Starter Kit
YouTube Creator Kit
Ten steps, in order, from shooting your first video to reading your first analytics report. Every step links straight to the free tool or guide you need at that exact point.
Cinematic Video on a PhoneGuide
Start with the camera you already own: manual settings, the 180-degree shutter rule, and composition.
Exposure Triangle CalculatorTool
Set your frame rate and aperture, get the correct ISO and ND filter recommendation for the light you're in.
How to Light a Talking Head Video on a BudgetGuide
Three-point lighting with LED panels, natural light, or a foam board reflector at every price point.
DaVinci Resolve for BeginnersGuide
Import, cut, edit, and deliver your first sequence in the free editor most creators eventually land on.
YouTube Thumbnail DesignGuide
Contrast, text hierarchy, and facial expressions, what actually makes people tap.
Contrast Checker (WCAG)Tool
Upload your thumbnail and get a real WCAG contrast ratio. Check it's legible at YouTube preview size before you publish.
YouTube SEO: Titles, Descriptions, and Tags That Actually MatterGuide
The metadata craft that moves search, and the outdated advice you can safely ignore.
Video Export Bitrate CalculatorTool
Get the right export bitrate and codec for your resolution and delivery target before you upload.
Channel Banner Safe-Area CheckerTool
Upload your channel art and see exactly what TV, desktop, tablet, and mobile viewers will actually see.
YouTube Analytics ExplainedGuide
CTR, retention curves, and average view duration. Read your first video's numbers and know what to change next.
Get This Kit, and All 7 Others, as One PDF
Download the full Creator Starter Kit Pack: all 8 kits, every step and link, in one printable file you can work through offline.
Published your first video?
Keep going with distribution and iteration. Repurposing Long-Form into Clips, How to A/B Test Thumbnails, and Platform Video Specs Reference pick up exactly where this kit leaves off.
Other starter kits
Launching audio instead? Try the Podcast Starter Kit. Setting up a recording space first? Try the Home Studio Kit. Mixing a raw recording? Try the Audio Post-Production Kit. Going live instead? Try the Livestream Starter Kit. Cutting for short-form? Try the Short-Form Video Kit. Recording narration or commercials? Try the Voice-Over Artist Kit. Making your publishing accessible? Try the Accessible Publishing Kit.