What Video Equipment NOT to Use

i Want to tell you a story about What video Production equiPment not to use.

Hint: it’s the equipment sitting in your closet, dauntingly unused. You know, with the THICK instruction manual and the many gears you jammed your finger in before it was all set up? Or, the one with the many buttons that all have THREE functions?

Don’t use that equipment. Return it, sell it, recycle it, turn it into a fancy lamp stand.

Before I tell you WHAT equipment to use, let me tell you a true story.

Once upon a time… A few years ago, we shot a “sales contest winner” video for a Fortune 500 client.

The client needed three different videos to feature different winners for each sales area across the United States. The timing was too tight to have one crew do all three shoots, so the client hired three different production companies to do the job.

We all got the exact same briefing: A video sample, an equipment list, and written outline to prepare for the shoot and edit.

We got the East coast winner who was living and working in New York City.

We set out to organize the equipment, the crew, and location, following the briefing as closely as we could.

We shot the piece, edited it, and submitted it. We got feedback, that the client loved it (what else), and didn’t think anything more of it.

A few weeks later I got a call. The client wanted to know what camera we used. Mmmm… We used the camera that was on the list. Oh, so what lenses did you use? I have to ask the DP (camera person). I’ll get back to you.

Long story short: The client sent me the other two videos.

I nearly fell off my chair. Yes, we all used the same camera and lights –and that’s where the buck stopped. Our piece looked like AMAZballs (of course it did). We used a lens to throw the background out of focus to make the same hotel suite look like we had shot in 10 different places (New Yorkers have to be thrifty when it comes to locations).

The other two videos, frankly, were subpar. One was passable, but the third one was badly done.

The framing was off, and the interviewer must have had bad mojo with the interviewees, they were stiff and stilted, and the editing was just so sloppy.

The moral of the story is: It doesn’t matter what camera you use; it matters that you know what you’re DOING WITH IT.

Three professional (supposedly) crews used the same equipment and created videos with a wide range in quality.

What does that mean for you? Don’t worry about what equipment you’re using. Just use what you already have: Your Smartphone!

Focus on your strategy, content, and performance, that is: showing up as your best self.

Here’s the equipment you REALLY need to shoot professional quality video:

1. Smartphone (no older than iPhone

6, Androids are ALL good)

2. A desk tripod (or floor tripod if you prefer to stand, and make sure it goes high enough to be on eye level with you!)

3. A grip to attach the phone to the tripod

4. MAYBE a light or two (please, NO ring light!) – Use a light with a diffused LED bulb that is dimmable and can change from cold to warm light (I like Lume Cube, the Edge model is my fave).

The list above (minus the phone) should not run you more than US$450 MAX and that’s if you get two (!) of the Lume Cube Edges.

What equipment are you using right now?

Want to share your thoughts? Email Nina at nina@clockwiseproductions.com or DM her on LinkedIn: https://www. linkedin.com/in/nina-froriep/

Hi! We’re Robin Friend Stift and Nina Froriep of Clock Wise Productions, a New York City based video marketing company.

We teach authors, speakers, business coaches, and consultants to create easy and impactful video content for LinkedIn so they can enlighten, change, and disrupt the status quo of their industry. And we’re super excited that Juliet asked us to be your video marketing experts for 2023.

Over the next 12 months, we plan on giving you a quick overview of all aspects of video marketing to get your creative juices flowing and to get your most burning video marketing questions answered. AND, to that end we would love to hear from you! Send us a DM on LinkedIn or email Nina: nina@clockwiseproductions.com or DM her on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/ in/nina-froriep/

Nina Froriep helps mission-driven entrepreneurs to grow their business with consistent and easyto-implement video marketing through one-onone coaching or peer-learning. I’m a filmmaker, producer and director with 30 years experience and a small business owner of 23 years. I’ve seen it all from the early days on independent features, to big national TV commercials, corporate megashows and many documentary films.