I’ve had a while to play around with this stuff now and overall I’m really satisfied with it all! These tools help me create better content with more confidence. Plus, a lot of these tools have made my life easier as well!

1. Ring Light

   I used to be the girl who would never buy a ring light. I’ll be honest, I always thought it was a bit much. Especially since this is mostly for fun and isn’t my job right now. I couldn’t have been more wrong. If you’ve ever even considered getting one, just do it. Lighting makes all the difference in the world. I even use this light for important zoom meetings now.

2. Backdrop Stand

   Ok, so I’m glad I bought one, and it does the job. However, I will say that if you plant to use this long term it’s definitely worth it to invest in an even nicer version than this. It can handle some weight, but definitely not enough to build elaborate scenes or three dimensional backdrops.

3. Backdrop

   I highly recommend getting one with a neutral pattern or texture to star with. If you get a solid fabric, you can usually see every wrinkle, but a subtle pattern does help with that. If you’re willing to spend a little more, definitely consider getting a few paper rolls to match your branding. Talk about sleek and stylin’!

4. DSLR Automatic Shutter Release

   This one changed my life. I feel SO AWKWARD asking my family members and friends to shoot photos of me all the time. But taking them yourself normally involves a lot of back and forth with a self timer. Not with a shutter release! Just choose your settings and press start and it will take so many photos for you back to back. You can move around, shift positions, and even change up props, all while the release keeps clicking away. It’s a huge game changer!

5. Bluetooth Phone Remote

   Mine came with the ring light, but you can also purchase these on their own. They’re super easy to use and come in handy if you need to shoot by yourself on your phone. It’s even more handy for filming TikToks or IG stories in a hands free way. No more editing, or fumbling with the timers and record buttons.

6. Desktop Monitor

   If you’re the kind of person who has 15,000 tabs open in your brain and on your computer, then you need a monitor. I mad at myself for not getting one sooner. Having two screens that are connected to the same device makes it easy to refer to multiple documents at once, as well as to transfer information and content from one page to another without worrying about anything getting lost. When I can’t use my monitor, work takes me twice as long.

7. Keyboard

   We’ve all used a keyboard before, but when I switched to a monitor I also needed a keyboard that wasn’t attached to my laptop. This bluetooth one is especially convenient because I can switch between my phone and laptop with a single click. That means you’re only a button away from answer instagram comments, replying to texts, answering emails, or writing a novel on your desktop. Multitasking has never been easier (and yes, I know multitasking isn’t real).

8. Mouse + Mousepad

   I’ve been working with a track pad for over four years now. If you’ve ever done photo or video editing on a track pad then you know it’s a nightmare. If you don’t have a mouse, just get one. I don’t know what I was waiting for.