Vlogging Tips from a Videojournalism Student

Alternately titled: Most Vlogs Suck

...but I thought that would make me come off like a jerk. I just have a really hard time watching vlogs when it's just someone rambling in front of an out-of-focus webcam while you can see their laundry pile in the background. It's mostly because I study this that I'm critical of it, though. I think that vlogs are a really cool way to be able to see and hear your favorite bloggers, and to get to know them on a different level. But video offers so much, so I thought I'd offer ways to make your vlogs more interesting:

1) Use a decent camera.

It doesn't take anything fancy to get good picture and sound, but you might want to try more than just the webcam that's installed on your laptop. A regular digital photography camera can do a really good job. Also, stabilize your camera! Use a tripod, or set it on a stable surface AND DON'T TOUCH IT. Shaky video is really nauseating.

2) Lighting and sound.

Often, these two simple things make the difference between a decent vlog and one that makes people cringe. Shooting outside in sunlight usually can give you great light. The drawback to this is that if you aren't using a microphone, you might pick up wind and natural sound which is really distracting. If you're shooting indoors, use a good light source. Make sure there is no light/windows behind you! That will make you backlit, which will give your face weird shadows and your video will look terrible. Try to have a light on either side of your face, at face level, and have them triangulate on your face. Also, if you aren't using a mic, try to get your room as quiet as possible so your audience only hears what you want them to hear and they aren't distracted.

3) Say/do something interesting!

Most vloggers just sit there and talk. Which isn't necessarily bad, but it gets annoying when they haven't planned what they'll talk about and they stammer through, saying, "Um... I don't really know what else to say... But.... Well... Um..." Plan what you're going to say, but DON'T SCRIPT IT. If you do, you'll sound like a robot. Give yourself some bullet points to follow and post it on a card next to your camera so that you can be natural without getting off track and ending up rambling.

Something that I wish I saw more of was vloggers doing interesting things with video, rather than just talking to a camera. You could do a mini-movie or a music video or show something else interesting. This takes a little more video skill and some knowledge of basic video editing, but if you'd like to learn some things, it's really easy and TONS of fun! If you want to know more, just message me or Google it.

These are just the basics of things than can makes vlogs go from boring to really great. It isn't hard. I know a few people are starting VEDA soon, so I thought this might help. If you have any questions, or want suggestions on your vlogs, or have a question about Harry Potter, feel free to send me a message!