**There is a downloadable PDF of this checklist attached to this post** Before you hit record… 🎥 1. Camera Setup (Choose Your Section) A) Regular Camera (DSLR / Mirrorless) • ☐ Battery fully charged • ☐ Backup battery ready • ☐ Memory card inserted • ☐ SD card has enough free space (format if needed) • ☐ Lens cleaned (microfiber cloth) • ☐ Camera settings correct: • ☐ Resolution (e.g., 1080p or 4K) • ☐ Frame rate (24/30/60fps) • ☐ Shutter speed (e.g., 1/50 or 1/60) • ☐ ISO set low as possible • ☐ White balance manually set • ☐ Autofocus working OR manual focus set • ☐ Tripod stable and level ⸻ B) Smartphone Camera • ☐ Phone charged + plugged in if needed • ☐ Storage space checked (delete or offload old files) • ☐ Rear camera selected (better quality) • ☐ Lens cleaned (microfiber cloth or shirt) • ☐ Airplane Mode ON • ☐ Do Not Disturb ON • ☐ Video settings correct: • ☐ Resolution (4K if available) • ☐ Frame rate (24/30/60fps depending on style) • ☐ Lock exposure & focus (tap and hold on most phones) • ☐ Phone mounted securely (tripod, clamp, etc.) ⸻ 🎤 2. Audio • ☐ Mic connected • ☐ Wireless transmitter/receiver charged & paired • ☐ Lav or shirt mic placed correctly (no rubbing on clothes/beard) • ☐ Test recording made and listened to • ☐ Background noise monitored • ☐ Gain levels not too hot (no clipping) ⸻ 💡 3. Lighting • ☐ Key light on & positioned • ☐ Fill light / background lights placed • ☐ No harsh shadows • ☐ No glare on glasses (adjust angle of lights) • ☐ Background clean and intentional ⸻ 🧍‍♂️ 4. Framing & Composition • ☐ Camera slightly above eye level • ☐ Proper headroom • ☐ Subject centered or following rule of thirds • ☐ Arms/head not cropped awkwardly • ☐ Background tidy and not distracting ⸻ 👕 5. Clothing & Appearance • ☐ Shirt clean, unwrinkled • ☐ No loud patterns (avoid moiré) • ☐ No clothing rubbing your mic • ☐ Hair in place • ☐ Shine removed (quick powder or blot) • ☐ Lint/pet hair removed • ☐ No loud jewelry

There are many free and paid tools that can help you get an edge when trying to grow your YouTube channel. Today let’s talk about VidIQ: If you’re serious about growing your channel, VidIQ has been a game-changer for so many creators in YouTube, and for me personally. Here’s why it’s worth checking out: 📊 Smart Analytics That Actually Make Sense - See which of your videos are performing best and why - Track your growth over time with easy-to-understand charts - Compare your channel’s performance to similar creators 🔍 Keyword Research Made Simple - Find the exact tags and keywords your audience is searching for - See how competitive different keywords are before you use them - Discover trending topics in your niche ⚡ Real-Time Optimization - Get suggestions for better titles while you’re writing them - Optimize your descriptions with keyword recommendations - A/B test your thumbnails to see what works 🎯 Competitor Intelligence - See what’s working for other channels in your space - Find content gaps you can fill - Learn from successful video strategies The free version gives you a solid foundation (check out the chrome extension!), but the paid plans unlock some seriously powerful features that can accelerate your growth. I’ve been using it for my own channel and honestly, it’s made keyword research so much less overwhelming. Instead of guessing what might work, I can see actual data. If you want to give it a try, here’s my link: https://vidiq.com/woody (just so you know, I do get a small commission if you decide to upgrade to a paid plan, but I’m recommending it because it genuinely helps!) Anyone else here using VidIQ? Would love to hear about your experience! 👇