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The Perfect Gear for One-Man Corporate Video Shoots

By Johnathan Paul

Published: March 24, 2016 Last Updated: March 24, 2016

When you’ve got to go it alone, the right gear can make a big difference. Here’s what you need to pull off top-notch one-man corporate video shoots.

There are any number of issues that can arise when working a corporate video job without a crew, but the right gear can make a big difference in the end. Let’s look at exactly what you need to pull off one-man corporate video shoots.

Camera Setup

When producing corporate videos on your own, you need to choose a camera loadout that’s easy to set up and break down. You’ll be moving from place to place in order to get the interview you need, plus the coverage for that interview. For this, a good ol’ tripod and camera will do just fine.

Corporate Video Location
Image via AWC Media

Corporate videos have a reputation for being bland and lifeless, but this mindset is changing. YouTube and similar sites have increased the audience for all manner of content, including corporate video. Because of this, corporate videos are becoming more cinematic. That means you’ll need to invest in a cinema camera and top-quality lenses. You’ll find some suggestions below. Corporate Video Camera
Image via The Flip Side

Blackmagic USRA Mini 4K (Body Only): $2995
Zeiss 50mm Prime Lens: $4499
Lexar C-Fast 128GB Card: $506
Benro Aero 4 Tripod Kit: $259

If you’re looking for options beyond the Blackmagic URSA Mini 4K, then check out the Canon C300 Mark II, Sony FS5, and RED SCARLET.

Sound Setup

With your camera setup in place, you need to ensure that you can capture professional audio to go with your imagery. Since you’re a one-man band, you’ll probably want to get a shotgun mic that you can mount and connect directly to the camera. Additionally, you’ll need a lavalier microphone to capture clear and crisp interview sections. If you only have one audio input to the camera, a field recorder certainly wouldn’t be a bad addition to your gear. Below is a run down of audio gear you’ll need.

Corporate Video Audio

Image via U Health Nut

Rode NTG-1 Shotgun Mic: $250
Lectrosonics Lavalier Mic: $150
Zoom H6 Field Recorder: $349
Sennheiser HD 280 Pro Headphones: $99.95
SanDisk 32GB Ultra SDHC Card: $12.28

Also, don’t forget that music is an incredibly important part of the overall audio production. There are all sorts of high-quality corporate tracks here on PremiumBeat, such as Human Evolution, We’re Taking Off, and The Champions Song. You’ll have no problem finding something that works for your production.

Accessories

With your camera and audio setups worked out, it’s time to turn your attention to some additional tools that can help make the overall production easier on you.

Corporate Video VideoJeeves

Image via Video Jeeves

You’ll obviously need some solid lighting. Beyond that, you’ll want to invest in some c-stands to hold up tools so you don’t have to. You can also look at purchasing a slider, Steadicam, or 3-axis gimbal for smoother moving shots. Just remember: all of this is secondary to your camera and audio setup.

Corporate Video Camera Setup