Getting a quality camera is only the first step in a long list aspiring YouTube vloggers must take on their road to stardom. While it is an essential step, one must not overlook the importance of sound and lighting when it comes to producing professional grade content to engage users and cement your status as an authority figure. In this guide, we break out the best tripod, lighting, and sound accessories that can help turn your fledgling vlog into a professional-grade content avenue.

Tripods

Whether you prefer to vlog at home or on the go, you’ll want to have steady shots that look professional and give you further authority for your channel. Instead of having to deal with the shakiness that occurs when you attach an iPhone to a selfie stick, a tripod can give you the stability you need to make longer form vlogs. Here are some top tripods that will give you the ability to hold steady shots wherever you are:

Joby GorillaPod with Ball Head

A favorite of on the go vloggers like Casey Neistat, this tripod resembles an octopus which gives it the ability to mount on any kind of solid surface and any position. What is special about this tripod is that it gives the vlogger more reach and more of a frame when recording.

Manfrotto Compact Action Tripod

This compact tripod is light and easy to carry, making it perfect for vloggers that like to travel and set up their tripod wherever they are staying. Despite being extremely light and compact, this tripod still has the strength to hold medium sized DSLR cameras like the Canon 70 or 80D, the ideal vlogging cameras.

Manfrotto MTPIXI-B PIXI Mini Tripod

This multi-use tripod is excellent for action-heavy vloggers and can be attached to iPhones, GoPros and smaller point and shoot cameras. The legs can also be used as a handle grip when vlogging while doing some kind of action like running or perhaps even hang gliding. Extending the legs allows this tripod to stand on its own base so you can capture longer exposure video.

Lighting

Sometimes it is easy to think that influential vloggers simply hook up a camera to a tripod and hit record. Though you might be right when it comes to shooting outside where there is an abundance of natural lighting, indoor recording requires light setups that don’t cast a shadow on the subjects’ face. Check out a few of these top lighting setups:

Neewer Camera Dimmable Ring Fluorescent Flash Light

This light ring from Neewar is excellent for lifestyle or beauty vloggers who don’t want the hassle of dealing with a three-point lighting setup. All you need to do is mount your camera within the ring to get an even distribution of light on your face.

LimoStudio 700W Photography Softbox Light Lighting Kit

If you prefer a softer tone on your face while vlogging, then this lighting kit will work wonders for your channel. The kit comes with two lighting stands and softboxes. By setting each up on either side of the camera, you will get soft, even lighting for your videos.

Julius Studio 160 LED Ultra High Power Panel Light

This is the perfect lighting setup for the vlogger that prefers to keep all of their lighting, camera, and tripods in one place. The powerful LED is dimmable as well as super portable and can attach onto your camera. The camera also comes with a variety of light filters depending on the kind of mood you’d like to portray in your video.

Sound and Recording Microphones

Because sound is one of the most crucial aspects of the final product you upload, it is important to have the adequate microphones and recording devices to churn out professional sounding audio. Failure to record properly will result in a low volume that will make it hard for the viewer to understand what you are trying to say.

Comica CVM-WM100 Wireless Microphone

This wireless lavalier microphone can transmit audio over up to 100 meters. The transmitters have a variety of features including audio status monitoring and signal strength adjustment as well as the ability to do local audio testing. This is a great choice for vloggers who like to make content outside or in large open spaces.

Rode VideoMic

A great option for getting quality sound on a budget, the Rode VideoMic is a great starter shotgun microphone for beginner vloggers using budget commercial vlogging cameras. The microphone is highly directional and focuses directly on the subject while minimizing surrounding background noise.

Zoom H1 Handy

If you want the highest quality sound possible for your vlog, you’ll want to invest in a recording device that will give you advanced options like better playback and higher signal to noise ratios. The Handy also has 2 GB worth of file storing and compression capabilities that allow you to store over 50 hours of audio, a useful option for perfectionists that do hundreds of takes before getting out exactly what they want to say and how they need to say it.

While deciding upon which camera to vlog with might be the most important choice you make, having a quality lighting, audio, and tripod setup cannot be understated and will play a large factor in determining how your final product turns out after post-production. Once you’ve managed to find the right equipment for the kind of vlog you want to produce, you’ll be ready to make your mark in the vlogosphere.