Being a content creator can be demanding if you want to stand out from the crowd. This week we look at three products that take photos and videos to the next level – a 4K camera that fits in your pocket; an instant camera, printer and audio recorder in one; and an app to make your Instagram Stories pop.

DJI Osmo Pocket

As its name suggests, the DJI Osmo Pocket is a dinky little gadget that shoots 4K videos and fits in your pocket. It’s the smallest three-axis stabilised, hand-held camera capable of shooting shake-free footage in 4K or 1080p at 60fps and 12MP stills, with a battery life of 140 minutes.

I love that it comes with a Lightning adaptor for iPhones and a USB-C adaptor for most Androids, so you can transfer content on to your device for social sharing. The DJI Mimo companion app lets you edit your footage before saving it, and lets you shoot directly from it if you prefer a large viewfinder over the tiny built-in one.

If you’re a bit of an adventure junkie or traveller, or love creating videos, the Osmo Pocket is for you.

Pros: It shoots in slow-mo, pano and time lapse; it’s simple to use, with two buttons and a touch screen; it’s lightweight (116g), has top-notch stabilisation and comes with a cover.

Cons: It does not come with a memory card; adaptors are tiny and could easily get misplaced; there’s no Bluetooth/Wi-Fi connectivity.

Instax LiPlay

Fujifilm’s range of instant cameras is loved by many around the world, and with its new Instax LiPlay it attempts to up the ante. The LiPlay is a three-in-one hybrid instant camera that lets you print from a smartphone, take photos and edit them before printing or add an audio voice note to the printout.

The last is ideal if you want to share a personal message with a photo for a special someone. The result is a printout with a small QR code so the recipient can scan and listen to the audio via an external link. You’d need to pair a smartphone to the camera via an app to record a voice note. I enjoyed printing pics from my smartphone more than recording voice notes.

Pros: Review images before printing so you don’t waste film; printing from your camera roll can get addictive; cute printouts.

Cons: The novelty of adding a voice note may wear off fast; expensive film.

Unfold

Aimed at storytellers, Unfold is a freemium photo editing app that will make your Instagram Stories stand out from the crowd. It offers a basic free template with various slide layouts, but has multiple collections available at R14.99 per pack. It is a nifty app if you want your content to look different from everyone else’s.

To create a story in a sequence, simply create a new project and choose what style you’d like for each slide; add videos or photos; change the font on your captions (pay to unlock more); and choose different background colours. Once you’re happy with editing, save the slides to your device or post directly to Instagram. The various packs are worth it, with something to suit everyone. It’s not necessary to purchase all but rather use the preview option to find the right one for you.

Pros: Content will always be unique; get as creative as you want; delete and rearrange slides easily.

Cons: Only works for an Instagram layout.