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Are GoPros Waterproof?
GoPros are pretty rugged, which is one of the reasons why people take them out on adventures. You can use them around water, and you can even use them in the water.
The newer models are designed to be waterproof right out of the box, but you should make sure that you take precautions to ensure that this is the case.
Continue reading to learn all about GoPros and water.
Are GoPros Waterproof?
All GoPros can go in water. Newer models do not need external housing because they are already set up to go in the water, while older models require a separate waterproof case.
However, all of the Session models and the newer Hero cameras are made with the waterproof case. They are rated down to 10 meters or 33 feet, and you will need a diving housing if you plan to go further underwater.
All of the GoPros that are waterproof work well underwater but some offer more accessories, including underwater filters or extended batteries. The Hero7 is one that offers these advantages. If you plan to do a lot of shooting underwater, you might want to consider this model.
What to Look for When You Are Shooting Near the Surface
If you are doing an activity such as kayaking, swimming, or surfing and you are using the camera in and out of the water, there are a few things to be aware of.
First, you need to be careful about getting a drop of water on the lens. You can use an anti-fog spray or detergent to prevent water droplets from sticking to the lens.
You can also use hydrophobic filters that will be placed outside the lens port. They help the water roll off the camera more easily and reduce the issue of water drops.
If you are using your GoPro for vlogging at the beach, you may find that salt water dries and leaves salt residue behind. In this case, you will want to make sure that you rinse the GoPro with clean water before it has a chance to dry. These are a few things to be careful of.
What to Look for When You Are Shooting Underwater
Some people use their GoPros underwater, and there are a few things that you need to look out for. You will not have the issue of water droplets, but your field of view will be narrower.
Water alters the refraction of the camera, and this reduces the width of the wide angle.
Also Read: Is a Gopro Worth It?
Another issue is that your shots might come out overly blue. When you go deep into the water, the photos are even more blue. The reason for this has to do with how wavelengths of light travel. The reds and oranges are longer wavelengths and they don’t travel as well in water as the blue, which is a shorter wavelength.
You can use an underwater filter to add in reds and oranges to make the colors less blue and more natural. These filters just snap on over the lens port and they are waterproof, so it’s not an issue.
Tips to Make Sure That Your GoPro Is Safe in Water
Although the newer models are waterproof, you should always check out a few things to make sure that it is working properly. First, you will want to make sure that the seals are intact.
There are rubber seals around two trapdoors, and you need to make sure that they aren’t damaged or beat up. If they aren’t in excellent condition, water can seep in and your camera will no longer be waterproof.
Another consideration is to buy a float and a strap if you plan to be in water. GoPros will sink easily, and this will help to ensure that you don’t lose your camera in deep water.
Also Read: What is Spot Meter on GoPro?
You aren’t able to use the touchscreen underwater, so you should lock it when you are around the water. Sometimes a drip of water can register as a touch, and it might change your settings. Just use the screen locks to keep your settings how you want them.
Final Words
The GoPro cameras are a lot of fun to use when you are out around the water. The newer models are all waterproof, but you will want to take some precautions to get the most out of your camera.
What is Spot Meter on GoPro?
The GoPro’s Spot Meter calculates the automatic exposure from a small spot in the center of the frame. It is helpful when you have uneven lighting and want a certain part of your video or your image to be exposed correctly.
Continue reading to learn all about the spot meter on the GoPro.
How Does the Spot Meter Work?
The spot meter is what the GoPro camera uses to calculate the automatic exposure. When you use the GoPro in the default setting, it examines the entire view of what is coming into the camera’s sensor and calculates the exposure as the average of the entire scene.
As long as you have fairly even lighting, this will work fine. However, when you are shooting in dark spaces or looking from a dark place into a lighter space, the brighter areas can become overexposed.
If you shoot from a bright space into a darker area, you will end up with images that are underexposed. This is a common problem when people are photographing in contrasting lighting. In these cases, you need a feature to correct for the contrast in brightness.
When to Use the Spot Meter?
The Spot Meter is the solution to this problem because it uses a small spot in the center of the frame to calculate the exposure, and it doesn’t factor in the rest of the frame.
You can use it to focus on someone’s face or a scene through a window where it is brighter or darker. It is ideal when you need specific control over the lighting and when you want to get rid of a shadow.
Also Read: Why Won’t my GoPro Turn On?
The spot meter is a useful setting that you can use when you need it. You can prevent underexposure or overexposure that comes from different lighting, and you can focus on the feature of your image. If you are shooting people, you can make sure that the faces are lit perfectly.
Do All GoPros Have Spot Meter?
Most of the GoPros in the Hero series do have the Spot Meter, with the exception of the GoPro SD Hero. However, the cameras that have been made since the Hero 5 Black don’t mention the Spot meter; instead, the manual refers to Exposure Control.
It is similar to Spot Meter because it calculates the exposure of a small area of the frame, but it is different because it allows you to choose an area that doesn’t have to be in the center of the frame.
Also Read: Are GoPros Waterproof?
The newer models use this feature, but they do call it Spot Meter because people were looking for this feature, and it is very similar. Spot meter is a standard photography term, so many photographers look for it.
The good thing is that you get spot metering with the ability to choose the part of the frame where you want to use it.
Final Words
The spot meter is a useful feature that allows you to control the exposure of a small part of your image so you won’t have to worry about overexposure or underexposure due to uneven lighting. It helps you produce better images.
What is GoPro Superview?
If you have a GoPro, you might have noticed that they have some unique names for their features. SuperView is a feature they offer in some video modes on newer models of GoPro cameras.
Basically, it is their name for the widest field of view they offer when you are taking videos. GoPro is known for their fisheye view that makes you feel immersed in the photo, and it is the most common one you see.
However, SuperView is wider and more distorted, and it brings in a little bit more from each of the sides of the view.
You lose some of the effect at the top and bottom because it stretches the aspect ratio of 4:3 out to 16:9. Continue reading to learn all about GoPro’s SuperView.
SuperView Uses Dynamic Stretching
Dynamic stretching is a process where your GoPro will automatically stretch out the sides of a video that has a 4:3 aspect ratio so that it fits into a 16:9 aspect ratio frame.
The center will stay the same, but the edges will gradually stretch and adjust. Basically, the pixels in the center stay the same, but the edges are stretched to fit the 16:9 aspect ratio.
It gives you more of a fisheye effect, but it can create a more immersive video.
Benefits of Using SuperView
There are basically two benefits of using the SuperView setting. It has a taller field of view so you won’t lose the parts of the image that wouldn’t be present if you were shooting in 16:9 resolution. In addition, your footage will not have the two black bars on either side when you play back your video.
The default field of view for a 1080p video is Wide, which creates an immersive feel. The 1080p SuperView has a wider field of view and a more distorted perspective. It takes in more information from each side, and it smushes the image from the top and bottom.
When to Use SuperView
The main reason why people use SuperView is to be creative. It works well when you have images in the edges of the video that you want to include. If there are people, you won’t want to use it because it will stretch them.
People should be in the center of your frame. Most people use SuperView when they are taking body-mounted video from a helmet or the chest. It will capture the full scene, and it helps people feel as though they are part of the video.
Do All GoPro Cameras Have SuperView?
All of the best GoPros have SuperView. In addition, all models that are made since the GoPro Hero3 + Black have it. It is easy to set it up by changing the resolution in the settings.
When you go into the resolution settings, you can look at the ones with an “S” after and these are SuperView. They 4K S and 720 S are two examples. Once you select it, SuperView is on and ready to use.
Also Read: What is Spot Meter on GoPro?
Final Words
SuperView is a setting that gives you an even wider angle when you are shooting video. It can create a more immersive perspective, and it is available on most of the newer GoPro cameras.
Is a GoPro Worth It?
If you are looking for a sports action camera then the first question you may ask yourself will probably be Is a Gopro Worth It?
Given just how successful the GoPro line of camera’s became it was inevitable that there would be a host of copycat brands popping up looking to try and take a piece of the action.
Most of these brands are cheaper and there is a reason for that.
On average the quality is much lower than you get with an original GoPro.
The build quality on a GoPro is exceptional and they are extremely robust which is perfect for the outdoor vlogger.
Is a GoPro Worth It?
Yes a GoPro is worth it as they are affordable, lightweight give high quality video and you can bring them just about anywhere.
1. Lightweight
GoPros are really light and you can take them almost anywhere without the weight ever being an issue.
whether that’s hiking in the hills or rockclimbig, when you need to pack light a GoPro is without doubt the best often.
Comparing a GoPro vs DSLR in terms of weight it is pretty obvious that the DSLR is really going to weight you down and a high quality camera bag to protect it will be extremely bulky.
DSLR can be a real pain when on the road and they are always a target for thieves as it is pretty obvious when you are carrying one.
2. Shock Proof
The GoPro can take a lot of abuse and they have great shock resistant attributes.
When mounted on a dashboard in an off-road vehicle or on a helmet when downhill mountain biking you can rest assured that all the vibration coming through to the camera mount will not affect the GoPro.
3. Water Proof
Years ago before small action camera’s were available underwater camera’s were big bulky things with a fish eye lens that were a real pain to deal with.
The first GoPro models were not water proof without an additional housing. Most recent GoPros are waterproof and do not need the additional housing in order to protect them from water damage and that is what makes them the best GoPro for vloggers.
This means you can literally go anywhere without worrying if your camera will get wet.
Most of the modern models are rated down to roughly 10 meters which is a pretty good depth and perfect for snorkeling.
4. Easy to Operate
They are a cinch to operate and you have several different options on how you want to control a GoPro.
- Remote – GoPro comes with a simple remote that is super easy to operate.
- Phone – Use your phone as a remote once the camera is paired to it.
- Voice Commands – You can also use voice commands to stop and start your camera.
All of which are really easy to learn and once you know them they make operation really smooth.
5. Features
GoPro comes packed with all sorts of image stability and playback features already built into them.
The more modern models have features like the GoPro Spot Meter and GoPro SuperView that making them really stand apart from the competition in terms of image quality.
6. Price
Although there are a lot of cheaper imitations available the GoPro is actually not that expensive in comparison to a high end DSLR camera.
If you are the type of vlogger or Youtuber that likes to shoot outside then they are a much better often than a big bulky traditional camera setup and all of the accessories that you need to carry around.
7. Mounting
Mounting a GoPro is really easy with a mounting plate. Because they are so robust and light you can mount them almost anywhere with the fear that they will shatter like a more expensive traditional camera.
We hope we have convinced you that a GoPro is worth it, grab one today you won’t regret it!
Why Won’t my GoPro Turn On?
If you have just tried to switch on your Gopro but it fails to power up then you might be wondering Why Won’t my Gopro Turn On?
Powering up a Gopro is pretty simple, just push down the power button and wait for it to spring into life.
But occasionally it may fail to power on.
Don’t worry there are a few things you can try to get it working again.
Why Won’t my Gopro Turn On?
Turning on your GoPro camera should be a fairly straightforward process. You simply press the power button, and it turns on. It can be disconcerting when you press the power button and nothing happens.
You don’t get a message or warning lights, and you might now know what to do. Continue reading to learn the reasons why your GoPro won’t turn on.
The Battery
One reason why your GoPro might not turn on is that the battery is dead. GoPros don’t have a long battery life, and they usually shut off when they get down to about 5% charge.
However, it will still lose its charge at that point even if you aren’t using it. It doesn’t have a battery status indicator so if the battery dies, the GoPro won’t turn on and it won’t tell you what is going on.
Also Read: Are GoPros Worth It?
You can try a couple of things to solve this problem. You can try charging the battery. When you connect the USB cable, it might take a few minutes before the red LED charging light comes on but it should come on.
Also Read: Is a GoPro Waterproof?
You can also try to remove the battery and reinsert it. If you have some grit or dirt in the battery casing, it could cause the connectors to not line up right. Check to see if this solves the problem.
You Can Reset the Camera
If your battery is charged and you have no idea why the GoPro won’t turn on, you can try to reset the camera. The problem is that it will return the camera to the original factory settings so you will have to set it up the way you like it again.
First, you can power your GoPro off. Make sure that you remove accessories such as external mics or batteries. Then you should either make sure that you have a charged battery inside the camera or connect it to a power source with your USB cable. You will hold down the power button for ten seconds and then release it.
What to Do If Nothing Works
If nothing works, you will want to call GoPro support. It is possible that there is something wrong, whether it happened when you were out with the camera or whether there is another problem. If it is under warranty, they will have it covered; otherwise, you will need to repair it.
Also Read: What is GoPro Superview?
Why Does the Battery Drain So Quickly on GoPro?
People often complain that their GoPro camera batteries drain quickly, and there is actually a reason for it. Often, they have WiFi or Bluetooth active when they aren’t using the camera.
It is important to turn these settings off when you turn the camera off or they will drain the battery. You can go to the Wireless Connections in the settings menu and disable them.
You can also improve your battery life by using the QuikCapture setting. When you have this setting turned on, your camera will start recording as soon as you press the shutter button and it will turn the camera off when you stop recording.
Check the SD Card
Another reason why your GoPro might not turn on is that you need to reformat your SD card. You can remove the SD card, save the photos on it, and reformat it on your computer. Then reinsert it and see if your camera powers on.
What Is the Most Likely Cause?
The most likely cause is your battery. This happens sometimes and you need to try to charge the battery, change the battery, or replace the battery.
If your battery is simply drained, you can charge it and solve the problem. However, you might need to replace it. If you have a second battery, make sure that it is charged and see if that works.
The first step is to investigate the battery. Try charging it, and if you see the LED light, then you know that it is charging. Once it is fully charged, try to power on the camera again.
You might need to take the battery out and put it back in again a few times. If your battery isn’t working, you will want to replace it.
Final Words
If your GoPro won’t turn on, you will want to check your battery. If you can’t figure it out, you can do a reset, which will help if the camera is frozen. If all else fails, you can call GoPro support.
How to Make a Vlog – (And Get Your Content Seen)
Vlogging and YouTube is quickly becoming one of the most lucrative career options out there.
However, what does making a vlog actually entail? If this question is puzzling you, look no further.
We have put together this guide to help you start vlogging in no time. So keep on reading and find out how to vlog like a pro you can make your vlog channel grow.
How to Make a Vlog
1. Research & Prep
First things first, you have to do some prep work. You can’t make a vlog if you don’t know what your vlog or your content will be about.
It is important to have plans for your vlogs and video content because it can define how well you perform on YouTube.
That being said, before doing any recording, outline your vlog ideas. If you need inspiration, go ahead and watch some already seasoned vloggers or vloggers you personally enjoy.
Study their intro, the music they use, the length of their videos and how they edit.
Take note of these things, but be mindful to not copy. Instead, use these things as inspiration for how you design your own vlogs.
2. Create A YouTube Channel
After you have designed your vlog channel and outlined your vlog ideas, you can move on to actually creating a YouTube profile.
Obviously, once you finish creating your vlogs, you need a place to upload and share those vlogs.
To create your channel, go to YouTube and follow the directions to create a channel.
3. Get a Good Vlogging Camera & Equipment
Despite popular belief, you don’t have to spend hundred and thousands of dollars on expensive equipment to film a quality video.
You can easily film a vlog on your smartphone, tablet, or webcam. However, if you want to get the best quality, we recommend investing a good quality camera.
Viewers naturally gravitate more towards high-definition videos over bad quality videos.
By investing in the best vlog camera, you will not only get high quality picture resolution, you will also get good audio and image stabilization.
After finding the right camera, don’t forget to also look into finding a microphone set, good tripods, and lighting setups.
Granted, these can be purchased along the way as you grow your channel. So start with the camera and go from there.
4. Record Your Vlog
Now that you have all the preparation work out of the way and have the right equipment in hand, you can move on to actually filming your video. Here are some tips to help you make your first vlog:
Be natural and don’t overthink it: You can have a script for your first vlog if you want, but don’t plan it out too much. Just start the recording and say what naturally comes to you.
Remember, a huge part of vlogs is allowing the audience to connect with you on a personal level. They won’t be able to do that if you are putting up a facade.
Be interesting and interact with your audience: It is important that you always try to bring your energy and enthusiasm to your vlogs.
If you look bored and uninterested, your audience won’t connect to your content. On that note, also make an effort engage with your viewers through your vlogs.
Ask them questions in the video and always be sure to respond to their comments. This way your viewers know how much you value their input.
Have good lighting and good audio: Like we said, bad video quality can really put a viewer off. As such, always make an effort to set up quality audio and lighting. However, if you have a high quality camera, this should not be an issue.
Have a unique personal sign off: It seems like such a small detail, but how you sign off has a huge impact on the tone and personality of your channel.
Moreover, if you think of a really unique sign off, people are more likely to remember you and revisit your channel.
5. Edit Your Vlog
Now it is time to put the footage together and make it look professional, clean, and ready to go.
Many people will tell you that editing is probably the most laborious part of making videos, but fortunately, there are a number of editing programs out there that can help you through the editing process.
For Apple users, iMovie is a great editing program that is easy to learn. For Windows users, there is Windows Live Movie Maker. Another popular choice is Adobe Premier Pro, but this program is not free.
Also, if you have any issues using any of these programs, you can easily look up some tutorial videos online for help. Additionally, it should be noted that editing takes a lot of juice out of your computer.
As such, make sure you have a laptop or computer that has a upgraded system and is not slow. After you are finished editing, it is time to export the video.
Exporting essentially takes your edited video project and turns it into a video file that can be easily uploaded to YouTube.
YouTube has specific video settings, formats, and resolutions for whatever you upload, so be sure to check those out.
6. Upload Your Vlog
Now that you have your vlog looking as good as you want it to, it is time to upload the vlog.
Fortunately, YouTube has made it extremely easy to upload. First, log in to your YouTube account and click on the upload icon in the top right corner of the screen.
After this, click on the big YouTube icon and drag your exported vlog to the upload box. From the there, the video will start its upload, which, depending on the length of the video, should not take long.
From there, YouTube will ask you a few more questions about the listing of your video. After that, the upload should be complete. However, take note, just because you have uploaded the video does not mean people can see it yet.
On YouTube, you have to hit “Publish” in order for your video to go public.
7. Choosing a Title and Thumbnail for Your Vlog
After uploading, it is time to input the listing details of your vlog. The first detail is your title.
Try to make your title short, but catchy and relevant to your vlog. You can try to use eye-catching words and titles, but do not mislead your viewers. That is a sure fire way to chase viewers away from your content.
Moreover, misleading titles can also lead to YouTube banning your content altogether. So as much as possible, stay transparent and honest. Next, choose or create your vlog’s thumbnail.
A thumbnail is what people see when they are scrolling through video listings. As such, it has a huge roll in determining whether or not people actually choose to watch your video or not.
That being said, your thumbnail does need to be well-made. It needs to pique people’s interest so they immediately want to click on your video.
You can easily just take a clip from your video and use it as the thumbnail or you can go the extra mile and design your own thumbnail.
8. Write Your Video Description
This is the part where you describe your vlog or video. The description you use lets YouTube know how to rank you in their search engine.
When you write your description, try to use a good amount of keywords to ensure your video gets near the top of the listings. Keywords also help YouTube share your video with the right audience.
9. Promote Your Vlog
With your video uploaded and all the details properly listed out, it is time to promote it so people actually watch it.
The simplest way to do this is to share it through social media. Share a link to your vlogs on Facebooks, Instagram, Twitter or any other platform that you use.
Also, make sure you reach out to other creators or to people you know personally who might be interested in watching your video.
10. Keep On Growing
Now, your first vlog might not get as many views as you would like, but don’t let that discourage you.
Instead, let that motivate you. Set up an uploading and filming schedule and stick to it as much as possible. The more content you have the better.
Continue to network with other vloggers or YouTubers. This will inform how you create your own content and provide the opportunity for collaborations.
Connecting with other vloggers will also help you widen your audience. Lastly, stick to what you know. You will get a lot of negative comments, but don’t let them outshine the positive comments. Just focus on your work and keep growing.
So there you have it! 10 easy vlogging tips that can help you get your vlog channel up and running in no time.
We hope our tips were helpful to you, and we hope that they have inspired you to keep learning and improving. If you have any questions, please share them with us!
How to Vlog Like a Pro
If you’ve ever watched videos online, you’ve probably come across vloggers.
Like bloggers, vloggers create online content that interests people in a particular niche.
Whereas bloggers post written content, vloggers post video content.
Why Should You Do It?
Of course, vlogging isn’t for everyone, but it can be a really fun way to create interesting content and connect with like-minded people.
If you’ve always had an interest in making your own videos or shows, vlogging might just be the perfect medium for you to explore such hobbies.
While some people simply enjoy making videos to upload to online platforms and connect with people, some people use it as a vehicle for becoming well-known or even famous.
Typically, the more views and subscribers a vlog has, the greater chance the vlogger has to not just connect with thousands of people, but also to make some money.
With all of this being said, it needs to be pointed out that very few vloggers ever become famous or even rich off of their work!
First and foremost, you should take up vlogging because it interests you and you want to share something with the world.
How Do You Start?
If you don’t have any vlogging experience, starting a vlog it might seem a bit daunting at first. The good news is that there are some steps to follow that can make it easier.
Consider the following advice for getting your vlog up and running:
How to Vlog
1. Tools and Equipment
If you have a decent mid-range smartphone, you already have everything you need to make your first vlog.
As long as it can record HD video and sound, you can get started on your first vlog! Of course, lots of vloggers invest in much more expensive equipment. If you already have a DSLR and a tripod, you can definitely up your game.
Lots of solo vloggers set up a DSLR vlogging camera on a tripod in front of them and have it set to auto-focus on them.
If you want the best sound possible, you should probably also invest in a separate microphone that can attach to the DSLR.
2. Make a Plan
It might seem like most vlogs are spontaneous and in the moment, but the truth is that a lot of thought goes into the best ones before the vlogger even turns on the video camera.
If you’re going to vlog, you need to make sure you have some sort of outline or plan in mind. If you simply switch the camera on without any sort of plan, you’ll likely end up just babbling for a few minutes!
The first thing you need to do is create a plan. What will your vlog entry be about? What will you talk about? Do you need any props?
It’s also a good idea to have some sort of loosely outlined script in place so you have an idea of what you’re going to be talking about and doing.
You can still be spontaneous as you vlog, but having some sort of plan in place beforehand will provide you with some confidence.
3. Do You Have a Shtick or Gimmick?
Lots of vloggers insert some kind of gimmick that makes them recognizable. Maybe you’ll wear brightly colored hats every time you vlog. Maybe you’ll have a really cool title sequence. Or maybe you’ll use certain kinds of sound and music.
The best way to get a feel for this is to watch lots of established vloggers. You’ll quickly notice that the best ones have a familiar routine and a set of gimmicks for each vlog that makes them recognizable and unique.
4. Where Will You Shoot Your Video?
Unless you’re walking around with handheld video, you’ll need a static set as your background.
Just like the gimmicks you use, the background setting for your videos will become a part of your brand and your online character.
Lots of vloggers like to include props in their backgrounds. For example, board-gaming vlogs will often include a set of shelves in the background that are full of games.
The key here is that it relates to your topic and becomes an integral part of your vlogging brand.
5. Think about Your Content
One thing that makes a vlog compelling and makes it more likely that people will come back for more or subscribe to your channel is if you post diverse content.
Talking about the same topic every week will only lead to boredom, both for you and your listeners. It will kill your vlog quickly, no matter how many gimmicks you use.
Make sure that you have something different to talk about each time you vlog.
Fresh content is critical to the success of any online content, and when it comes to video, there’s really nowhere to hide, even if you use a lot of special effects and gimmicks.
6. Try Special Effects
Modern video editing software makes it easy even for beginners to edit their videos, and lots of apps can be found on smartphones these days.
One way to make your vlog more exciting is to use special effects, like speed-ups.
This can speed up some parts of your vlog so that you can get to the point of the day’s entry. It’s also a great way to excite the eye of viewers and keep them engaged and wanting more content.
7. It’s Important to Be Yourself
Vlogging definitely isn’t for everyone, but one thing you have to be when you vlog is yourself.
Online users these days have a very low tolerance for fake personalities, so if you’re genuinely yourself when you vlog, warts and all, people will be more forgiving of any mistakes and will find you much more relatable.
The one exception to this is when you have created an interesting online persona for your vlogging exploits. This might be some gimmick that has turned into a character, for example.
Even though it may not be genuinely you in these cases, if you’re consistent and present this persona all the time, people will be OK with it.
8. Learn about Video Editing
You might have a lot of footage to post, but how much of that is going to be of interest to your potential viewers?
One thing you have to learn a lot about if you’re going to vlog is video editing.
The right kind of editing can transform an average video into something a lot more interesting.
One editing skill you should definitely learn is jump-cuts. This is when you cut out the quiet bits in your video that may not be quite so interesting to viewers, and jump between all of the interesting bits.
This kind of editing is modern and captures a real sense of energy. It’s better to post a five-minute video full of jump cuts than to post a ten-minute video where there are awkward silences and shots of you doing repetitive things on camera.
One good example of this working is in cooking vlogs. How often do you see all of the fine details, like chopping, mixing, and baking in their entirety?
You might get several jump-cut edits where you know what’s going on but you don’t have to sit through every second of it.
Just remember that online video is a medium you can manipulate to make more or less exciting. It’s not real life, but an edited version of real life.
9. Learn about Marketing
These days, everyone is their own marketer online. The “vlogosphere” might be pretty saturated, but you can still make an impact and get the word out by using social media platforms.
Here are some beginners vlogging tips:
- When you upload your video to a platform like YouTube, always fill out the description area in full.
- Use the tag function to help people find your vlog.
In your videos, give your viewers a call to action and make sure to ask people to like and subscribe to your channel. - Remember that you can upload to more than one social media video platform to test out different features and try to get more views and subscriptions.
- Remember to post a link to your latest videos on all of your social media channels so other people can click through to see what you’ve created.
10. Know Your Audience
Who are you trying to reach? What kinds of people will be interested in what you’re saying?
Answering these questions will give you a good basis for planning out your daily vlogs so you can provide content that’s interesting.
Your vlog won’t appeal to everyone, but it’s always better to have a niche audience than to try to please every single person.
How Professional Does It Need to Be?
Ultimately, vlogging is about having fun and creating content. Not everyone is going to want to produce a super professional vlog, and there’s nothing wrong with that.
Having said that, it’s still important to strike a good balance between having fun and creating compelling content that people will want to watch.
The whole point of vlogging is putting content out there online and connecting with an audience of interested people. Whether you want to be famous or not is beside the point.
Vlogging, after all, is about connecting with others and keeping them interested.
Of course, it’s always vital that you have fun in the process, and this should always be your primary objective.
If it stops being fun, then it might be time to move onto something else. In this sense, building an audience and creating interesting vlogs is also a big part of the fun.
So, how professional does your blog need to be? Well, the answer to that depends on what you’re trying to achieve.
If you’re creating content that looks and sounds great and has a massive audience but you’re not actually enjoying it, then what’s the point?
Some Ideas for Vlogs
There are all sorts of vlogs out there that appeal to a wide range of people. If you’re really stuck for topics, here are some great vlog ideas:
1. Photography
This is such a wide ranging topic that it can be pretty overwhelming. Whether you specialize and talk about one specific camera system or you write about vintage camera lenses, there’s really no shortage of topics in this area.
2. Daily vlogs
If you’re the sort of person who is quite extroverted and has a pretty active social life, vlogging about what happens to you and who you meet could be interesting to other people, especially if you make it exciting and include a few gimmicks around it.
For example, talking about your busy dating life is always a winner with an audience, but just be sure to not use the real names of your dates!
3. Lifestyle
Fashion and makeup blogs have always been highly popular with audiences because they are both helpful and relatable. The same is true when these topics are translated to video blogging.
There are so many lifestyle vlogs out there already that it can be tough to make an impact, but they do lend themselves well to super quick jump-cuts and exciting editing.
Just imagine jump-cuts of applying a brand new cosmetic product—It’s exciting and gets to the point quickly for the audience.
4.Gaming
Whether you’re into video games or board games, gaming vlogs are very popular.
If this is a topic you really enjoy, reviewing games is a good way to get into vlogging and also provides audiences with useful information.
Keeping It Fun
If you really want to get into vlogging, it can be a great way to connect with new people and build an audience.
Many of the best vlogs aren’t famous at all, but they still have a solid audience of people who are interested in watching compelling content.
Just remember to have fun and be yourself in front of the camera.
Vlogging Tips for Beginners
So you’ve decided to take the plunge and start a vlog.
Scary isn’t it?
Fear not as we will outline a few essential vlogging tips to help you on your way.
A lot of people are attracted to the world of vlogging as a way to document a hobby or passion, a lot of travel vloggers vlog so that family and friends can see what they are up to.
Others start as a means to make a little money, whilst others have dreams of becoming famous and making it rich.
Regardless of why anyone starts a vlog they all start at the beginning, an empty YouTube channel and lots of ideas.
Vlogging Tips
Once the decision has been made to make your first vlog you may want to dive right on in there and hit the record button on your vlogging camera.
But wait;
What exactly is your vlog about and where do you see it in a month, 6 months or a year from now?
Choose Your Niche
Probably the most important of all vlogging tips is to choose your niche early.
Unless your vlogs have some form of theme or niche running through them it will be very hard to find a target audience.
Random un-related vlogs recorded on a whim aren’t really going to find much traction with many people.
In many ways your niche will define your audience so it really is paramount that you are clear from the beginning just what exactly your vlog material will be about.
Try to leverage your skills and passions.
For example if you love to travel and take regular vacations then vlogging on your holidays is an obvious choice.
Don’t Choose a Topic you are Not Passionate About
The quickest way to kill your motivation for your newly created channel is to be vlogging about something that you are not really that interested in.
There are literally thousands of channels that have been started only to die a death after about 2 or 3 episodes all because the vlogger was not interested in the subject matter and instead they were pursuing it purely to make money.
Follow your passion and pour yourself into it 110%. The views will come once you start to promote your channel.
Don’t lose heart if initially you don’t get many views – everyone started out that way!
Persistence is key.
Be Sincere
This tip follows on from niche selection and having a passion for what you are doing.
Sincerity shines through and so does genuine enthusiasm. Don’t try to be something you are not as most people can see through it.
If you are passionate and genuinely interested in what you are doing then it will resonate with people a lot more.
Stay Active and Update Frequently
No one wants to be subscribed to a channel that only updates once in a blue moon.
Pick the right publishing frequency that’s suits your life and make a point of sticking to it.
There are lots of really great channels out there that quite simply stopped for whatever reason.
If some of them just kept at it they could have made it quite big by now.
Don’t be one of those vloggers.
Make Quality a Priority
Quality will always be subjective but there are little things that should always be observed if you want to produce the best possible content on your channel.
Talk clearly and in a natural tone. Try not to curse or use bad language.
Make sure you are happy with the lighting and the quality of the sound. Try not to have any music or a television playing in the background as they can often sound bad when used during recording. Plus they are also distracting for your viewers.
Promote Your Channel – Very Important Vlogging Tip
This is why a lot of vloggers fail regardless of how good their work actually is.
Only the very lucky few can make it with a viral video without doing any kind of promotion.
So what do we mean by promotion?
There are a number of different ways to getting your personal brand seen:
- Commenting on other vlogs in your niche
- Commenting on niche websites and sharing your video’s on them
- Sharing them on your social media
- Running ads to promote them
Commenting on other vlogs
Without a doubt promotion of your channel will be the biggest determining factor of just how well you do.
Why wait for people to randomly find you when you can get out there and actively search and engage with them.
The first step is to subscribe to all of the other channels in your niche.
Find as many as you can and then start to leave some comments on their videos.
Not all will reply to you but some will especially the smaller ones.
Build up a rapport and become involved in the tight knit community that makes up your niche.
Commenting on niche websites
Search online for niche relevant blogs and websites. Start to comment on their post especially if you have a vlog that is on a similar topic.
Once you have broken the ice you can drop a link in the comments to you vlog post.
Just be careful not to start spamming lots of different sites.
No one wants someone on the blog that is only interested in self promotion, try to make it seem natural.
Social Media Sharing
Share, share and share some more across all social media accounts that you have.
But don’t just stop there. Find niche relevant Facebook groups or sub Reddits for example and actively promote your content in them.
Again try not to make it look like you are only there to self promote.
Engage with others in the groups and try to use your content in a way that helps others with an issue or problem they are having.
Reply to your Followers
Not replying to your followers is a serious no-no.
Why would someone continue to watch your content if you can’t be bothered to reply to there questions?
Actively engaging with someone that comments on your channel is one of the best ways to really build a base of enthusiastic followers.
If someone feels like they are connecting with you through your channel chances are they will probably be a reliable long term subscriber.
Buy Some Decent Equipment
Using your phone for your fist few vlogs is fine. Once you are sure that you are going to continue vlogging then you may need to invest in some a better camera and some lighting.
There are lots of different camera suitable for blogging. Sony vlog cameras, canon vlog cameras or a gopro for vlogging are all the top brands to look into.
A good microphone is also a wise investment.
Get Good at Editing
Practice editing your vlogs as much as possible experiment with ones that you are not going to share publicly so you can explore all of the possibilities of video editing.
Editing can and does play a role in how you present yourself and your message in your vlog.
We hope these vlogging tips can help you on your way to growing your audience quickly and consistently!
30 Vlog Ideas that Will Leave You Inspired
Looking for new ways to spruce up your YouTube channel? Check out this list of 30 cool vlog ideas that any channel can try out.
So break out your vlogging camera and start a vlog today with some fresh ideas for your vlog.
Vlog Ideas
1. Ask-Me-Anything
An ask-me-anything video is one of the best ways to strengthen your relationship with your viewers.
In an ask-me-anything, your audience members are allowed to ask you anything they want. In this way, they can relate to you more and feel like a part of your video.
2. A Day in the Life
If the nature of vlogs is to show the highlights of your day, so it only makes sense to show a whole day.
Do your best to films as much of your day as you can. This gives your audience a unique insight that can go unseen in normal vlogs.
3. Tell A Personal Story
Story times are super popular on YouTube, but make it your own by talking about a personal story or something your viewers might not know about you.
To make it more interesting, invite friends or family to be a part of the video. Just be sure to be authentic and genuine.
4. Share Your Latest Trip
If you are a travel vlogger, make videos detailing your latest adventure. Talk about the destination, what you did, and some of the highs and lows.
What you share could be extremely helpful to anyone looking to take the same trip.
Make a vlog that inspires people to travel to some out of the way places.
5. Travel Tips & Traveling on a Budget
Also, make a video about your travel tips and tricks. Traveling is not all fun and games, and if you are a seasoned traveler, let people in on your travel secrets.
From packing tips to creating a travel budget, this is a simple but effective way to enlighten your viewers.
6. Challenge Videos
If you want to make your video go viral, then take part in a YouTube challenge.
Not only are they entertaining to watch, but they are quick and easy to make.
Make sure you pick a challenge that is trending to ensure your video gets seen.
7. Make a Documentary
While people tend to enjoy shorter videos, documentary series is a great way to explore a niche interest or a fascinating subject matter.
For example, Shane Dawson’s Jeffree Star documentary series set a new standard for the type of content people want to see.
8. Collaborate With Another Creator
If you are friends with another vlogger, make a video together. Collaborating with another creator will not only spice up your content, but it will give you more exposure and more networking opportunities.
Moreover, you will find yourself accessing more viewers and potential subscribers.
9. Subscriber Requested Video
If you are running out of video ideas, why not take a note from your loyal subscribers.
If you look closely, your subscribers are full of fun and interesting content ideas. Moreover, if you make a video they specifically asked for, there is no doubt they will actually watch it.
10. A Room or House Tour
While it seems to impede on your privacy, room and house tours are a popular vlog topic.
Not only are they great from building a closer relationship with your viewers, they can also provide some inspiration for someone who might be redecorating their house and room.
11. Song Videos
Music is one of the main reasons people watch a YouTube video, so why not take advantage of that. If you are a singer, try sharing some song covers.
If you are not a singer, a karaoke video will still be a refreshing and entertaining video for your audience.
12. A Boyfriend, Girl friend or Best Friend Tag
Another way to let your viewers catch a glimpse into your life is through your loved ones.
Get your boyfriend, girlfriend or best friend in your next video and ask some viewer-generated questions. This reinforces how your audience relates to you.
13. Family Tags
In addition to having your boyfriend, girlfriend or best friend on your channel, get your parents or siblings involved as well.
After all, they know you far better than anyone one else, even you. Moreover, family driven content always resonates well with people.
14. Make a Top 10s List
If you review products, try creating a fun ranked list of your favorite products.
Get creative with this and do a top 10s list for your favorite movies, makeup, songs, and whatever else floats your boat.
15. Explore New Interests
As much as you make videos about stuff you know, try and make videos about the things you don’t know.
It sounds confusing, but it is entertaining to watch people try new hobbies. It can even encourage your audience to take on new interests.
16. Pranks
Prank videos are funny, entertaining content that tend to go viral. Just remember to play a prank that is safe and fun for everyone in the end.
The last thing you want is to play a prank that could harm someone emotionally and physically.
17. Relationship Advice
Share the highs and lows your relationship with your viewers.
This will show off your authentic and honest side and potentially give you and you partner a chance to talk through some issues.
Moreover, you don’t know how much your advice could help someone in their relationship.
18. Share Your First Heartbreak
Everyone has had their heartbroken, and it never gets any easier for anyone.
As such, be brave and share your first heartbreak with your viewers. Share the lessons you learned because a viewer might be going through a break up and needs some encouragement.
19. Reaction Videos
Like prank videos, reaction videos always get a good response on YouTube. They tend to be hilarious and easy for you to put together.
Try reacting to music videos, mean comments, scary videos or anything that you think will garner a funny reaction.
20. Finishing School Videos
Reflect on finishing school, discuss your future plans, and your overall school experience.
If school was not that much of a priority for you, talk about that as well.
Transition periods for young people can be hard and your video can help put things into perspective for your viewers.
21. Study Tips & Tricks
Additionally, if you are a student, consider sharing your studying techniques with your viewers.
A good idea is to put this video together during exam season because it will motivate viewers to get organized and develop good studying habits.
22. Finance and Budget Videos
Although YouTube seems to be the place for entertainment, it can also teach some important life skills, like dealing with your finances.
If you know how to handle your finances and budget, share that with your viewers. The YouTube platform makes learning about these topics less dry and boring.
23. Personal Challenge Video
Life update videos are unique ways to connect with your audience.
If you have been dealing with life challenges, don’t be afraid to share that with your viewers and how you are working through it.
This keeps you accountable as a creator, but also shows your vulnerability.
24. Review Videos
Naturally, we all interact with new products, tv shows, movies, music, books, and more everyday.
A great vlog idea is to share your experience with any of these things and share your opinion about them.
25. DIY Videos
Nowadays, everyone is looking for a quick and easy to do things themselves.
So if you are a crafty person, consider doing DIY vlogs to help people do projects from home. Some great ideas are flipping thrifted clothing, homemade decorations, DIY costumes, and more.
26. Make Up Tutorials
YouTube is full of make up artists, but you don’t have to be one to make a tutorial.
You can do an in-depth tutorial on your everyday makeup look and share your favourite makeup products. And who knows? Maybe they will want more tutorials from you in the future.
27. Shopping Hauls
Shopping hauls are a great vlog idea especially if you have an audience interested in your shopping habits.
You can do this with groceries, make up, clothes, and just about anything you think is interesting and worth sharing with your viewers.
28. What I Eat in a Day
This type of vlog is particularly great if you are a health and fitness channel.
Nutrition is a huge part of staying healthy and showing what you eat in a day can inspire viewers to rethink their own diets in a new and creative way.
29. Self Care Routine
Everyone experiences stress, and everyone needs to find outlets to take care of their mental health.
If you have a self-care routine, share it with your viewers. Your tips and tricks about staying balanced and relaxed can help your viewers when their stress levels are high.
30. Personal Glow-Up Diaries
Being in front of the camera alot can make you self-conscious. If you start feeling unhappy with your body image, take control and make a transformation video diaries.
This can keep you accountable to your journey and also act as a guide for anyone else trying a transformation journey.
Now you know 30 cool vlog ideas to keep your content fresh and interesting.
Whether you are a seasoned vlogger or a new one, these ideas will help you keep an audience interested. Hopefully, you gained some inspiration through our article.
How to Start a Vlog the Right Way
We have produced this post on “How to Start a Vlog” as a lot of newbie vloggers don’t seem to get the basics down from the start
Thousands of people try to start vlogs and only a handful are successful. Vlogging requires a lot of hard work and dedication.
It also requires that you get the following down right from the beginning:
Top notch content with the right promotion are the keys to success
You can of course just start recording and uploading but these days the competition is fierce and it is some what of a hit and miss approach.
What do you need to start a vlog?
The following vlogging tips can help point you in the right direction. Use this guide to start your first vlog and begin building your follower base.
What You’ll Learn in This Post
- Niche selection
- Setting up accounts the right way
- Equipment you will need
- Film, edit and upload
- How to promote your vlog
How to Start a Vlog
The following list of steps will help you one your way to your first vlog. Your first attempt may not be pretty but you will absolutely improve with practice:
1. Choose Your Niche and Username
Before you start vlogging and uploading videos to YouTube and other social media platforms, you should decide what you are going to vlog about.
Most vloggers focus on a niche market. They choose a topic that they know a lot about. For example, if you enjoy cooking, you may focus your vlogs on cooking tips and recipes.
After choosing the primary topic of your vlog, you should create new social media profiles.
If you are serious about vlogging, you may want to have your vlog accounts separate from your personal accounts.
You also need a username for these new accounts. Short usernames are preferred.
Like any brand name, your username should be memorable and easy to read. Replacing letters with numbers or using slang spelling of common words can make it harder for people to find your account or remember it.
You should also use the same username across your social media accounts.
The name that you use on YouTube should match the name that you use on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.
2. Purchase an HD Vlogging Camera
You do not need a lot of equipment to create your first vlog. However, you do need an HD video camera.
While most laptops, smartphones, and tablets include cameras, they rarely provide the clarity and sharpness that you need to produce a quality video.
For your first few vlogs by all means use your phone, but purchase a small tripod for it so that you at least get a stable picture.
Once you are certain that’ll vlogging is for you then you can make the decision to buy a more expensive, specialized vlog camera.
Many vloggers prefer to use DSLR cameras. These cameras now allow you to record exceptional HD footage and they typically fit in the palm of your hand.
You can carry one of these cameras with you everywhere so that you are always prepared to record a segment for your vlog.
All the to brands that you would associate with photography produce great camera’s for vlogging such as:
- Canon vlogging cameras
- Nikon vlogging cameras
- Sony vlogging cameras
You can even use a vlog with a gopro if you are after a lot of action shots or are around water a lot.
Accessories(not all essential):
- Tripod
- External microphone
- Drone
- Spare batteries
- Spare SD cards
3. Tips for Filming Your First Vlog
With your social media profiles set up, you are ready to start uploading vlogs. However, before you film a vlog, you should create an outline.
Decide what you are going to discuss or showcase in the vlog. You may even want to write a script and rehearse it several times.
If you are filming indoors, ensure that you allow plenty of natural light into the room.
The soft lighting helps minimize noise, which is the static that you see when recording in poorly lit rooms.
Whether you are filming indoors or outdoors, ensure that you do not have your back to the sunlight. When you are backlit, your face or the subject becomes darker.
4. Edit Your Vlogs with Editing Software
Editing your video allows you to create a professional-looking vlog. Even if the video quality is not superb, a well-edited video can still perform well.
There are many free and paid video editing programs for all devices. However, you should edit your videos on a laptop, desktop, or a tablet with a large screen.
You should also pay attention to the length of the video. The average viewer only watches about two minutes of video before moving on to the next video.
5. Upload Your Vlog to the Internet
When you are done editing your video, you can upload it to the internet. You can upload your video everywhere. Besides YouTube, you can upload your videos to Facebook, Twitter, and your website.
Even if you do not upload your videos to every social media profile, you should promote your latest videos through every profile.
Tweet about your latest vlog and include a link to your website or YouTube channel.
When uploading a video to YouTube, you have a few extra steps that you need to complete. You need to choose a title and a description.
The title and description are what people see as they scroll through YouTube. It should catch their attention and properly explain the topic of your video.
6. Network and Promote
What’s the point in vlogging if no one ever see’s it?
The wat to start getting views and subscribers is to promote you vlog channel.
Promote the crap out of it.
But first;
Make sure your content is of a high quality.
It could be your first vlog it could be your 10th, once you are happy that you have found your voice and that any technical details have been ironed out from the first few recording then it is time to start networking.
7. Create a Website and Monetize it(Non-essential step)
While you can upload your vlogs to social media profiles, a website can help you build your online presence. It also provides a central place for people to discover your vlog and your various social media accounts.
You can easily create a website using a free website-building platform. There are also many affordable hosting plans that include a free domain name.
Your website only needs a few pages. You should have a home page, about page, and contact page. You may also have a vlog section if you plan to upload your videos to your website.
After creating your site, you can monetize it using Google AdSense. Keep in mind that it will take a long time for you to begin earning money from ad revenue. You first need to build an audience and get people to visit your website.
How to Start a Successful Vlog
Once you have your vlog channel setup and have your first few vlogs uploaded you may be a little disappointed at the lack of views you are getting…
So what makes a vlo g successful?
Great content and promoting that content is the life blood of any successful vlog
There are probably thousands of YouTube channels out there with lots of good content however most of them will never see the light of day.
But Why?
Because the vlogger has failed to promote their content i.e make it known to their target audience.
So how should you go about promoting your YouTube channel ?
1. YouTube
Probably the most important place to start out is on YouTube itself:
- Make a list of other YouTube channels in your niche
- Subscribe to their channels
- Start commenting on their video’s
- Build up a rapport with them
- Promote your own video’s in their comments
Just be super careful not to come across as spammy. Don’t just drop your links onto a tonne of different channels and not bother to interact with them.
Always be genuine !
2. Websites in Your Niche
In a similar way that you commented on other vloggers YouTube channels above search online for the biggest websites in your niche and start to comment on the pages that are of interest to you.
Ideally if you can find pages that have content similar to your vlogs the it will be a much more natural fit.
3. Social Media
Leverage the contacts you already have. Start to share your vlogs on Facebook and Instagram. Reach out to your friends and family and ask them to subscribe.
4. Use Online Marketing to Promote Your Vlog
After completing the steps discussed, you still need to attract viewers. People may not instantly discover your videos.
You can use common online marketing techniques to promote your vlog. Start with social media marketing.
Always use your social media accounts to announce the release of a new vlog.
Just make sure that you do not bombard your followers with constant updates. Stick to one or two posts for each new video release.
You may also use your website to start building an email list. You can use the email list to grow your audience and fan base by sending out regular email newsletter updates.
If you need to boost viewership, you may try promoting your vlog through paid advertisements.
Google AdWords and Facebook Ads Manager allow you to drive traffic to your videos without spending a fortune.
As you gain more subscribers on YouTube, you may gain the option to monetize your videos. You can use this option to start earning revenue from your video postings.
You also need to remain consistent. Follow a set schedule for uploading new videos to make it easier for your audience to check back for the latest vlogs.
Besides these tips, you should continue to find ways to improve your vlogging skills. Research video filming and editing techniques and explore new online marketing strategies.