As the name suggests, vlogging is defined as the combination of video and blogging to create a video blog. The format is popular due to the ease of video capturing and popular websites like YouTube.
Vlogging has been around for decades. It began to gain popularity in the early 2000s as video cameras became more affordable and technology gave people an easier means of uploading and viewing vlogs.
Vloggers (as they’re known) cover a multitude of topics. You can find vlogs on anything from fashion to pets, food to music. But this isn’t to say the market is saturated. Every week, innovative new vloggers rise to prominence with great content and/or videography.
If this has piqued your interest and you’re keen to start vlogging yourself, here are the key vlogging tips to read before you embark on this adventure.
How to start a vlog
1. Pick your niche
The first step is to decide what you want to vlog about. It’s generally best to stick to one particular niche so you don’t spread yourself too thin.
As mentioned earlier, the possibilities are endless. Just pick something you’re passionate about and that you think other people would enjoy watching.
2. Check out existing vloggers in your niche
Let’s say you’re into movies. Check out what other movie lovers are doing in this space. You can do this by going to YouTube or simply by typing in ‘movie vlog’ or a similar term into Google.
You might find that there are tons of movie review vlogs out there, but not many that focus on the art of cinematography, which presents an opportunity for you to enter the vlogger market.
It also pays to research some popular vloggers, mostly to help you understand what techniques are so successful. The best vloggers often employ clever editing skills to have the greatest effect.
3. Choose where to host it
Now that you’ve done some research, consider where you want to host your vlog. You may wish to self-host it on your website, or use popular platforms like YouTube or Vimeo. Creating a channel of YouTube and linking off to your blog or site is a popular method.
4. Decide what type of vlogger you want to be
Having checked out the landscape in your vlogging field, work out how to differentiate yourself from the competition. A general tip is to play to your strengths. If you have a good sense of humour, replicate this onto video and become a funny vlogger. If you’re
5. Get the right vlogging equipment
No matter how well you plan ahead, it won’t amount to much if your video comes out all fuzzy and pixelated. The fact is, many vloggers have been successful using nothing more than a smartphone or a webcam.
However, to make your vlog appear more professional or to aid certain types of vlogging that requires action or movement, you might want to consider investing in a quality camcorder, DSLR or mirrorless camera.
You’ll also want to think about accessories. A tripod or mini-tripod is essential for mobile vlogging. And camera lighting is a key tool for indoor vloggers.
6. Work through the finer details
The final step before you get vlogging is to tick off the finer details. This includes things like:
- what you want your vlog name to be,
- how to inform your friends and followers of its existence,
- plan a list of content topics,
- & how to build your audience.
We’ll cover these tips in more detail in our next post. Stay tuned for that. In the meantime, browse our other helpful photo and video based blog posts or the latest, affordable camera products here.
Become the vlogging star you have dreamed of!
At Camera House, we are here to offer quality cameras, camera accessories and expert advice to help you make your dreams come true. Beginning vlogging is the start of a wonderful journey and we are here to answer all your camera questions. Check out more tips for new vloggers in our video below:
