Here's the short answer: not much. You don't need a camera setup worth thousands of dollars. You don't need a studio. Most brands buying UGC content in 2026 actually prefer raw, authentic-looking footage shot on a phone. That's the whole point of UGC — it looks like a real person made it, because a real person did.
But "not much" doesn't mean "nothing." There's a baseline of gear that separates creators who get hired from creators who get passed over. The difference usually isn't talent. It's audio quality. Lighting. A stable shot. Small things that make your content look intentional instead of accidental.
This post breaks down exactly what equipment UGC creators need to start booking paid brand deals — from the non-negotiables to the upgrades worth spending money on. No fluff, no gear-hoarding rabbit holes. Just what actually moves the needle when brands are reviewing your work.
If you're ready to put that setup to work, Pitchlo is a UGC creator marketplace with real paid brand deals you can apply to right now.
What UGC Brand Deals Actually Look Like
Before we talk gear, let's talk about what you're creating for. Because your equipment needs depend entirely on the type of content brands are buying.
UGC brand deals aren't influencer deals. You're not posting to your own audience. You're delivering raw video files — or edited short clips — that brands use in their own ads, social posts, and product pages. They own the content. You get paid a flat fee.
Here's what a typical UGC brand deal looks like in practice:
Product Demo Videos
A skincare brand sends you their serum. You film yourself applying it, talking through the texture, the scent, what it feels like on your skin. You deliver 3–5 raw clips. They edit it into a paid ad. You made $150–$400 for maybe two hours of work.
Unboxing and Review Content
A tech accessories brand ships you a phone case or a charging cable. You film the unboxing, show it in use, talk through the features naturally. Brands use this for TikTok ads and Instagram Reels.
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A food brand or supplement company wants footage of their product in a "real life" setting — on your kitchen counter, in your morning routine, packed in a gym bag. These are b-roll style clips, often without talking.
Testimonial-Style Videos
Some brands want a direct-to-camera format — you talking about the product like you're recommending it to a friend. These go straight into paid social ads.
The common thread across all of these? They're shot in real environments, on real devices, by real people. That's why your gear list doesn't need to be complex. It just needs to be reliable.
What Equipment Do UGC Creators Need — The Actual List
Let's get into it. Here's a breakdown by category, from what you absolutely need to what's worth adding later.
The Non-Negotiables
A Modern Smartphone
If you have a flagship iPhone or Android from the last three years, you already have your primary camera. iPhone 14 and up, Samsung Galaxy S22 and up — these shoot content that brands accept and use in paid ads every day. Later's 2025 UGC Benchmark Report confirmed that over 70% of UGC content used in brand campaigns is shot on mobile. Don't let anyone tell you that you need a mirrorless camera to start.
If your phone is older, an upgrade will do more for your content than any other single purchase.
A Ring Light or Key Light
Bad lighting kills good content. This is the single biggest technical mistake new UGC creators make. A $25–$50 ring light from Amazon fixes it. You want soft, even light on your face for talking-head videos, and enough brightness to show product detail clearly.
If you want to go up a level, a small softbox key light (like the Elgato Key Light Air) gives you more control and a more professional look without ever leaving "phone creator" territory.
A Tripod or Phone Mount
Shaky footage looks unprofessional. Period. A basic $15–$30 tripod with a phone clip is enough. For more flexibility, a small gorillapod lets you wrap it around things, prop it on surfaces, and shoot from angles a standard tripod can't do.
For content where you're moving around — walking through your kitchen, showing a product in use — a phone stabilizer (gimbal) like the DJI OM series is worth considering once you're booking consistent deals.
An External Microphone
This is where most new creators leave money on the table. Phone microphones pick up everything — HVAC hum, traffic, echo in hard-walled rooms. Brands notice. Editors notice.
A $30–$60 clip-on lavalier mic that plugs into your phone's USB-C or Lightning port makes a dramatic difference. The Rode Wireless GO II is the creator industry standard if you want to invest more seriously — around $300, but it's what working UGC creators use across beauty, fitness, food, and lifestyle niches.
If you're only buying one piece of equipment beyond your phone, make it a microphone.
The Upgrades That Pay For Themselves
A Simple Backdrop or Clean Wall
You don't need to buy anything here — you need to find a clean, uncluttered wall in your space. Neutral colors (white, cream, light grey) work best. Some creators use a portable foam board or paper backdrop for product flat lays.
Brands doing lifestyle content want your real environment. Brands doing product demos often want clean, distraction-free backgrounds. Having both options in your space makes you more versatile.
Editing Software
CapCut is free and handles 90% of what UGC creators need to deliver. For iOS, the built-in Photos app plus CapCut covers basic trimming, text overlays, and color grading. If you're delivering raw files only, you might not even need editing software at all — check your brief.
For more polished deliverables, DaVinci Resolve (free version) or Adobe Premiere Rush are solid upgrades.
Good Natural Light — Or a Second Light Source
A window that gets soft, indirect daylight is worth more than most gear purchases. Time your shoots around it. If you're shooting evenings or in a naturally dark space, a second small LED panel helps you fill shadows and get consistent results regardless of time of day.
What You Don't Need (Yet)
A DSLR or mirrorless camera
A professional studio setup
Drone footage
Advanced color grading software
A dedicated filming room
Brands buying UGC aren't expecting broadcast-quality production. They're expecting authentic content that converts. Start with what you have. Add gear as your income justifies it.
Where UGC Creators Find Brand Deals
Having the right gear is one thing. Getting hired is another.
Most UGC creators start by cold pitching brands on Instagram or TikTok — which works, slowly, with a lot of rejection and no visibility into what brands are actually paying or what they want. It's a grind.
The faster path is using a marketplace where brands are already posting paid UGC job listings and actively looking for creators to hire.
Pitchlo is built exactly for this. It's a UGC creator marketplace where you browse real brand deals, see what the work involves, and submit a pitch directly. No follower count requirements. No agency gatekeeping. Brands post what they need, you apply, you get hired.
The brands on Pitchlo span niches — beauty, wellness, food, tech, home, fitness, and more. If you've got the gear and you're ready to start pitching, browse open UGC creator jobs on Pitchlo and see what's available right now.
Beyond marketplaces, creators also find UGC deals through:
Creator-brand subreddits like r/ugcmarketing (quality varies wildly)
LinkedIn, where brand managers post UGC projects directly
TikTok Creator Marketplace, which skews toward influencer deals but has UGC opportunities too
Direct outreach to DTC brands via Instagram or email — works best once you have a solid portfolio
But honestly? If you're starting out, a marketplace like Pitchlo is the most efficient path to a first paid deal. The opportunities are structured, the briefs are clear, and you're not fishing in the dark.
What Brands Are Looking For in UGC Creators
Gear gets you in the door. This is what keeps you booked.
Clear, Watchable Content
Brands aren't grading on a film school curve. They want content that doesn't distract from the product. Clean audio. Stable shots. Good lighting. That's it. If your baseline delivers those three things consistently, you're ahead of a huge percentage of applicants.
Natural Delivery
Talking-head UGC lives and dies on authenticity. Brands want creators who sound like they're genuinely recommending a product, not reading off a script. If you can talk naturally to camera — or get there with practice — you'll book more deals than someone with a better camera setup and stiff delivery.
Versatility
Creators who can deliver multiple formats — testimonial videos, lifestyle b-roll, unboxing clips, product close-ups — are more valuable to brands. Your gear list should support all of these. A phone, a tripod, a good mic, and decent lighting cover all four.
A Portfolio (Even a Small One)
Brands want to see examples before they hire you. If you don't have portfolio pieces from real brand deals yet, make them. Pick products you own — your skincare routine, your gym supplements, a kitchen appliance — and shoot spec content as if a brand hired you. Three to five strong spec pieces is enough to start pitching seriously.
According to Sprout Social's UGC report, brands that use UGC in their ad creative see significantly higher engagement rates than polished brand-produced content. That's why brands keep buying it — and why demand for UGC creators keeps growing.
Reliability
Deadlines matter. Revision turnaround matters. Brands talk to each other, especially in tight niches. Being easy to work with and consistent on deliverables is a competitive advantage most new creators underestimate.
How to Apply to UGC Brand Deals
You've got the gear. You've got some portfolio pieces. Here's how to actually start landing paid work.
Step 1: Set Up a Simple Portfolio Page
You don't need a website. A Google Drive folder with your best three to five clips, organized and shareable, is enough. Some creators use a free Canva page or a Notion doc. Brands just need to see your work quickly.
Step 2: Join a UGC Marketplace
Create a profile on Pitchlo. List your niche focus, upload portfolio samples, and set your rates. This is your professional presence in the marketplace — treat it like a job application, not a social media profile.
Step 3: Read Brand Briefs Carefully
When you find a deal you want to apply to, read the brief fully before pitching. Brands post specific requirements — video length, format, talking points, tone, product angle. Pitches that miss the brief get rejected fast. Pitches that directly address what the brand asked for get interviews.
Step 4: Write a Pitch That's Specific
Don't send a generic pitch. Reference the product. Mention a specific angle you'd take. Show that you read the brief and you have a real idea for the content. Two or three sentences that are specific beats a paragraph of generic enthusiasm every time.
Step 5: Deliver and Build Relationships
Your first deal with a brand is a tryout. Nail the brief, deliver on time, be easy to work with on revisions. Brands that love their first UGC creator often come back for more content — turning a one-time gig into recurring income.
Start Booking UGC Brand Deals With the Gear You Have
You don't need to wait until you have perfect equipment. You need a phone that shoots good video, a microphone, a light, and something to hold your phone steady. That's the baseline. Everything else is an upgrade you earn with deal income.
The creators booking consistent paid UGC work in 2026 aren't the ones with the fanciest setups — they're the ones who showed up with solid fundamentals and started pitching.
Join Pitchlo and browse real paid brand deals from verified brands looking for UGC creators right now. Your setup is ready. The brands are waiting.
