Videography Accessories You Need in Your Bag
photo by filadendron via iStock
If you’re just breaking into videography, then you’re probably wondering what type of videography gear you absolutely need now and which video accessories you can put off purchasing until you’re sure you’re going to stick with it.
I definitely don’t need to reiterate this point, but videography accessories are quite expensive and if you’ve already bought a new camera capable of taking great video, then wanting to put off any more large purchases right now makes a lot of sense.
So, this article is going to walk you through which videography accessories are essential and which can wait.
Videography Accessories You Need in Your Bag: Headphones
photo by gorodenkoff via iStock
Besides my camera and lighting, the first video gear I ever purchased was a great pair of headphones.
Headphones are an absolute necessity to add to your videography accessories if you’re serious about shooting video with great audio (and who isn’t?).
But, one of my favorite things about headphones is that you can get a really good pair for relatively cheap. It may be one of the least expensive videography accessories you ever have to buy.
For instance, I shot with the Sony MDR-7506 headphones for a long while and they’re only $100.
Videography Accessories You Need in Your Bag: External Mic
photo by guruXOOX via iStock
Again, if you’re serious about your audio, which you absolutely should be as it is just as important as your video, then you’re going to need an external mic. Even professional-grade cameras don’t always have the best internal microphones.
As a beginner, the easiest solution to grab great audio is to get a mic that plugs directly into your 3.5mm jack. I recommend the Rode VideoMic Camera-Mount Shotgun mic to all of my friends. It’s $150, which doesn’t necessarily break the bank, and you can use it in a variety of scenarios.
However, if you’re going to be doing a lot of interviewing, then you should also invest in a lavalier microphone that you can put directly on your interview subjects. It can be frustrating to need to purchase multiple videography accessories that all “do the same thing,” like two microphones. But, the initial investment will definitely be worth it in this category.
Learn More:
Videography Accessories You Need in Your Bag: A Slider
photo by Anton Minin via iStock
One of the videography accessories that I love the most is my slider. I shoot a lot of my video by myself and on the go and a slider is the easiest way to ensure I get really smooth, steady shots without using a dolly.
Unfortunately, sliders are one of the more expensive videography accessories for beginner videographers. You can usually pick a good quality slider up for between $100-$300, although cheaper versions do exist. I just don’t recommend using a cheaper version because you’ll need to replace it sooner rather than later and it may turn you off from using sliders altogether if it’s frustrating to work with.
Videography Accessories You Need in Your Bag: Gloves
photo by herreid via iStock
I think this is one of the videography accessories that a lot of beginner videographers sort of forget about. A good pair of solid gloves will save you more times than you realize.
I use my gloves while I’m setting up or breaking down a set, obviously. But, I also use gloves when I’m adjusting my lights (which, unsurprisingly, can get really hot).
Since work gloves are so cheap, I recommend buying a couple pairs of them so you always have them.
Videography Accessories You Need in Your Bag: Gaffer’s Tape
photo by kyoshino via iStock
This 2” gaffer tape is another one of the absolutely essential videography accessories. You use Gaffer tape to mark up your set so you know exactly where your subjects need to be during your shots.
However, as you become more accustomed to videography, you’ll find about a million ways to use your gaffer tape. For instance, when I’m traveling I’ll use my gaffer tape to cover any logos I have on my cameras so they look older to prevent thieves from wanting to steal my stuff. I also use my gaffer tape to help shape my light sources when I’m in a bind or to conceal microphones on my subjects.
You can also use gaffer tape to prevent yourself from accidentally hitting a switch on your camera that you don’t want to hit while you’re filming. Frustratingly, not all cameras come with locks on important switches (like the switch that changes your focus from manual to auto). You can correct this with your tape.
Lastly, you can use brightly colored gaffer tape to differentiate your equipment from someone else’s equipment. This tip is most useful if you’re shooting with other people regularly.
Regardless of how you use it, gaffer tape is one of the best videography accessories you’ll ever buy and each roll is less than $20.
Videography Accessories You Need in Your Bag: Markers
photo by MichaelJay via iStock
This tip is pretty straightforward, but get yourself a slew of permanent markers. I use markers constantly while I’m on set and you can never have too many of them.
Videography Accessories You Need in Your Bag: A Multi-Tool
photo by DonNichols via iStock
This is another one of the pretty straightforward videography accessories. Make sure that whichever multi-tool you pick, you have one with a sharp knife and scissors.
Videography Accessories You Need in Your Bag: A Backpack to Carry It All
All of your videography accessories are going to get lost pretty quickly if you don’t have a comfortable backpack to carry all of it in.
I use a Hex Glacier Camo Cinema Backpack for most of my videography shoots. This bag features everything you could need to keep your videography accessories safe and organized, so you never forget something essential again.
For starters, the bag is water resistant, so you don’t need to worry about your equipment getting wrecked if it starts to rain. It’s also one of the more comfortable backpacks I’ve tried. This is because it comes with a padded waist belt to help distribute the weight of your videography accessories across your whole body.
The main compartment comes with a padded insert that keeps all of your equipment compartmentalized. It also comes with a stash pocket on the waist belt so you can have immediate access to things like cash, memory cards or extra batteries, and your subway ticket.
One of the most important qualities for any videography bag I use is that it is large enough to fit my laptop and this bag can fit a laptop up to 17”.
You can purchase the Hex Glacier Camo Cinema Backpack for $240 on Amazon right now.
