What Stopped Me From Using My DIY YouTube Studio
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I began building my DIY YouTube studio in October 2022, inspired by the isolation during COVID in 2020. As a full-time photographer, work had vanished, and like so many, I had to rethink my career. Ten years, up to that point, I had been teaching a few photography and business courses on the side at a local art college. I decided not to return during COVID because I wanted to share videos about topics I loved in ways that could actually help freelance creatives and hobbyists, rather than follow a curriculum.
Four Years, Cheap Gear, and No Clue
For four years, I slowly collected and tested inexpensive gear to set up a small studio space, trying to spend as little as possible. Truthfully, at that time, I had no idea how much went into recording videos. I started The Creative Push, a podcast and artist interview series. I started shooting on location and learning video, audio, and editing as I went. I had no passion for learning technical video skills, but they became necessary tools for me to be able to share through storytelling.
Struggles In Front of the Camera
My first major struggle after building my DIY YouTube studio setup? Being on camera. As an aging woman over fifty, I wrestled with self-esteem issues. I recorded hours of footage that will never see the light of day. I didn’t like the way I looked, my hair, my clothes, or the wrinkles I saw on the screen. It’s tough putting yourself out into a world of twenty-year-old YouTubers who always look perfect. But this year, I’m trying to quiet that internal critic. My art, my stories, and my experiences are all I have to give back. If I can inspire just one person to want to be creative, it’s worth my time.
The ADHD Brain and Unfinished Projects
In 2023, I meticulously put in the time to set up and finish my DIY YouTube studio space. But once I was done, outside of my fear of being in front of the camera, I would get overwhelmed by deciding on the camera placement and lighting. Like most everything in my life, I would overthink things, get frustrated, and walk away. In my head, all of my thoughts were unmanageable. I often refer to this as “hamsterhead.” I have believed for a long time that I likely struggle with undiagnosed ADHD. If I get tripped up by one tiny detail of a project and feel overwhelmed, I tend to abandon everything. It’s a lifelong struggle that’s held me back more times than I can count. To cope, I’ve been reading, listening to podcasts, and talking with friends who also discovered ADHD later in life. I realized that, for me, video has to be EASY. I knew that I would need to set everything up and have it ready to go if I wanted to finish videotaping myself on camera. Otherwise, the ADHD brain would get sidetracked on the setup details, and I would lose focus on the actual filming. This “hamsterhead” is why I end up with a million unfinished projects.
The Difficult Pivot From Photographer to Videographer
Despite 30 years as a commercial photographer, video was a whole new ballgame. Photography uses strobes and allows me to retouch and edit frame-by-frame. Video requires constant lighting, quiet equipment, very different gear, and settings. Early on, I wasted money on trendy, cheap products that now gather dust in a closet. Over time, I learned that long videos shut down cameras temporarily when they get hot. I realize that shooting a lot of footage demands tons of hard drive storage. I realize that to tell the stories I want to tell, I would also need a lot of B-roll. As a photographer, this is a very different way of thinking. Good audio is another learning curve, and editing needs software and patience. Having a well-set-up DIY YouTube studio setup is great, but if I wanted to make videos, I had to give up my perfectionism, which is very hard for me.
The Low-Budget DIY YouTube Studio Research
I try to make all of my setups budget-conscious and use repurposed gear and materials if possible. My desk is made from an old shipping pallet, stained and clear-coated, with a metal file cabinet base. I painted it matte black and added casters for mobility. Using old barn wood, I added shelves and props from around the house. For now, the soundproofing is temporary, with an old rug on the floor and foam soundproof squares on the ceiling. My goal eventually will be to build better panels and possibly hang blankets. For wall panels, I used leftover luan and scrap wood to build the frames. I didn’t want to mess up my actual walls, so these can easily be removed and stored if I need to do so at a later time. I added a thin layer of drywall mud and rolled a textured alligator-skin roller over the wet mud to create a cool texture effect. Overhead conduit holds lights and stabilizes my wall panels. I share the full build in the YouTube video below and a full list of these items and the gear that I use with this DIY YouTube studio setup at the end of this blog post.
I’m still trying to figure out why the main cameras are doing a terrible job at tracking my focus. I’m also struggling with some audio issues with those cameras. For now, I’ve been using my cell phone for filming because I’ve been so frustrated. Pushing a button to record sounds simple, but doing all this alone while making sure I’m in focus, following a script, and checking camera positions is a challenge. I bought an all-in-one mounting rig for my desk because it can hold the camera, teleprompter, and a cheap monitor easily, without taking up space with multiple stands. The rig can also hold a mic and a secondary camera for product shots, letting me run everything from one seat without anyone helping
YouTube Identity Crisis
When I started sharing artist interviews on YouTube during COVID, I knew nothing about the YouTube algorithm. I was using Zoom at first, but then I started shooting on location. My first and most popular video out on location is of my brother-in-law building custom Harleys, followed by a DIY Honda Element camping setup and a bidet install. With such a mixed bag, YouTube thinks I’m a biker chick, a nomad, or a plumber. I’m facing an identity crisis on the channel and need to work harder at showcasing the content. I truly want to share in a way that YouTube also understands my niche. This identity crisis has been a challenge, partially because of my lack of understanding of the algorithm, but also in not really knowing what direction I wanted to take my channel in the beginning. Now that I’m focused and know what I want to do, I’m hoping to gain followers on these new videos so that YouTube will share them with the right audience.
Moving Forward
YouTube makes money on ads, but after 90 videos in six years, I still haven’t made a penny. I am currently trying to get to a thousand followers and 3000 watch time minutes. Once I get to that level, I should be able to monetize my channel to a certain degree. That will be a big milestone. I realize that every comment, subscriber, and share helps YouTube understand that people are on my channel for the art and the behind-the-scenes journey. Watch the video on my DIY YouTube studio, and if you like it, please like, share, and follow if you want to help out!
Whats Next
All of this has been a great learning experience in a reminder that we have to be patient as we grow something we don’t initially know a lot about. My lighting isn’t perfect, my audio is still a work in progress, and my footage isn’t all that great. But every time I try, I get better, and I often learn with each mistake as I move forward. Most importantly, I’m actually finally doing it! Despite having to fight my hamster-brain tendencies with a teleprompter to stay on track, I am doing better at finishing what I start.
I mentioned that I’ve never actually been diagnosed with ADHD, and someday I may actually spend the money to find out. There are a lot of resources out there, and I’m finding a lot of them helpful regardless of whether I ever truly get diagnosed. I am learning to think differently and understand why some things cause me to shut down and walk away. It’s a constant challenge, but I do feel like I’m making progress.
My struggles with my own self-esteem have always been difficult, and being in front of the camera does not make it easy. For now, I’m going to keep pushing myself forward. If you’re interested in seeing the gear I use as well as some of the items from my build, I’ll put the full list below!
Do you struggle with “hamsterhead” or ADHD? Do you hate the reality of aging? Are you uncomfortable in front of the camera like I am? If so, please share your tips in the comments!
My DIY YouTube Studio Gear
Here’s a list of the items I used to build my YouTube studio, as well as the gear that I use outside of my iPhone. If you have any questions, I’d love to hear from you. Feel free to email or to leave a comment on my YouTube channel!
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GVM RGB LED Panel Video Light, Photography Lighting with APP Control, 800D Video Lighting Kit for YouTube Studio, Gaming, Streaming, Conference, 8 Kinds of Scene Lights, CRI 97, 2 Packs
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Aputure amaran F21x Bi-Color V-Mount LED Mat Foldable Flexible LED Light 2500K- 7500K CRI 95+, TLCI 98 App Control for Video Studio Photography Film Lighting with Sftobox,Carring Case (Amaran F21x)
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