So, You Want to Build Your Own Video Studio
A lot of people come to me asking for advice on what equipment to buy to outfit their very own video studio. The space they’re usually considering is in an extra bedroom in their house or a small conference room at their office.
My answer, every single time someone asks is: you can build a video studio anywhere you want with the right equipment. I’ve even had people shoot in my garage, back before I had my studio. And the photos - it was a photo shoot rather than a video shoot - turned out great, because the photographer came equipped with his own equipment necessary to make the shoot work. All he needed was a garage. So, I moved my car, swept the floor, set-up a backdrop, and made sure that my dog didn’t need to potty again until the shoot was over.
While I conduct a lot of video shoots in my professionally designed video studio, I also shoot on location in conference rooms at various corporate office buildings, in closets, small libraries, school classrooms, and even bars. As long as you have the right equipment, the understanding of how to make any situation look like a Hollywood-designed set (or not, depending on the vibe you’re going for and the story you’re telling), you can create magic, or at least some pretty decent looking moving pictures.
It does take practice to make those situations look good and the only way to practice is to buy equipment and get out there and create.
Nothing on this list is sponsored. I base my recommendations on personal use and research.
Let’s start with cameras:
I do a lot of research on B&H and when I have the cash, I drop some money. It’s the articles and the research they put into the equipment they sell that keeps me coming back. In 2023, Jennifer Hahn wrote a brief article about Choosing a Run-and-Gun Cinema Camera on a Budget, and even now in 2025, her suggestions hold strong.
Of her list, my suggestions for cameras to outfit your studio and to also take with you on the road for run-and-gun situations, like a lot of my shoots, I’d go with the Sony FX3, Canon EOS C70, or the Sony FX6. Canon and Sony are my personal go-to brands and while I don’t own any of these cameras, my next purchase will most likely be the Sony FX6 for its quality, compactness, low-light performance, and compatibility with my Sony FX9.
If these suggestions are a bit out of your price range and a bit intimidating as a first camera, check out the Canon EOS R50 Mirrorless Camera with 18-45mm Lens. I got to play with this camera at one of my favorite industry conferences, NAB. It is made for content creators and vloggers and a great camera to start with. Easy to set-up and use in your home studio and take on the road with you.
Tripods and Gimbals:
To support your camera, you’ll definitely need a tripod, referred to as “sticks” while on set. I’ve always appreciated a good Manfrotto and have used several of these over the years, but I’ve fallen in love with my Sachtler. While the Sachtler I have goes for about $3850.00, for these smaller cameras, I’d suggest the Sachtler 75/2 Mark II Carbon Fiber Tripod System with FSB 4 Fluid Head & Mid-Level Spreader, which currently runs at $1748.00. Just like my camera suggestions, if a Sachtler is out of your price range, check out those Manfrottos - they are great for the smaller-form cameras.
Now, if you plan on doing a lot of run-and-gun, recordings at events, or perhaps you’re a real estate agent who wants to do a walk-through of a location, you’ll want to consider purchasing a gimbal. This not only provides stabilization, it also allows for those beautiful moving shots that, while you can accomplish without a gimbal, don’t look nearly as good. DJI is a great brand for gimbals, so take a look at the DJI RS 4 Pro Gimbal Stabilizer Combo. The combo has a Focus Pro Motor with rod mount kit, a briefcase handle, and a carrying case, among a few other enhancements. While I don’t have one of these, YET, I do have the original DJI Ronin, which is a beast! It still works although it’s super heavy and not really conducive to the work I do today.
Microphones:
The next most important piece to your kit, besides your camera, would be your microphone(s). Really. DO NOT SKIP THIS! Your audio will make or break your video. Using your on-camera mic is only good for reference when you start editing your project. You need external microphones.
If you’re out in the field chatting with other people, you’ll want lavalier mics. I use the Sennheiser AVX-MKE2 set. These are fantastic for my needs, however I recognize that the price-point is a bit high, so I found the RODE Wireless PRO 2-Person Clip-On Microphone System. These can be clipped to a person’s clothing as is, OR, you can use the included lav mic, which I would suggest over clipping, so your mic placement is more discrete. The clips are great, but noticeable, so it’s up to you how you want to present your content.
You’ll also want a shotgun mic. Sennheiser is a great brand and we use the 400 and the 600 series with our gear, although looking at what is available today, I’m in the mood for an upgrade!
Something you could consider is the Sennheiser MKE 400 Camera-Mount Shotgun Mic, which can be mounted onto your camera and used in studio and when you’re out in the field. The only thing is that it has 3.5mm TRS and TRRS output cables, not XLR output, however, all of the cameras I listed above have the 3.5mm TRS microphone input, so you’re good to go!
That’s one thing to always pay attention to when shopping for microphones is their output connection. Is it XLR (which is what all my cameras use), is it 3.5mm, which is what a lot of the smaller-form cameras use, or does the mic and/or your camera support both options? Check the specs on the items you’re eyeing on B&H and they’ll tell you, so you don’t have to guess. And if needed, there are usually cable converters and adapters that you can purchase to connect everything.
Lighting:
Across the board, you’ll want to use LED lights. They don’t emit much heat, which is great for both the subjects you’re lighting (people like to complain) and you when you’re not given as much time to tear down your equipment as you would have liked.
I use Aputure Nova P300c RGB LED light panels both in the studio and on location. These guys are awesome, but they are a lot, and most people don’t need to use panels that have this much power unless you’re lighting a movie set, or a cyc wall, or a dimly lit bar. I also have smaller panels that I travel with that do just as well in most circumstances.
This GVM 800D-RGB LED Light Panel (3 Light Kit) has great reviews and doesn’t take much of an investment to start. The 3 light kit gives you the opportunity to set up your key light, fill light, and hair light. This is essential for a 3-point lighting set-up, which is the most basic type of lighting set-up you’re going to want to master. These are also light enough and have a small enough form factor that they’ll be easy to take with you for any on-location shoots. Depending on how far you want to take your set-up, you’ll probably outgrow these and will soon be expanding into the realm of Aputures and ARRIs.
Media:
Well, you can’t record your content without media. Whatever camera you purchase will most likely come with at least one media card to start, but they usually don’t hold much data and you’ll definitely want to have at least a couple of media cards on hand. That way when you run out of space on one, you can immediately switch to your second card without taking much of a pause.
As you browse your camera options on B&H, click on the “accessories” button, then “memory cards.” B&H will show you exactly what type of media you need to purchase to record your content.
Batteries:
Also essential. Most cameras will come with a very small battery that you’ll want to charge right out of the box. And you’ll definitely want to buy a couple more batteries. Especially if you plan on being out and about without the opportunity to plug your camera into a wall socket. Plus, you don’t want to be tethered to a wall unless you and your subject are sitting down and not moving during your shoot (think interviews). The right batteries can also be found under “accessories” for your chosen camera.
Packing it around:
I LOVE backpacks and am often found searching for the perfect backpack, both for my laptop, and for my camera. Depending on the size of your set-up, you may want to consider extra carrying cases for your lights and stands, your sticks, your mics, your batteries, and any other gear you may purchase and deem necessary to take with you on a shoot. If you plan on travelling further than your car can take you, you’ll want to invest in some Pelican cases that you can pack on a plane, whether as a carry on, or as a checked item. Just make sure that you check the rules before flying - lithium batteries can only be carried on, and if you travel through China, you’re only allowed so many on your person (I’m speaking from experience here).
Extras:
Oh wait! There’s more. You thought this was going to be a financially reasonable endeavor? HA! HAHAHAHA! Not to mention once you start geeking out on equipment, it never stops. The list of dream equipment gets longer and longer, until new gear comes out and that gets added to the list, and on, and on, and on. Not to mention the amount of money you’ll need to pay in business insurance to cover all of this. And while all of that is happening, here are a few other things you’ll want to have on hand:
Gaffer tape
Tape measure
Lens cleaning kit
Tool kit
Extension cords (referred to as “stingers” on set)
Clamps
Clapboard
Gloves
Battery chargers
Media card reader
Hard drives to store your footage
There’s more to add to the list if you want to expand into a larger set-up than your office or bedroom. If you want to know what that gear might be, hit me up! Some of it may apply to your situation and some of it may not, it really depends on what your end goal is with this video content. There are no wrong answers, only growth and opportunity. And I am here to support you.