How to Get Started Shooting Recipe Videos TODAY
Learn how to get started created recipe videos today using the equipment you already have. We’ll cover everything from cameras, to audio, to how to choose a recipe. Watch the video below or keep reading to learn more.
This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Affiliate I earn from qualifying purchases. All opinions are my own.
You know you need to start shooting videos to stay competitive in today’s blogging world, but maybe you don’t know where to start. It seems intimidating to get set up and you’re not even sure what you’ll need to get it done.
I’m going to show you how easy it is to get started shooting recipe videos today without needing to buy a lot of new equipment, and I’ll also show you how you can upgrade as you get more comfortable.
Do I need professional equipment to shoot recipe videos?
There are plenty of videos out there showing professional videographers setting up for a video shoot with lots of expensive, high-power equipment. However, a lot of bloggers are just regular people at home, so I’m here to help you dive into creating videos without feeling overwhelmed. What’s really important is you and your point of view. The rest will come later.
When is the best time to start creating recipe videos?
There’s really no better time to start than now because no matter who you are, you need to go through that sort of uncomfortable trying and learning process when doing something new. You may not love your first few videos, but create them anyways, share them, and keep trying, because the more you practice the better you’ll get.
What you need to get started shooting recipe videos today
Camera
Audio recorder
Lighting
Recipe
Editing software
Camera
The most basic need to start shooting recipe videos is a camera. This could be a DSLR (this is a digital camera with the ability to control the exposure and focus settings and swap lenses) or a good quality cell phone.
You can check out my video on camera settings for video if you’re using a DSLR, otherwise I recommend getting started with 30fps on your cell phone. Some cell phones give the option to record in HD or 4K.
Keep in mind not all social platforms have the ability to deliver video in 4K at this time and will downgrade it to HD anyways. Still, if you have enough storage space you may want to record at 4K for quality purposes.
It’s nice to have a tripod of some sort to hold your camera or phone steady, but if you don’t have one you can always prop your phone up against something, stack a few books to hold your camera on the countertop, or even just hold the phone with your hand depending on what you’re doing in the video.
Audio recorder
Audio on cell phones and cameras isn’t the best, but if you’re just shooting a hands and pans video that probably wouldn’t matter anyways. I use a Zoom H1N (affiliate link) to record the audio for my videos, but a shotgun mic or lav mic are other good options.
If you’re shooting a hosted video where you’ll be talking, take the time to make sure the audio is recording as well as the video. It’s ok to get started with in camera audio, but you may want to upgrade to a shotgun or lav mic in the future.
Lighting
Light is another thing to consider when shooting your video. If you have lots of natural light in your house you may want to try using that.
It doesn’t matter if the best light in your house isn’t in your kitchen, just bring a table or background close to the window and start cooking. Keep in mind that if your recipe takes a long time, the light could change over the course of the video.
You could also use artificial lights if you have those, but don’t feel like you need to buy them in order to get started. I have a video about my current light setup, which includes four lights, but one of my first videos I shot with this little Lowel Ego light with a mirror set up on the other side for reflection.
Natural light is actually more on trend for food videos right now anyways, so don’t be afraid to use what’s available to you. I’m always just trying to mimic natural light with my artificial lights anyways.
Recipe
Of course you’ll also need a recipe to shoot a recipe video. If this is your first video I recommend starting with something simple, that doesn’t use a lot of ingredients, and maybe no cooktop required.
This will give you more energy to focus on the technical aspects of shooting. Simple baked goods or salads are a good option.
It can be a good idea to write out a shot list to remember everything you want to shoot. Sometimes once you start cooking it can be easy to forget what you’re actually doing. If you’re forgetful, consider writing in notes to start and stop the camera as well.
Editing software
Finally, you’ll need something to edit your video. I love using Adobe Premiere Pro, and have tons of tutorials on how to get started with Premiere.
When editing videos I’ve shot on my phone, however, I’ve been using CapCut. It’s really fast and easy for those quick social videos that don’t need much color correction, titles, or transitions. There are lots of other programs to choose from too like iMovie or DaVinci Resolve.
Time to start recording
This is really all you need to get started shooting recipe videos right now. I hope you’ll take this and run with it. Let me know if you have any questions, or head over to the Facebook Group to start a conversation and share your work there.
