Anyone can be a content creator and in light of this, nothing should stop you from being one. Many times, we have heard people say “I can’t start creating content now because I don’t have everything I need.” The truth is that you can’t keep waiting for what you need if you don’t work towards it. The best way to go about this is to start from somewhere and with what you have. Your videos may not have the best quality on the first try and this is why it is a ” first try” and no one expects you to be a Pro on the first attempt.
The idea of starting from somewhere also means that you can shoot your videos with simple tools before you can afford the sophisticated ones. Also, if you need props or decors to make your product photos appear good, you can DIY materials that can serve as an im provision. The smart way to commence your journey as a content creator is to “Just start with the resources” you have.
How can I start my content creation journey with what I have?
This is one question that you alone can answer but first, you need to decide what type of content creator you want to be. Most content creators have leaned towards videos because they can catch the attention of people faster and keep them engaged.
Whether you want to be a YouTuber, photographer, or an influencer, at one point or the other, you are either taking pictures or making videos. So, your best bet is to never procrastinate your creative journey.
These tools are affordable and should help you start right away!
If you have been thinking of plying the content creation route for a while, you can hit the road with these simple and affordable tools:
A Smart Phone
If you cannot afford a camera yet, get a smartphone that you think you can afford. If you can get an iPhone, Samsung, or a Google Pixel phone (because the camera quality is much better), don’t hesitate. And, if the prices are on the high side, there are other affordable smartphones within the range of N45,000 – N100,00; the quality of your pictures or videos from these phones may not be as good as the ones from the expensive phones but most important part of the journey is that you were able to start with something.
Microphone
Depending on your model of phone, you can decide the type of microphone to purchase. There are microphones made for Android devices, Apple Devices, and even both. According to Jumia, an android/wireless microphone costs N9,890 while the dual type microphone (for Android and Apple devices) costs N13,700. Although there are other more expensive ones, remember that you can start with affordable tools. If you can afford more, then you can go for it.
Light
Lighting is essential for content creation as it impacts the quality and mood of your content. While natural lighting can sometimes work, you can also use artificial lighting during times when the natural light is inconsistent or insufficient. The good thing is you don’t even need an expensive light to get good lighting because there are affordable lights such as the ring lights. The ring light varies but the cheapest – a 10-inch LED light + tripod stand, as seen on Jumia is N8,500. The other affordable inches and prices include :
- 12inches + tripod stand – N10,700
- 14inches + tripod stand – N19,900
- 18inches + tripod stand + LED multicolor + Phone holder – N30,000
Props
Props basically help to provide aesthetics to the pictures or videos. If you are into DIY, you don’t have to spend money buying props. Look around the house, if you find old books, decorative pillows, vases, or other household items that you can repurpose to build good props. Another alternative is to use flowers or plants depending on what you need the props for (videos or photos)
Phone holders/tripods
Most content creators don’t always find people to help them record certain moments. So, they resort to Tripods and sticks that can help them capture every moment even when there is no one around to help. Jumia says this device is N3,999.
These simple tools can help you kickstart your content creation journey. Don’t be bothered about starting with these types of tools, remember that things can only get better. But, for it to get better, you must have, at least put in some work.
