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Today I’m sharing 8 home studio must haves, these are things beyond the camera, mic and tripod that you might want to think about adding to your space if you are building out a YouTube studio this year!

Watch the full video with demonstrations here:

Overhead Rig

There are a few options here depending on your space. A C-stand and camera mount works for small spaces, or a boom arm on a light stand. I use a friction arm and some accessories depending on what i’m shooting. Below are the links to what I used to build mine out. You can see the full demonstration in the video.

Manfrotto Double Articulated Arm - 3 Sections With Camera Bracket

Impact Super Clamp

Joby 5K Ball Head

Small Rig LCD Monitor Shoe Adapter

ProMaster MD Mini Dovetail Clamp

Gaff Tape

I don’t even have to list why you need this because the list is endless and you would be scrolling FOREVER.

Gaff Tape

Just get all the neutrals. I’ve got white, grey, and tan on the way.

Clamps and Bongo Ties

Squeeze clamps are the backbone of our studio, they are SO convenient for rigging tons of stuff. Every well stocked home studio has a collection of squeeze clamps and bongo ties.

Large Squeeze Clamps

Small clamps

Bongo Ties

5 in 1 Reflector

A MUST HAVE especially when you only have one light! We made a video last year on getting the most out of your one light set up and the 5 in 1 was the MVP! Learn how to use this to up your lighting game on a budget.

43” Round 5 in 1

79” Oval 5 in 1

Reflector Boom Arm

Good Lighting

Taking the time to learn how to light your shots will pay off, especially if you want to do any client work down the road. I broke down two similar one light set ups at different price points in the video. Here are those products:

$800 Set Up

Aputure 120DII

Neewer Softbox

13’ Air Cushioned Light stand

Light stand Wheels

$350 Set Up

Aputure Amaran 200D

Shoot through umbrella

10’ General Lightstand

Storage and Organization

It is ESSENTIAL if you are building out a studio to include good organization. Studios get messy and camera accessories are tiny and build up! Of course, what you include in your space will depend on how much space you have. One example is building out a charge wall to hold your batteries and charge your gear. Here are a few other accessories mentioned in our video:

Worktable On Wheels

When I made over my office back in the spring of last year I moved one of our Fully desks down to the studio and added wheels. OH MAN it's THE BEST. Having freedom to move the table around the space is so handy. It's also a standing desk so being able to adjust the height is awesome when shooting overhead. Adjusting the table up and down is much easier than adjusting the camera and keeping everything square.

Jarvis Laminate Desk by Fully

Fully Desk Wheels

Handheld Vacuum

If you have any dark furniture in your studio space a handheld vacuum is KEY for keeping things looking clean on camera. I use the upholstery attachment on mine to get rid of the white dust and fuzz that sticks to our blue velvet couch in the podcast set. That couch is a magnet for dirt but this handheld vacuum makes clean up before a shoot really quick and easy.

Shark WANDVAC™ Cord-Free Handheld Vacuum