We’re often asked about the equipment or tools we use to record User Generated Content video, both hardware and software. Below is a list of what owner, Grant Holmes uses every single day. Note, most links are affiliate links where we earn a few pennies if you purchase through these links.
Basic tools | My Tripod Setup | UGC Lighting | Other stuff that helps | GreenScreen (in studio) Tools |
Basic tools: This is the stuff I think you should have for UGC:
The first thing you HAVE TO HAVE is the smart phone you already have!! Many people will ask if you have an iPhone, but just say ‘no’ if you don’t. It really doesn’t matter! Most any “modern” smart phone will suffice. Just be sure to know how to set up your camera to match buyer expectations. Oh yeah, clean your lenses before you shoot!!!!
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Grant says: I love the flexibility here. Use selfie-style, or as a tripod. Also note this (as a tripod), is REALLY limited on uneven ground. Get a good tripod!! One note: I have several things like this that have an integrated Blue-Tooth shutter button. That feature is great to snap a photo, or start/stop video, but to date, NONE of them work with teleprompter programs like BigVue, or CapCut.
My Tripod Setup
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Grant says: This tripod is solid, has a lot of flexibility in the way both the legs and extension pole can be used.
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Grant says: This is incredibly simple and it works! The interesting part is that the red knob tightens/loosens ALL the movable joints at one twist! This works great in conjunction with the tripod above. Sometimes its attached to a leg, the upper telescoping arm, occasionally on the edge of a table. I had a different articulating arm set up that I used for months, but the base knob kept coming loose, causing the arm to fall (become loose and unscrew so that the arm “fell over”).
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Grant says; I shoot tons of videos with this. I had purchased different style, but you could not change from 9:16 to 16:9. I have an Otterbox case on my phone. While not extremely robust, many other clamps are not deep enough (front to back as opposed to side to side) to grab/hold the phone securely. Also, many mounts have ONLY a spring pressure hold and any accidental jarring of the tripod (also known as tripping on the leg, etc) bounces the phone out of the mount. I like that I can use the thumb screw to securely clamp it down, then spin the phone to the other aspect. Mount this to the quick release below and you can move your camera in a snap!
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Grant says: A quick release plate on anything you wish to use on the tripods and such above is just good management. Make sure to buy the quick release clamp below also!!
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Grant says: A quick release plate on anything you wish to use on the tripods and such above is just good management. Make sure to buy the quick release plates above also!! I mount one of these to my TOAZOE articulating arm above and one to the top of the tripod. FLEXIBILITY!!
UGC Lighting
Grant says: You’ll see various lights on the page below, mostly abandoned through experience. I’d stay away from box lighting (Last on page) or the Ulanzi just below that were underpowered. This is what I use now:
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Grant Says: These are awesome. Three is nice because you just need fill. You can adjust both brightness and “warmth”, so they are really flexible. To keep them flexible we got these because they have batteries so don’t have to be messing with cords and plugs and such. I was immediately concerned about battery life, so with the set above, I got the extra battery packs below that have a charger that will do all the batteries. One tip: I have a label machine, so I labeled all the batteries (Bat 01, etc). In the past I notice some batteries fail and I always want to know which one it is. Compare the battery (2900mAh LP NP-F550) that comes with this to the suggestion just below.
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Grant Says: If you get the Supon lighting above and intend to use batteries, get this. The batteries are 5600mAh NP-F750 compared to the 2900mAh NP-F550 above. Much longer life.
Stuff that helps (nice to have, not critical):
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Grant says: This Panasonic unit is small and versatile and produces great video! I use this when I don’t need a teleprompter, or in cases where I need to record myself on my phone, and occasionally to shoot B-roll when also shooting video on a phone.
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Grant Says: Sometimes you need light in more than one place, or do more to fill one side of your face, etc. These are just under 3″ square and you can hot shoe mount it. I got two of the small light tripods below to hold them in the pressure jaws. They also feature nice controls on light brightness and temp. These are nice little lights and still use them, but look just below at what we upgraded to. We found these just didn’t push light very far. Look at the Supon lights above and battery charger just below it.
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Grant says: This is a very light weight tripod. I started with this and my phone, but found it too limiting when shooting. But, this is the perfect setup for the small, lights I show just above.
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Grant says; If you do a LOT of UGC, you will hammer your phone’s battery! You’ll want to have one of these charged up, ready to help you finish that video!
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Grant says: If you get the charger/power bank, you’ll want something like this to get power to various devices.
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Grant says: I wish I needed this more. I’d not buy this unless you have a need for a camera to follow you. I find it too sensitive for 9:16 (doesn’t react quickly enough, then you’re out of frame), but usable more for 16:9.
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Grant says; If you’re using anything like the Panasonic camera above that uses an SD card, or you took a BUNCH of video on your phone and you need to get it off for more room, you’ll want to have this as backup.
Studio or GreenScreen Equipment:
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Grant says; This was the second or third camera mount I got when I started doing greenscreen. It is invaluable! I place my camera in front of my monitor like a teleprompter. I like how I can swing it out of my way, then swing it back and my camera is in perfect alignment without messing with it!
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Grant says; If you are going to do set studio work (camera doesn’t need to be hand held)- Just buy this and don’t waste money on others. This is probably the 5th or 6th camera I purchased. Glass lens, superb quality. I own two.
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Grant says; Elgato stuff is not cheap. It is however, incredibly high quality with great support. This is the 3rd or 4th light set I got for my studio. I use these daily!
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Grant says; I can’t even begin to say how many hours this saves me every week. Totally customizable buttons for computer and lighting and programs and… just buy one and you’ll be glad you did. There are a ton of “how to” videos on YouTube.
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Grant says; If you’re on a budget and the Elgato lights above are out of your range, this is a great starter kit. “Today”, I’d buy a greenscreen separately and use the Elgato lights, but a year ago, I got this set to get going with studio greenscreen work. One note; As I “moved up” these became something that collects dust. Too big, too bulky