Content Creation Setup for Artists: Tools, Filming Tips, and Social Media Tricks
So, you’re an artist. You’ve got the paint, the iPad, the ideas… and now people are telling you that you also have to be a content creator? I see you. You're over there in your hoodie and messy bun trying to balance your phone on a stack of sketchbooks and a candle, praying it doesn’t fall mid-stroke. Been there.
This guide is for the reluctant content creator who just wants to draw cute squirrels on roller skates and maybe, just maybe, have people see it.
Let’s get you set up with gear that doesn’t suck (with affiliate links), some actual useful filming tips, and a pep talk about what content really is (hint: it’s not just process videos in double speed with royalty-free music that makes you want to hurl).
Let’s Talk Gear: What I Actually Use to Film
I’m NOT about to list $2,000 worth of equipment I don’t even own. Here’s the affordable, Amazonable stuff I actually use, daily, to film POVs, Talking Head videos, and satisfyingly crisp close-ups:
$23 Neck Phone Holder
Yes, it looks ridiculous. Yes, it works incredibly well. This thing’s a game-changer for POV shots, whether you're sketching at your desk, drawing on your iPad, unboxing something cute, or filming low-key in public without holding your phone like a dork. I use it for shopping hauls, cooking vids, and anytime I want that hands-free “you’re right here with me” angle.
$27 Ring Light Tripod
If you’re only going to buy one piece of content creation gear, make it this. It’s adjustable, dimmable, and stable (aka it won’t fall over when you exhale too hard). Whether or not it has a ring light, a solid tripod is essential for literally every kind of video: talking heads, product shots, outfit photos, you name it.
$80 Two-Light Softbox Setup
Maybe you live in a dungeon. Maybe natural lighting hates you. Either way, this is the lighting setup I use for every single video I film and all my product photoshoots for T-shirts, stickers, and merch. It gives soft, even light that actually makes your art look professional instead of like it was photographed during a power outage.
$23 Bluetooth Mic for Voiceovers
Look, I love a fancy mic moment, but I’m still out here using my phone most of the time and editing in CapCut. That said, this mic is cheap, wireless, and gets the job done when I need a cleaner sound for voiceovers or filming Talking Head videos. No complicated setup, just turn it on, clip it to your shirt, and go.
$17 Camera Lens Polarizing Filter
This lens for your iPhone works like a little glare-buster. When you twist it on your camera it cuts down shiny reflections and glare from glossy surfaces so textures and colors show up clearer in your shot. It’s especially great for artists because it helps you photograph varnished paintings, framed work, murals, or any reflective art without distracting light spots and washed-out colors.
And no, you don’t need it all at once. You can get started with just your phone and good lighting from a window. Everything else is just helping you do it faster and prettier.
And the Apps That Make Me Look Like I Know What I’m Doing
Listen, I’ve got ADHD and a schedule held together with washi tape and impulse. If it’s not simple and automatic, I’m not using it.
Here’s what is part of my holy trinity of content creation that all have free options:
CapCut – Perfect on your phone drag-and-drop editing. Perfect for adding subtitles, cropping out your ten minutes of arm adjusting, or dropping in a voiceover once you’ve figured out what the heck you want to say.
Buffer – I use this to schedule my posts because I do not trust my brain to remember anything at the right time. You can plan out your content for the week and not have to think about Instagram while you're elbow-deep in gesso.
ManyChat – If you want to automate DMs (like sending links to your newest launch or freebie), this is the app. I use it so I don’t burn out replying to every “Where can I buy this??” with a copy-paste at 2AM.
Equipment Wishlist (Because i Want These Too)
Here’s a short list of other tools I’m eyeing that make life easier for artists who film regularly especially if you sell your own products:
$37 Lightbox with Adjustable Brightness
Perfect for artists who make tiny things with big detail—whether it’s crabs, ceramics, or jewelry, this gives you that clean white background so your product actually looks like it belongs on your website and not in a dim corner of your desk.
$8 Wireless Camera Remote Shutter
Because sometimes you are the model, the photographer, and the social media manager—this little clicker lets you snap outfit shots of your merch without begging your partner to “take just one more but like... from above this time.”
$27 Overhead Clamp Arm
If you always work at the same desk, this is a “set it and forget it” dream—clamp it right to your table and never worry about shaky angles again. It's the easiest way to film top-down process videos, especially for digital art, sketchbook spreads, or painting without your tripod constantly getting in the way.
$70 Photography Backdrops
If your studio looks like a tornado hit the craft aisle at Michaels, these backdrops are your new best friend. Whether you're shooting bigger pieces like tees, jackets, or full flat-lays with multiple products, this gives you a clean, professional background so the focus stays on your art—not your laundry pile.
$44: Portable Face-Tracking Tripod
If the neck phone holder feels like a wearable medieval torture device but you still want buttery-smooth hands-free filming, this is your upgrade. It’s portable, works with your phone, camera, or even a GoPro, and it literally follows your face as you move so you can film without staying glued to one spot. Great for artists who like to talk and move at the same time, or just want to look like a content creation wizard without doing any extra work.
Yes, all of these are on Amazon. Yes, I’ll update this if I actually cave and buy them.
Filming Tips for content beginners
You’ve got your gear. You’ve got your art. Now let’s make something that actually makes people want to watch:
Always shoot from your non-dominant side. Right-handed? Camera goes on the left. Your hand shouldn’t block your masterpiece.
Time-lapses are cute but lazy. They don’t show the most satisfying parts. Film real-time clips of the stuff that feels good: shading, inking, adding texture, that perfect highlight.
Don’t just show the process, explain the why. If your story is “I drew this squirrel because it made me laugh and gave me dopamine today,” say that. You don’t need to be deep to be relatable.
Use storytelling as the real hook. People don’t care about step-by-step “sketch, line, color.” They care about you. What you were thinking. What you were avoiding. What kind of chaos this piece saved you from. Overlay text, voiceovers, or talking to camera clips. Pick your poison.
Keep your on-screen text short. My personal rule? Never more than two lines at a time. Anything more is a reading assignment, and baby, we’re doom scrolling.
Show the final result like it’s a piece of home decor. If you sell prints, stickers, or tees, show them in a real space. That means styled photos or mockups that match your art vibe. You draw pastel frogs? Put them in a pastel room. Your stuff’s goth? You better believe I’m photographing that print next to a skull candle and a tarot deck.
and most importantly You Don’t Have to Post Every Day
I know you’ve heard that posting daily is how you beat the algorithm. But if you burn out in two weeks, guess who really loses? You.
Start with one post a week. Get comfy. Then ramp up if and when it feels right. Consistency doesn’t mean speed, it means staying in the game long enough for people to notice.
Every time I release a new product, I create seven pieces of content about it, memes, process videos, studio shots, storytelling. I don’t post them all at once. I sprinkle them in between regular content that makes people feel seen. That’s the secret to not sounding like a robot salesperson.
Want Me to Build You a Custom Content Plan?
If this article made you laugh, nod, or just feel a little more seen as a tired gremlin with a dream and a phone camera, then hi, this is what I do.
I help artists like you build 30 days of custom content with hooks, keywords, and calls to action that match your schedule, your vibe, and your tech level. Whether you're a tech nerd or a glitter-covered luddite, I got you.
👉 Book a 1-on-1 session with me
👉 Or join the Artist Reset Mentorship if you want the full glow-up
