Please recommend equipment to create "talking head" at home videos

JRJWrites

10 years ago

You won't even get an HD camera for $200.

Thanks

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8895992].message }}

perneali45

10 years ago

Thanks for the reply.

So, you wouldn't recommend I use my laptop's webcam, but instead buy a separate HD camera? Can you recommend one, and I'll see if I can fit it in my budget somehow.

Thanks!

Thanks

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8896001].message }}

tristatemedia

10 years ago

i use a professional service where you can pay monthly fee........not much
Talking Heads
google live person talking

Thanks

Signature

[B]MAKE MONEY OR YOUR MONEY BACK !

RECEIVE UNLIMITED CASH PAYMENTS DEPOSITED INTO YOUR FAVORITE ACCOUNT
VIA CASHAPP, PAYPAL, ZELLE

30 MINUTE SETUP !
BUSINESS IN A BOX ![/B

]

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8896064].message }}

gregdavidson727

10 years ago

Originally Posted by perneali45

Hi, everybody!

I want to create videos of myself talking, inside my house (will then upload them to Youtube).

Can you recommend simple equipment to use?

A few points:

- My laptop already has a webcam.

- My home office isn't lit so well, so I'm not sure if I need to buy a "special light" (sorry, not sure how it's called).

- Can you recommend a good lavalier?

- Total budget is, say $200.

Thanks in advance!

If you already have a web cam then why do you need a $200 camera? When it comes to videos like that, the SUBSTANCE is a little more important than the crispness of your video. Throw 10 or 20 videos up and see if people are receptive to your messages. Once you confirm this invest in a better camera.

Thanks
1 reply

Signature

>>> CLICK HERE <<< ====> 2,000 NICHE E-BOOKS WITH MRR & PLR RIGHTS! JUST $2.99! <====

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8896078].message }}

perneali45

10 years ago

Originally Posted by tristatemedia

i use a professional service where you can pay monthly fee........not much
Talking Heads
google live person talking

I want to be the one who is doing the talking - not someone else, but thanks. :-)

Originally Posted by gregdavidson727

If you already have a web cam then why do you need a $200 camera? When it comes to videos like that, the SUBSTANCE is a little more important than the crispness of your video. Throw 10 or 20 videos up and see if people are receptive to your messages. Once you confirm this invest in a better camera.

Surely I will do my best with the content. But many people want to see a "clean" video as well. Thanks for the idea on putting up some videos, I may try it!

Thanks
1 reply

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8896096].message }}

gregdavidson727

10 years ago

Originally Posted by perneali45

I want to be the one who is doing the talking - not someone else, but thanks. :-)

Surely I will do my best with the content. But many people want to see a "clean" video as well. Thanks for the idea on putting up some videos, I may try it!

If you buy your camera and nobody responds to your videos then you wasted your money. Test first and then go for perfection once you confirm that you have something that works.

Thanks
1 reply

Signature

>>> CLICK HERE <<< ====> 2,000 NICHE E-BOOKS WITH MRR & PLR RIGHTS! JUST $2.99! <====

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8896130].message }}

Dan C. Rinnert 10 years ago

If you need better lighting, put another lamp in your office. Or multiple lights. Try lamps with and without lamp shades to see what gives you the best lighting without washing out your features or giving too much glare.

If the videos work out and you decide to invest in a camera, you can also invest in a studio lighting kit.

Until then, just borrow some lamps from other rooms in your house for when you're making your videos.
- [ 1 ] Thanks
Signature

Dan's content is irregularly read by handfuls of people. Join the elite few by reading his blog: dcrBlogs.com, following him on Twitter: dcrTweets.com or reading his fiction: dcrWrites.com but NOT by Clicking Here!

Dan also writes content for hire, but you can't afford him anyway.
{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8896185].message }}

moneymakingpillarsx

10 years ago

How good is your current web cam? Does the video look pixelated or low quality? If not, you should be good to go with your own webcam.

If your built in webcam is not good quality, there are many HD video webcams on Amazon available for under $100. Just go to Amazon and search HD webcam and you'll find what you want.

As for lighting, try lamps or lights at different places in the room including in front and to the sides. That way you are cross lit and the light is not over powering. Test the video quality several times to ensure there is no glare on your face.

Before you start your video, take a look at what other people have done to get some ideas. You would be surprised how unpolished some videos can be. But the content is what matters. Just practice a few times and ask friends for feedback on the finished video. Then upload and start promoting your video on Facebook and forums to get traffic.

Thanks

Signature

David Oriol
-------------------------------------------------->>>
AFFILIATE links and sites you don't control!) Get all the details here

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8902926].message }}

spearce000

10 years ago

For best results, you need to employ what's known as “3 Point Lighting”. You have a Key Light, Fill Light, and Background Light”.

This page explains it better than I can here: BBC Academy - Production - Three point lighting: intro

These lights don't have to be expensive – this guy uses lights from Home Depot, and the results don't look all that bad to me - if he had zoomed in so you can't see the light, I mean.

Video Lighting Tips (on the cheap) - YouTube

As far as a camera goes: you can probably pick up a good used one on eBay – just make sure it has an external mic socket.

Thanks

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8903640].message }}

Beatinest

10 years ago

Logitec920c hd #webcam, under $100. For lights go to your local hardware store and put together a "bootleg" kit.

That consists of the following:

2 or 4 daylight balanced bulbs in the highest watt you can find.
2 or 4 work light clips (so you can clip them anywhere you want).
1 de-cluttered background. (came use your room, just make sure it's clean and not distracting from you).

That's it. You should be able to put it all together for $140 or less.

Good luck!

Thanks

Signature

⋆⋆⋆⋆ Everything you need for your YouTube channel ⋆⋆⋆⋆

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8903925].message }}

Jesus Perez

10 years ago

Wistia covered this completely with a budget of $100. They used an iPhone but you can use your webcam just the same.

Here are the videos in order.

iPhone Camera
AppSumo - Sent from my iPhone - AppSumo

Behind the Scenes
AppSumo - iPhone Behind the Scenes - AppSumo

The Down and Dirty Lighting Kit ($90 Spent)
AppSumo - The Down and Dirty Lighting Kit - AppSumo

Webcam Shooting
AppSumo - Lighting for a Webcam - AppSumo
Chris used iGlasses ($20) to pretty up his face :-)

Home Depot Shopping List: