10 Budget-Friendly Content Creation Must Haves
Unleash your creativity with these 10 Budget Friendly Content Creation Amazon Must Haves! Compact, reliable and plenty of functionality to help you create amazing content without breaking the bank.
In this blog post, I’ll be sharing what I bought, why I bought it, what I use it for, plus what I love and don’t love about it to give you my honest feedback.
It’s apparent In today’s digital landscape, YouTube and other social media platforms offer endless possibilities for sharing your creativity with the world. However, to truly stand out and captivate your audience, you need the right tools, that are budget-friendly. That’s where my picks for Amazon Creator Essentials for mobile users come in.
More and more content creators are choosing their phones to film and take photos instead of digital and DSLR cameras. I’ve bought and tried a wide range of must-have tech tools from Amazon, and I’ve found these to be the most reliable for content creation on-the-go.
Here are my best picks for 10 Budget Friendly Content Creation Must Haves!
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1. Gimbal: Capture Smooth and Professional-Looking Videos
Number one on the list for my 10 budget friendly content creation must haves is the gimbal. Although, stabilization technology has been improving in phones over the years, one of the essential tools for any content creator is a gimbal that I practically use every weekend for filming games and b-roll.
A gimbal is a handheld stabilizer that helps you capture smooth and professional-looking videos. It eliminates shaky footage and allows you to create cinematic shots with ease. If you’re making a travel vlog, cooking guide, or product review, a gimbal can help. It makes your videos look better and stand out. With it, you can make high-quality videos that people will remember.
If you need a good gimbal stabilizer, check out the hohem iSteady XE Kit Gimbal Stabilizer for Smartphone. It’s easy to use, works well, and has a long-lasting battery. The only minor setback is that it cannot be used as a stand-alone mini tripod and must be turned on for use.
- Why I Bought It: I bought the Gimbal for its stabilization feature, which is perfect for filming on the go.
- What I Use It For: I use the Gimbal for vlogging, filming games, and capturing smooth b-roll pans.
- What I Love About It: Convenient, reliable, battery lasts long.
- What I Don’t Love About It: I can’t use it as a static mini tripod.
2. Mini Tripod: Perfect for On-the-Go Vlogging and Stable Shots
Two on the list for my 10 budget friendly content creation must haves is the mini tripod. A mini tripod is great for steady filming while on the move. It’s small, light, and easy to carry, so it’s great for traveling and outdoor filming. You can set up your phone at the right angle and film steady shots with no wobble. It’s perfect for makeup videos, interviews, or time-lapse films.
Consider the ULANZI Extension Pole Tripod if you need a reliable mini tripod. It’s small and helpful for keeping your camera or phone steady. But remember, it might not extend as much as you want, and its legs might not be very strong if you use attachments.
- Why I Bought It: I bought the mini tripod as a backup to preserve the gimbal battery and for filming around the house or in situations where stabilization is less needed.
- What I Use It For: I use the mini tripod for vlogs and content creation when I need a static handheld tripod.
- What I Love About It: It is cute and handy to hold in my hand.
- What I Don’t Love About It: The mini tripod doesn’t extend as long as desired, and its legs are not very sturdy, especially when using attachments. Also, I just recently discover, it does affect the video stabilization so you have to be mindful of excessive movement while filming.
3. Extendable Travel Tripod: An Awesome and Reliable Accessory for Content Creators.
Three on the list for my 10 budget friendly content creation must haves is the travel tripod. This is a sturdy tripod made from quality materials. It won’t rust or break, and can extend up to 62 inches. It’s great for wide-angle shots or as a tabletop tripod. The phone holder fits phones up to 3.6 inches wide, and you can adjust the angle easily.
It also has a Bluetooth remote that works up to 40 feet away. It’s compatible with Android and Apple phones, so you don’t need to worry about your phone type. This tripod is great for content creators because it’s versatile and professional. Plus, it comes with a 1-year warranty for extra reassurance. It’s a great gift for yourself or a friend!
- Why I Bought It: I purchased it because it is a less bulky option with similar functionality as a standard tripod, making it convenient for filming on the go.
- What I Use It For: I use it for quick and easy setup for vlogging, photos and content creation.
- What I Love About It: I love that it is convenient, comes with its own remote, comes in the color white to match my other gear, it is lightweight, compact, and is reasonably priced.
- What I Don’t Love About It: The only downside is that it can be a bit cumbersome to extend the legs and I am also unsure about its long-term durability as the poll is a bit flimsy when you add on gear.
Hey Lifestylers! Just a heads up! I might earn commission from Amazon Faves & Finds If you click an affiliate link on this website or in this specific post if you make a purchase! Read More
4. Mini Mics: Upgrade Your Audio with Wireless Convenience
Four on the list for my 10 budget friendly content creation must haves are the mini mics. Good audio is as important as good video. That’s why small wireless microphones, or ‘mini mics’, are a must-have for content creators. They allow you to record clear sound without any cords in the way. A set of two mini mics and a receiver for your phone lets you use one mic for speaking and another for recording background sounds like cooking or nature. These mics can make your videos’ audio better and more engaging.
If you need a reliable choice, take a look at the Leereel 2 Pack Wireless Lavalier Microphone. These mini mics are a big help, offering wire-free convenience. They come in a set of two, with a receiver for your phone.
One mic can be used for speaking and the other for recording sounds like cooking or any background noise you want in your videos. The sound is good, they last a long time on a charge, and are simple to use. But, you might need to tweak the recording volume and watch out for any noise from the mic moving during recording.
- Why I Bought It: I bought the mini mics to help cancel background noise while filming especially during sports games or loud areas.
- What I Use It For: Currently, I use it to capture timeouts during games and to record ASMR cooking sounds.
- What I Love About It: They are game changers, wireless, and come in a pack of two with one receiver to plug into the phone. I can use one for talking and the other for capturing cooking sounds.
- What I Don’t Love About It: The sound quality is decent, the charge lasts long, but sometimes I need to adjust the record volume, and there can be rubbing noise during recording.
5. Phone Holder Goose-neck Mount: Plenty of flexible and angel options
Five on the list for my 10 budget friendly content creation must haves is the gooseneck mount. The SHAWE Phone Holder Bed Gooseneck Mount is a versatile and convenient tool for content creators. Its easy installation and adjustable gooseneck arm make it ideal for various filming setups. The wide mouth of the clamp ensures a secure grip on your phone, keeping it steady while you record.
If you’re looking for a phone holder gooseneck mount that offers flexibility and convenience, you may consider the SHAWE Phone Holder Bed Gooseneck Mount.
- Why I Bought It: I originally purchased this for overhead filming when cooking food but found that the weight of the phone made it less sturdy.
- What I Use It For: Now, I primarily use the desk clamp for at my desk and attach my mini lights for talking head videos and extra lighting for overhead cooking videos.
- What I Love About It: The desk clamp is easy to install and move around. Its wide mouth provides a secure grip on my mini lights. It allows me to film easily bend the goose neck in unconventional positions.
- What I Don’t Love About It: The weight of too many attachments can weigh the arm down, making it slightly less stable. The desk clamp is made of plastic, which feels a bit cheap. It can be a bit wobbly at times.
6. Rechargeable Selfie Light: A must for content creation
Six on the list for my 10 budget friendly content creation must haves is the selfie light. The Rechargeable Selfie Light, ideal for enhancing photo and video lighting, offers versatile use from video conferencing to makeup application. It features two sides with a 3/8 female thread adapter, adjustable settings for cool and warm lights, and brightness control. Its rechargeable feature eliminates battery worries, and an included clamp ensures easy attachment to devices. Despite its benefits, some users reported issues with the ring light, so testing upon purchase is advised.
- Why I Bought It: I purchased the mini light for as an iPhone attachment to get more light on my videos without having to pull out my bigger lights which were bulky and a hassle for quick filming.
- What I Use It For: I use the mini light for various types of videos, including cooking videos, talking videos, and beauty videos. It helps me illuminate my shots with adjustable brightness levels.
- What I Love About It: The mini light has two sides with a 3/8 female thread adapter, allowing me to attach it to different equipment. It is adjustable, offering cool to warm lights and high to low brightness levels. It holds its charge well, comes with a clamp and perfect for travel.
- What I Don’t Love About It: None so far!
7. Wireless Remote Shutter for Cellphones and Tablets
Seven on the list for my 10 budget friendly content creation must haves is the wireless remotes. The Wireless Remote Shutter is a Bluetooth remote for content creators, enabling control over iPhone and Android cameras. It allows distant photo and video capture, facilitating various angles and perspectives.
It comes in a pack of three, supporting photo and video options. Despite occasional connection issues, it’s generally reliable. The compact and lightweight design aids portability. Ideal for creative freedom and improving content creation workflow.
- Why I Bought It: I purchased camera remotes for the convenience of wireless control. They allowed me to capture shots from a distance without having to stop recording manually.
- What I Use It For: I use camera remotes for various types of videos, including cooking videos, talking videos, filming games and beauty videos.
- What I Love About It: Cuts filming time in half.
- What I Don’t Love About It: Occasionally, the camera remotes may disconnect or experience lag, which can be a minor inconvenience.
8. iPhone iPad Portable Suction Mount
Eight on the list for my 10 budget friendly content creation must haves is iPhone suction mount. the This budget-friendly must-have is a newbie for me but it’s what I’ve been looking for for months to shoot my beauty content. It features a rotary knob for optimal suction power, a sturdy arm with a suction base for added stability, and a 360° rotating and 180° folding arm for viewing at multiple angles.
It comes with a universal holder that fits any 4″-11″ tablet PCs and smartphones. It includes a versatile docking station for mobile devices and a ¼” DSLR Camera Adapter. Despite being highly portable, it does have some weight to it but so far mounting it to my vanity mirror and attaching my iPhone hasn’t been an issue.
- Why I Bought It: Needed a quick and easy vanity setup for filming personal care and beauty content.
- What I Use It For: I struggled to film effectively on my small vanity without knocking over products or shooting at an angle. This device attaches to the mirror in front of me, allowing me to face the camera directly.
- What I Love About It: It’s well made and compatible with an iPad, iPhone, and camera. Its high adjustability and versatility make shooting content in tight spaces easy.
- What I Don’t Love About It: I have yet to find something I dislike.
9. Desk Microphone Stand
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Desk Microphone Stand$22.99
Nine on the list for my 10 budget friendly content creation must haves is the desk mic stand. If you are a pod-caster or create a lot of talking head content, this budget-friendly must-have with up your on-camera game. This 5 Core Mic Stand desk features a short boom mic stand with adjustable length and angle, a flexible height adjustment from 15.35” to 21.25”, an extendable boom arm that supports up to 4.4 lbs/2.0 kg, a stable round base with anti-slip padding, and wide compatibility with numerous microphones and accessories due to its USA standard 5/8 inch threading.
- Why I Bought It: I needed a smaller mic stand for my Audio-Technica USB mic that doesn’t require me to constantly adjust my chair or lean over to speak.
- What I Use It For: I use it for all my talking head content. It has significantly improved my on-camera confidence.
- What I Love About It: I love that it comes in the color white, which look great on my desk. It’s sturdy, compact, and adjustable to the height I require, so I don’t need to lean forward to speak.
- What I Don’t Love About It: Be sure to loosen the boom tightener before adjusting the length, as the poly coating can scratch. I own a white one, where scratches are noticeable, but a quick spray of white paint easily fixed the issue.
10. Ergonomic Adjustable Laptop Stand Riser for Desk or Travel
Finally number ten on the list for my 10 budget friendly content creation must haves is the laptop stand. This laptop stand is definitely one of those “I didn’t know I needed this in my life” must haves. My mother-in-law who used this while she was working from home gifted me this and it has been my go-to for working while traveling.
This budget-friendly laptop stand is compatible with all laptops from 10″ to 15.6″, offers adjustable height and angle for comfort, is foldable and portable for easy use and transport, and provides stability and durability with a larger base and anti-skid silicone. It also promotes better ventilation and airflow to prevent laptop overheating.
- Why I Bought It: Although it was a gift, I realized that it’s exactly what I needed for travel or for working outside the office.
- What I Use It For: Primarily for travel or while lying in bed.
- What I Love About It: It’s highly adjustable, sturdy, and it’s great for working while lying down, although I don’t recommend doing that often. It keeps the heat off my legs and is travel-friendly.
- What I Don’t Love About It: It’s somewhat heavy, but not burdensome to carry.
I’ve shared my reviews of these budget-friendly Amazon creator essentials. Now, let’s explore some tips and suggestions I’ve implemented over time:
- To ensure consistency in content creation, it’s beneficial to plan your regular shooting locations and the equipment used in those spaces, particularly if these setups aren’t permanent. Alternatively, if you have a dedicated space for creating beauty content, such as a vanity, it may be convenient to mount your iPhone or iPad using a Portable Suction Mount on your mirror. This setup allows you to easily attach your device, activate your remote, and begin filming content.
- Learn your equipment. Determine which setup and equipment functions work best for different types of content you produce.
- Keep everything you shoot. Even bloopers and hiccups can be repurposed for behind-the-scenes or social media content.
- Consider items with long-term and multi-functional use. There’s no need to buy everything at once or follow every latest trend. I assure you, I’ve spent a considerable amount on items that proved to be unworthy or completely useless.
Remember, the fundamental secret to improving the quality of your content and effectively reaching your audience is regular practice and experimentation. These two elements are not only the bedrock of learning but also crucial for content creation. They are the creator essentials that enhance and elevate your work to new heights. By consistently engaging in these practices, you can refine your skills and develop a deeper understanding of what your audience values.
Don’t be afraid to explore different storytelling styles and formats early on in your journey. This strategy can help you identify what resonates most with your audience, enabling you to fine-tune your approach before your content reaches a larger audience. Trying something new can often lead to innovation and discovery, so don’t hold back. Keep practicing, keep experimenting, and keep creating. It’s through this constant cycle of creation and feedback that you will truly grow as a content creator. Good luck on your content creation journey! May it be filled with exciting discoveries and achievements.