3 iPhone Video Production Setups for Business

I'm a gear junky when it comes to video production. As a result, I have tested lots of combinations of gear at all sorts of price points. I see which pieces become essential to my kit and which collect dust. So I am excited to share my 3 favorite iPhone Video Production rigs. These are perfect for recording customer testimonials, quick announcements, and much more. The packages below range from cheap & easy to expensive with technical knowledge required. I will link to my favorite pieces of gear in each description.

But before we get started, just a quick note: I get commissions for purchases made through links in this post. I appreciate when you use these links to check out products and I hope that you can see in my writing that I am objective with my reviews. I only write about products I have used  and would generally recommend. I also try to point out every shortcoming I have experienced in a product so you know what to expect before you buy.Ok, let's get to it: 

1. Just Enough [Price: $]

Included in this setup: iPhone (duh), iPhone standard issue headset, and an all-in-one kit (includes mini tripod, tripod phone mount, and wide angle lens: http://amzn.to/2tiLMhQ).

This kit is great if you are creating your own content to establish yourself as the expert in your field. The headset acts as your microphone (please don't put the earbuds in as you record). The best way to use this is to set it on a desk or table in front of you but out of the shot. The audio you will get with this is pretty darn good. You can even use this setup to capture interviews or customer testimonials. Just watch out for small rooms with lots of hard surfaces as they may give you a boxy sound.

The tripod and phone mount give you a stable shot so we can avoid the shaky handheld stuff that ruins so many videos. Finally the wide angle lens gives you an extra perspective to have in your tool kit. You may not use it all the time, but it's great to have a way to change up the image so it doesn't always look like a smartphone took the shot. As far as the telephoto lens in this kit goes, you can ignore it. It's awful. Ok, moving on.

2. Pro Audio [Price: $$]

This kit is similar to #1 above, but we really step up our audio game. This Rode video mic will give you excellent audio in many situations. This is by far my favorite audio setup for filming on an iPhone.

Here is what you will need for this kit: mini tripod (http://amzn.to/2uyx31H), Rode mic (http://amzn.to/2sg2tcB), a special patch cable so the mic works on your iPhone (http://amzn.to/2uyLxim), phone mount with cold shoe attachment for mic (http://amzn.to/2uz2Xvj), and wide angle lens from the 4-in-1 kit (http://amzn.to/2tiLMhQ).

And here is a video that walks through most of the gear in this setup and demonstrates the audio benefit you'll get with this microphone:

3. The Cinematographer [$$$]

This kit takes the great audio setup from #2 above and combines it with DJI's smartphone stabilizing gimbal. The OSMO Mobile allows you to take your video production on the go while removing the shakes that you would otherwise get while walking and filming at the same time. You can film someone else or turn the camera around for a selfie announcement video.

Here is what you need for this kit: DJI OSMO Mobile (http://amzn.to/2tFcAfB), Rode mic (http://amzn.to/2sg2tcB), patch cable for Rode mic (http://amzn.to/2uyLxim), accessory mount to connect the microphone to the OSMO (http://amzn.to/2uekJVa), and the wide angle lens from the 4-in-1 kit (http://amzn.to/2tiLMhQ).

If you are new to iPhone video production, then I encourage you to start with Kit 1 or Kit 2. That way you can focus on learning the process of iPhone videography before worrying about learning how to best us the OSMO Mobile (which is not the easiest task).

Have any questions about these kits? Feel free to leave a comment or shoot me a message and I'd be happy to help out.

Cheers,

Chris