While I’ve talked a lot about hiring professionals like photographers as well as profiled a lot of music-related careers here at Sweet Guitar Tones, I’m also a big fan of DIY projects — especially media projects.
Fewer than 5 years ago there was a seemingly enormous quality divide between DIY media results and professional grade results. With the rise of pro-sumer media equipment and platforms like Facebook Live, the average musician can create and distribute reasonably high-quality content in ways they never could before.
I’m not saying that there isn’t a time where it’s best to call in a professional. There are certainly cases in which the quality that you receive from a professional is the right way to go. But if you’re willing to put in the work and invest in some gear, you’ll quickly find that there are so many ways you can create and distribute compelling content to promote your music that you can do yourself.
DSLR Camera Yes, smartphones can take pretty good photos, and as tools like Canva and Lightroom Mobile continue to develop you’ll be able to do more and more with just a phone. But if you’re looking for the highest quality images to base your graphics on, you need a real camera.
Just like the endless debate between Fender and Gibson loyalists, there are countless photographers on each side of the Canon / Nikon divide. I’m a Canon guy, but I honestly went with Canon because I found a slightly better deal on Canon than Nikon when I was starting out with photography. Also, my dad also had Canon gear, so it was reassuring to know I could borrow lenses from him in a pinch.
My photographer origin story aside, I recommend that you pick up a Canon DSLR Starter Pack to get started on your journey with in-house photography.
Nifty Fifty is the nickname given to the inexpensive Canon 50mm prime lens. A prime lens is a lens that has only one focal length, meaning it doesn’t zoom. While that can be challenging for some new photographers at first, they’ll soon appreciate the low-light performance of the Nifty Fifty.
DSLR Microphones are a great way to improve the sound in videos captured using your DSLR camera. While there is a built-in microphone, its performance isn’t great, and for not a lot of money you can add a DSLR Microphone from a quality manufacturer like Rhode and take your videos to the next level.
Lavalier Microphones are those small microphones that clip onto the speaker’s clothing. These are very handy if you’re doing any videos with interviews. These Lav Mic Kits are great because they remove a few variables: the microphone moving or a speaker not actually speaking into the microphone.
Tripods are crucial to getting quality videos, especially if you’re taping yourself. Using a Tripod and a Cell Phone Tripod Adapter is so much better than a selfie stick! A real tripod also has the added advantage of being able to accommodate your DSLR and not just a cell.
Battery Grips serve two important functions. Most notably they make your camera look badass, and also make shooting more comfortable. On a more serious note, though, a Battery Grip is handy because it allows your camera to run on two rechargeable batteries at once, so you can extend the length of your shoots without having to worry about running out of power.
Camera Backpacks help you keep your gear organized and protected and also portable. Canon sells this Camera Backpack with repositionable padding, and it’s surprisingly durable given its low price point.
External Camera Flashes break down into basically two categories. There are the expensive studio strobes that you find in photo studios and there are the more portable ones that can mount onto a camera or be affixed to a stand. Studio strobes get expensive quickly, but this Speedlite Kit will help you start exploring the power of off-camera remote flashing on a budget.
Lighting and Backgrounds For Videos are easier to set up, operate, and afford than you may think. This Softbox Kit combined with this Seamless Paper Stand and Seamless Paper will get your band’s interview-style videos looking professional in no time.
Drawing Tablets are handy for making digital illustrations. Using a tablet like this rather than just relying on your mouse our touch screen allows you to use the intuitive motion of using a pen to create your artwork.