to hold canvas, muslin, paper and photos to prevent slip-out, a carrying bag and one white backdrop with creaseless technologies so you can start creating right out of the box.
This lightweight photo kit comes with everything you need to set up the perfect backdrop for your content needs. Equipped with a flexible frame to maximize adjustments, the Emart backdrop kit has a maximum height of 7 feet and is a well-packaged all-in-one photo setup that includes two adjustable light stands, two retractable crossbars, eight clamps, two sandbags, and a carrying bag.
This green screen kit is perfect for content creation if you’re looking to easily superimpose or replace backgrounds. Take a page right from Hollywood and conveniently create professional-quality live streams, vlogs, photography, and more with this all-in-one kit that comes with a tripod, a green screen backdrop, four clamps, and a carrying bag.
An editing software
If you’re embarking on a content creating journey, you’re going to need the proper computer software to help you edit and perfect the video, photos, graphics and more you that you generate. Keep in mind that specific content endeavors, like creating videos on YouTube, may require more expensive and expansive software to achieve your content goals. Here are a few of our favorites.
Adobe’s creative suite gives you access to over 20 Adobe applications that can aid or streamline your content creation, including Lightroom, Premier Pro, InDesign, After Effects, Photoshop and more. The Adobe suite allows you to edit video and photo, create graphics and alternative content, generate filters, design websites, and do pretty much anything content related.
Designed specifically for Mac and iOS comes Apple iMovie, Apple’s touted video editing program. Use the videos right on your Apple device to make instant movies. Simply choose the media you want to use and then let Magic Movie do its work, highlighting the best footage and automatically editing out the rest. Add titles, music, and transitions to up the ante and employ one of the 20 different styles to give your video extra flare.
You might also need:
Although we’ve detailed some of the key items essential for content creation, there’s always a few more things to consider, especially when it comes to your supply kit. If you’re hoping to make creating online content easier and more efficient, these other options may be just what you’re looking for.
A content creator — no matter amateur or professional — aims to create audio, visual, written, or spoken content that helps establish a connection with a particular target audience.
An influencer is any person that influences another individual to say or do something, such as purchase a specific product. In particular, influencers are any person with the ability to influence potential buyers of a product, service, or lifestyle by promoting or recommending curated content and information, especially on social media platforms.
The type of content you create generally dictates which platform is best suited to host your content. While many platforms such as Instagram and TikTok offer similar types of posts and engagement, you may find that one works better for your content than another.
Similarly, many platforms have a historic standard for the types of content seen on them. For example, YouTube is often home to longer-form videos with creators across all interests. Some popular platforms you can post content on include Instagram, TikTok, LinkedIn, YouTube, X (formerly known as Twitter), Threads, Snapchat, Reddit, Facebook, Tumblr, and more.
The short answer here is yes, you can monetize the content you create. Though receiving payment for your content is not easy to achieve, many individuals are able to make money via their creator status through leveraging things such as large followings, high engagement rates, trusted relationships with viewers, notoriety or extensive education in a particular discipline, affiliate programs or partnerships with brands, and more.