Best Camera Equipment for Blogging & YouTube| How to Blog & Make Money Step 3

I am so excited for all of you that are following along with my “How to Blog and Make Money” series. I just got a note that made me so happy:

Hey CeCe,
I just wanted to take a minute to check back in and give you an update on what happened with my blog after reading your post(s). I upgraded from a blogspot blog to my own .com (Step 1), then I signed up for AdSense (Step 2)… and now the money is flowing! It’s AMAZING to me!

I’m not doing anything different than what I’ve always done with my blog. I just post about my hobbies, crafts and money saving tips. I didn’t want one of those blogs that felt like one long commercial. I just wanted it to reflect me. And it does. AND it makes money! Like enough to buy groceries money. We’re a family of 5 so buying groceries is a BIG DEAL!

All of that to say Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!!!

This Thanksgiving i’m thankful for YOU and this awesome tip!

-KD Woodsy, www.OneBrownMom.com

KD, thank you soooo much for your note!!

I was nervous about opening up on this topic, but hearing from you makes me feel encouraged to keep sharing. If my little tips are helping you feed your family, then I feel like I’m doing the right thing. I also love that you’re staying authentic to who you are. That’s so important… congrats and keep me posted as you progress!

Now for today’s installment:

First make sure you read: How to Create a Successful Blog

Next Read: How to Blog and Make Money, Step One

Then Read: How to Blog and Make Money, Step Two

All caught up?

Okay, let’s continue…

When I started walking us through this series, I wanted to make sure I set you all up to bring in additional income. Remember, I was working two jobs and then I made the decision to quit my job and set a goal of my blog bringing in $500 per month. Fast forward a few years and I was shocked to see that my blog was actually bringing in more than my full time corporate salary. Like KD mentioned in her letter, at first it was being able to pay a few bills with my blog money (i.e. my cell phone bill, gym membership) that got me excited. Then it was that moment of looking at my blog income and saying. “Whoa… I think I’m making enough that I can quit my job and do this full time”

For me, the bigger income boost from my blog came when I invested in camera equipment. Better camera equipment made for better photos and videos and that made my blog post more shareable and brands started to take notice in a bigger way… all of this helped me pay my bills bills bills *destiny’s child voice*

I bought and returned THREE different camera’s before I figured out the right one for a lifestyle blogger like me. No need for you to make the same mistake, so I’m going to walk you through the camera equipment I own and use to create beautiful blog posts and youtube videos.

I’ll also show you some examples of what each item can do!

(Savvy Blogger Tip: This might be the post that you share on facebook and forward to your loved ones around the holidays, birthdays, etc. I’ve been gifted a camera lens before and I almost cried)

1.) Canon EOS Rebel T6i Video Creator Kit | 2.) Continuous Lighting Kit | 3.) Lightweight Tripod with Bag | 4.) Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM Lens | 5.) Remote Control for Canon | 6.) White Marble Pastry Board | 7.) Ring Light | 8.) Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 Lens

1.) Canon EOS Rebel T6i Video Creator Kit | 2.) Continuous Lighting Kit | 3.) Lightweight Tripod with Bag | 4.) Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM Lens | 5.) Remote Control for Canon | 6.) White Marble Pastry Board | 7.) Ring Light | 8.) Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 Lens

Canon EOS T6i Creator Kit

I’m telling you now that the Canon Creator Kit might be the biggest investment you make towards your blog, but it’s a game changer. I stumbled across this creator kit earlier this year when I was looking to upgrade my canon (I had a T3i, previously). The Canon Creator Kit is a brilliant move by Canon to bundle everything that we need to make good photo and video content into one purchase. Instead of purchasing a camera, microphone, and memory card separately, the Canon Creator Kit gives them all to you at a lower price.

You want the T6i Camera for your fashion photos because high res digital images are professional, polished and shareable online. If you have goals to work with brands, these are the types of images you want to create. If you’re a beginner, this camera has enough auto features that you can hand it off to a friend or family member and they will capture the crisp images you need by pressing a button.

Also, a tripod and remote control, you can actually shoot 90% of your photos by yourself, but I’ll get to that in a minute…

If you’re looking to add video content, you want the T6i because the reversible flip screen helps you to see yourself while talking to the camera… no more guessing if your head is cut off or if your lighting is right.

The Rode Microphone that comes in the kit is perfect to enhance sound on your videos which is something that can make or break a video.

Continuous Lighting Kit

If you’re trying to juggle your blog and your day job, there’s a good chance you’ll be shooting at night. Daylight is the best for shooting photos of anything from fashion to food, but don’t let that stop you from creating! This lighting kit will help improve your images tremendously.

Lightweight Tripod with Bag + Remote Control for Canon

This combo is the real MVP for beginning bloggers. Like mademois-elle in the image below, I can put my camera on a tripod and set it to 10 second delay shooting with remote, then I can stand in front of the camera, press the remote button, hit my post and in 10 seconds, my camera will snap my picture!

Photo via mademois-elle

Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM Lens

The 50mm lens was the first lens that I purchased for my Canon. Have you ever noticed that some YouTubers have a blurred background when they’re speaking to you? Have you ever seen a gorgeous photo of food and it’s crisp and clear while the restaurant is blurred behind it? This all happens with a 55mm Lens. Note the 55 mm lens works on small objects and head shots. If you want your whole body blurred, I’ve got you covered in the next item.

Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 Lens

If you want your full body fashion photos blurred, you’re going to need an 85mm lens. Your 50mm lens won’t do this for anything more than a product shot or a headshot. On the other hand, photos taken with an 85mm lens will make your outfit pop, I also think it makes it easier to shoot in crowded places because the background gets washed out in a beautiful way.

White Marble Pastry Board

Ever wonder how everyone on instagram has the perfect marble countertop to shoot images? Spoiler, we don’t! Lots of people buy Marble Contact Paper, I didn’t love that when I tried it so I recommend a Marble Pastry Board for Product Shots.

Ring Light

A Ring Light was the very last thing I purchased to round out my camera treasure trove. I love my ring light and if you’re someone who is doing photography at night because you work, this may be a more important purchase for you. A ring light is set up with the camera inside of it and it creates a pretty glowing effect in your eyes too, see images below.

*deep breath* I know this is a lot of information for you, but don’t worry you absolutely don’t need to get everything all at once. I listed all of this camera in order of importance and in the order that I purchased it in. So, bookmark this post, add it to your pinterest and maybe for your upcoming holidays, birthdays, anniversaries, etc. you can ask for an amazon gift card so you can start building your own camera equipment stash.

Questions? Leave them in the comments! xx