A vlog or a video log is a great way to engage your followers, while posting content that is relevant to your “brand”. In simple words, vlogging is making videos to post on your blog instead of only posting written articles. 
The world has become increasingly focused on visual content and with the short attention span that most people have today, posting videos will grab you more traffic as compared to the written word.
So, now that we’ve got the meaning of vlogging out of the way, let’s focus on what you need to produce quality videos- Equipment. Not too long ago, you would have definitely needed an expensive digital camera, an equally expensive microphone or sound recording equipment and a whole set up to be able to produce a halfway decent video. Not any more though! With the giant strides that Apple has made through its phones, an iPhone and a few other pieces of equipment will be all that you need now.
Let’s dive right in and talk about a basic and yet, effective vlogging set up that will get you producing impressive visual content in no time.
Your phone
Many of my friends have the latest iPhone 11 Pro and I can tell you that this phone truly kicks ass! Spectacular 4k video quality, provided by the triple camera system designed by Apple and shot at 60 frames per second, the iPhone 11 Pro is a dream to shoot with.
Even if you don’t have the latest iPhone, I’ve still found that Apple makes it really easy to shoot and edit videos. I have personally made beautiful videos on my iPhone XS and been immensely satisfied with the results.
However, if you do have a little extra cash to burn, consider investing in some lenses that can be clipped onto your iPhone and can add, say a wide angle to your shoot, depending on the lens you use. Take a look at these lenses from Lemuro to give your content a pro look!
Lights
If you will be shooting most of your content indoors, it is recommended that you spend on some lighting equipment. No one wants dark and dimly lit footage! A simple search on Amazon gave me heaps of options for a range of budgets. A quick suggestion? Buy something that clips onto your phone. Your phone is going to be on you at most times and you want a light that is light and easy to use instead of having to carry around something bulky and heavy.
Sound
This one’s similar to lights in the sense that you want something to clip on and easy to carry about. That rules out all the old-fashioned huge mics that you see professional sounds guys carrying!
Get yourself a clip-on microphone that will pick up your voice or whatever you are trying to record and will filter out the noise. I’ve found Rode’s microphones to be very good at this, but they do come at a price. Take a look at this one here.
Tripod
If you decide to buy only one piece of equipment ever, I’d strongly suggest you get a tripod, a good quality one, at that! A tripod will help you avoid that annoying shakiness to a video. An above-average one will even clip to the outside surface like a branch or a narrow wall. This will prove to be super useful because a, you’ll have both hands available to use and b, no more constant phone holding aka no more squished close-ups of your face! Score!
While every YouTube star has their preference, it is widely acknowledged that nothing beats a GorillaPod. They come in different varieties, at different prices and are so versatile. They can grip onto pretty much any surface and will soon become indispensable to your vlogging setup. Take a look at the ones here and pick the one most appropriate for your budget and content.
Apps
You’re obviously going to need to edit the footage you take, unless raw footage is the niche you’re going for. If you’ve got a MacBook, this will prove to be relatively easy since you could probably use iMovie for most of your needs.
However, if you want to use third party apps, Adobe RUSH is probably the big daddy of them all and works extremely well both on your iPhone and iPad. Personally, I’ve used Adobe RUSH and I’ve never had to look at another app to edit the content I shoot! When you first sign up, the app prompts you to take a quick tutorial that gives you the lowdown of most of its features. It is a pretty simple app to use and is also loaded with presets you can use.
Skyglow is an excellent app if you want to do stunning 4k time lapses as part of your content. The app is very flexible and allows you to choose how much you want to speed up you’re time-lapse or slow it down.
If you are familiar with VSCO and their amazing presets and filters, you probably know about their paid VSCO X membership that gives you access to more premium presets. What you may not know is that in 2017, they introduced a video editor, as part of VSCO X. VSCO is one of the best editing apps available on the App Store and for good reason. Simple to use and offering so many presets, this is a quick way to give your content a personal stamp.
A few words of advice when you start vlogging…
Take advantage of natural light!
Yes, I remember telling you to get an artificial light, and yes, I still stand by that. However, there is nothing that can replace good old natural light! Try not to shoot too much at noon when the sun is directly overhead and at its harshest. Instead, try the early hours of the morning or at dusk, times that are best known as the hours of “golden light”. This kind of natural light is more forgiving and gives your whole frame a more natural glow.
Tripod, Tripod, Tripod!
Close ups of your face, even though you’re probably very good looking, is a strict no-no. No one wants to see you huffing and puffing up a hill with your face almost squished to the lens of the camera! Use a tripod or even a selfie stick to give you better angles to work with!
Don’t overedit!
Do you know why great editors are great? Because they know when to stop! Don’t go overboard on presets and filters, no matter how tempting that might be! A lot of times, your footage will only need basic editing. Use your common sense and know when to stop. Keep the overall “look” of your vlogs the same so that you attract a lot of viewers back. Style and consistency will get you further than using all the filters available to mankind in one single vlog.
Make it Fun!
Let me end this post by gently reminding you to keep it light and fun! Editing isn’t and shouldn’t be complicated enough to give you a massive migraine. Keep it catchy and have fun with the process. Trust me, you will get better as time passes. Practice makes perfect, as they say!
