My main goal with vlogging is to make promotional and instructional videos. So far results have been terrible, so I haven’t published anything yet, but it will hopefully get better.
I watched Udemy – Vlogging for Beginners (free course) and also noted a few things of my own:
- Use any device you have handy. Phone or camera doesn’t matter.
- A phone is likely better when moving around, camera if static.
- It’s what you record that matters.
- Look directly into the lens, not the screen or anywhere else, to achieve eye-contact. It shows if you look elsewhere.
- If you have a flipable screen on the camera, you don’t need it, except possibly for initial framing. It can become a distraction.
- Avoid hesitance, “hmm”ing and looking away. Be direct.
- Framing:
- The camera should be at eye height or slightly less.
- Show the whole head (with a margin) as well as upper body, so hands can be visible to show things and gestures. Be careful that they get focus.
- In a static setting the background should be neutral, calm, contrasting and fully covering.
- The light should be on you, less on the background.
- Set center focus and metering, so that you are in the “light”, not the background.
- Don’t go resolution-crazy. HD (1920×1080) is quite sufficient, and looks really good.
- The integrated microphone gives decent results if the location is overall quiet.
- Door slamming, background talking, wind etc are easily picked up.
- Optionally record in small sections to minimize risk of having to make long re-takes.
- Don’t follow a word-for-word script, as you can’t read from it anyway while filming. Instead write down keywords for what you should talk about.
- Initially edit via free tools (if at all). They are good enough if the source material is good enough.
- Possibly show videos and pictures describing what’s being said.
- Take photos and record silent videos.
- Use pan and zoom to create life in the videos.
- Optionally get stock photos and/or videos for this purpose.
- Focus on forwarding the content, the advice and the stories.
- Publish videos as-is initially without editing, and avoid being critical.
- Don’t analyze results initially (viewers, followers etc).
- Don’t ask for or worry about others’ opinions, to get creative freedom to do whatever you want to do.
- Ignore comments from trolls.
- Experiment with having someone control the camera, and possibly asking questions.
- Try, try and try again. Don’t give up.