I’m the self-declared queen of DIY content. Investing in quality creative work when it’s needed is always worth it, but sometimes creating your own content for a launch or new product offering is totally doable. With a quick, affordable at-home setup, you can create high-quality content without breaking the bank.
For the launch of my new website, I had a vision for a clean, retro-inspired video with some fun choppy content. So, with the help of my hubby (who is always willing and excited to help bring my creative ideas to life, love ya babe!) and the DIY studio I have set up in our guest bedroom, we were able to create a video that turned out exactly how I was hoping. Check it out here and let me know what you think!
I’ve gotten questions about my setup and want to empower you to make some badass content from the comfort of your own home too. Keep reading for my guide on making your own killer photo and video content at home!
The Setup
1. Backdrop Stand
If you’re doing any shooting inside your home, you’ll want to have a backdrop setup. I prefer a large backdrop stand, this one is 8 feet by 10 feet, so you can get a variety of shots. This stand is portable and easy to put together, so it’s great to travel with if you need to set up a backdrop at a different location (or in my case, if you need to clean up your guest bedroom!).
2. White Backdrop, Black Backdrop, or a Colorful Backdrop
Depending on the style of your shoot, you’ll want to pick out a backdrop to use with your stand. I have black, white, and a couple of different colors. I love getting paper backdrops that match my brand colors, like the olive green color that you’ll see in some of the pictures on my site. Not only is it great for a brand photography shoot, but you can use it for quick product or launch shoots knowing the pictures will always be on-brand and match the rest of your look. Search ‘Savage Seamless Background Paper’ on Amazon and you’ll find a wide variety of colors and sizes.
3. Softbox Lighting
Unless you’re lucky enough to have floor to ceiling windows with gorgeous natural light at your house, these softbox lights are a must. Bright, glowy lights instantly elevate the look of your photos and videos, and allow you to shoot at any time of the day for those late night content days!
Equipment & Editing
1. Camera Equipment
I used to do portrait and wedding photographer, so I’m fortunate to have some great camera equipment to use. My launch video was filmed with a Canon 6D and a 35mm lens, but I truly believe that with the right setup and editing, you can make photos and videos taken on an iPhone work perfectly for social media content. If you have a decent camera body and are looking for a really great and affordable lens, I can’t recommend the 50mm enough!
2. Tezza App
The Tezza app is my go-to app for editing photos and videos on my phone. It’s truly the best. For my site launch video, I added a consistent filter and some vintage film effects with this app.
3. Editing Software
I was lucky enough to have a friend offer to save me some time and piece together my clips in Adobe Premiere Pro (thanks Michael! Check him out on Insta – @mikeagye), but I would typically use Adobe Premier Rush to piece together a video like this. If you don’t have the Adobe Creative Suite, don’t underestimate what you can do with a free program like iMovie. There’s also plenty of affordable iPhone apps that you can use to piece together your clips. Do some experimenting and find an option that works best for you!
Shooting Tips
1. Spend time planning the look and vibe of your shoot.
Spend time planning the details in advance! What mood are you going for? What music will you pair with video content? What editing style will you use on the content? All of these factors contribute to creating above-average content. Be sure that the colors of your backdrop and outfit match your brand colors so that the content looks cohesive across platforms.
2. Use props that align with your brand and shoot theme.
Props can be your best friend! I wanted my launch video to feel like a celebration, so I bought a disco ball that brought depth and movement to my shoot, and also looked great with my sparkly outfit. I also had a margarita (cheers!), which is a prop that I used in the brand photography on my website. Props are also a great way to make you feel more comfortable in front of the camera. If you’re not sure what to do with your hands, grab a prop and try different poses.
3. Find ways to repurpose content.
If you’re shooting photos for a new launch, why not shoot a bit of video that you can use as b-roll on your website too? Err on the side of capturing more content than you think you need. There’s nothing worse than getting all dressed up for a shoot only to realize you didn’t get all of the content you needed when you start editing. Fresh photos and video can continuously be used to update website photos, for social media, or in new blog posts. The sky’s the limit so keep it fresh!
