Everything you need for YouTube stardom

• The Oscars are all about the stars — literally. In fact, the gold coating on the awards is the same as that used on telescopes to view distant galaxies.
• Traditional celebrities aren’t the only ones making headlines. After Vine shut down, the most popular users took to YouTube for one main reason: to generate revenue from their content.
• Being a YouTuber can certainly be lucrative. Top earner DanTDM, a 26-year-old, pocketed $16.5 million from his gaming videos.

Let’s face it, to be a Bawse on YouTube, you’ve got to do your homework. Over the years, YouTube has turned out to be a lot more than your first trip to the zoo. Vloggers on YouTube are more into doing videos that show themselves, instead of being behind the scenes. Thanks to mobile technology, shooting videos has become equally easy. You just need to figure out the perfect setup that works for your content and let your ideas flow. Naturally, with all that competition, you do need to make sure your videos stand out from the crowd. Whether it’s in the way you use the video camera or the text you add to the video, the entire process needs to be chalked out beforehand. However, you can’t go about doing this without the right gadgets and apps. Now with artificial intelligence on the scene, things might just get even more complicated (or easy, you never know!).

Perfect setup – what do you need to consider?

1. Lighting – Lighting matters above almost anything else. But, instead of opting for artificial light, it’s always advisable to find a natural source. Nevertheless, you can always look for artificial sources in case your work area is devoid of a proper light source. For those of you who use natural light, make sure the direct sun is not in your picture. It might mess up colors and blow out your image.
2. Camera – Choosing the right camera is crucial for all YouTubers. Webcams can do the job initially but, if you’re looking to make your videos more professional, try using a decent quality DSLR camera. You can also use your iPhone if you’re shooting your videos on the go. But make sure to use a stabilizer.
3. Background – Maybe instead of a green screen, you can have a background that shows off “your personality.” It could be anything from sports posters to action figures or books. Your background is a little snapshot of your world, so make sure you give it some love before you hit record.
4. Microphone – In order to be completely audible in your videos, you need to consider a good-quality microphone. With a decent one, no matter where you shoot your videos from, your voice is always clear.
5. Software – Using software like Adobe Premiere Pro or Final Cut Pro X is a great place to start. They’re easy to understand and will get the job done professionally.

Did You Know: Stories is YouTube’s new lightweight video format, now in beta, that aims to enhance video presentation for those without proper equipment.

Apps you need

There are countless lists of apps to make your videos the best. But, we found this one from Nick Nimmin to be just perfect:

1. Snapseed – Photo editing
2. Legend – Intros and text slides
3. Open Camera – Manual camera settings
4. Creator Studio – Manage your channel
5. Patreon – Grow your community

Must-have gadgets

1. iOS Shotgun Microphone

Blow away your audience with rich and clear sound with the powerful Rode VideoMic Me Compact iOS Shotgun Microphone. Compact, lightweight, and easy to transport, this portable mic plugs into the 3.5mm headphone jack of your smartphone.

2. Canon EOS-1D Mark II DSLR

Pulling out all the stops, this latest edition has something for everyone. It’s loaded up with a 20.2-megapixel full-frame CMOS sensor, with up to 51,200 native ISO and 14 frames per second in continuous shooting mode.

3. X-H1 Mirrorless Digital Camera

The latest release from Fujifilm offers an impressive 24.3-megapixel X-Trans sensor. It also has a 3-inch tilting LCD screen, a new in-body image stabilization system, and a weatherproof body. Furthermore, the body is made of a magnesium alloy that is 25% thicker than previous models.

4. The World’s First Cinematic Smartcase

The Lumenati CS1 combines the technological features of a digital device (film-free shooting, instant sharing, and an editing app) with the cool design, ergonomic ease, and natural narrative that the lo-fi classic camera is known for. Cinematographers simply pop their device into the Lumenati CS1, just as grandpa would load an 8mm film cartridge.

5. HipJib Camera Support

By fitting into the palm of your hand, this support enables smooth camera movements anytime anywhere. Your photographic side will get a boost in terms of crisp and perfect shots, and this device also makes the whole process comfier.

At the end of the day, what matters the most is your consistency. Don’t stop with just one video. Keep producing on a regular basis and share them across your other social channels for maximum awareness. You’ll find your style and content along the way to figure out what best resonates with your viewers.