I’ve talked about a few of my core tips for running a blog and YT channel before, but more recently I’ve been pondering the things I wish I knew when first starting my channel – tiny things (mostly at minimal or no extra cost) that would help to improve my video quality by miles. The things I wish someone else had told me (or in my case having a genius boyfriend who’s a pro at editing – the wording should be LISTENED to) from the very beginning. Depending what stage you’re at with YouTube, be it a non existent channel or a growing one, some of these might be helpful to you.
COLOUR CORRECTION.
I only realised the true benefit of colour correction after filming videos for mine and Alix’s channels. Shot same day, same place and one looked significantly better (FYI: it wasn’t mine). Alix did a number of things that I didn’t at the time, but the one significant factor that made a huge difference was the colour correction that took place. The camera doesn’t always capture the way things look in real life, so upping the saturation, brightness and contrast can make a huge difference. You don’t have to work with fancy curves and levels for this, the simple functions on iMovie and other more basic software can still make a noticeable difference.
MAKE TIME.
Daily vlogging is hard. When you’re vlogging your day to day life as it’s happening the day really can run away with you. Every now and then you see vlogs with huge gaps or no ending and that’s totally okay, because life happens. If this is something you struggle with then it’s important to allow extra time for vlogging. For example, If I have a busy day ahead that I’m going to attempt to capture then I’ll make sure I get up early, allowing time for an intro and extra contextual footage.
It’s also important to leave extra time for tutorials and more structured videos. Rushing things can lead to shots that aren’t quite right, serious concentration faces and incorrect sentences. Make time to make sure you’ve thought through your shots (even better film some from different angles for extra choice) and speak at a slower rhythm, thinking through what you want to say if you aren’t a natural speaker (*points at self*).
TO LIGHT OR NOT TO LIGHT?
Both artificial and natural lighting is so hard to get right. Natural light is forever changing, but artificial light can easily go wrong. Everyone lights their videos differently and that’s okay. It’s good to remember no matter what that you are one man band and not a professional production company. Some people might have lot’s of equipment or someone to help them set up and some might only use natural light. Neither options are right or wrong. It’s important not to beat yourself up over it and don’t ever feel like you must have natural lighting to make visually pleasing videos. No one can tell you which one is right or wrong as everyones lighting in their filming space is different, but below are a few pointers to help you decide.
Artificial lighting can look artificial or verge on natural depending on how you set it up. Natural light bounces off of surfaces and lights you from different angles. If this is the look you are after then you may need one or more lights or equipment to bounce it. The best way of lighting is a three light system. This can be done with up to three studio lights or various light sources. For example, some use two box lights (one for the wall and one to the side) and a ring light (to light from straight on or from below), where as I use one studio light (straight on), a window to the side of it and a lamp in the background to light the wall behind me. To mimic natural light and make it more flattering I sometimes place a mirror at an angle to bounce the light ahead of me on to my face from below. Artificial lighting can often make your background feel cold. So for me I like to use lamps, candles and fairy lights in the background to add a warm glow as well as brightening the wall behind.
Out of everything natural light is my favourite, but it’s very temperamental. For my sanity I’ve been using studio lights much more over the past few months (especially whilst the weather is awful). But in the summer my videos were really well lit without a single light being used. I have white walls, and when the sun shines through the light bounces beautifully and lights from every angle (super flattering). However if there are clouds this can cause the lighting to be inconsistent, so it’s good to make sure you’re not in direct sunlight on very bright days to avoid sudden changes to the light. Bright but completely overcast days are best for consistent natural lighting. It’s also a good idea to make sure you film directly facing a window to avoid harsh shadows.
BUY MORE THAN ONE MEMORY CARD
If you have more than one camera (e.g. one for vlogging and one for photos) then its important to make sure you have more than one memory card for two reasons:
1) MEMORY: Video files take up a lot of space, regardless of the type of videos you make (vlogging regularly will naturally take up more) and if you don’t keep super on top of clearing your card after filming they will all build up. There’s nothing worse than being out of memory in the middle of filming and having a back up.
2) COORDINATION: When I just had one memory card it made switching between cameras such a ball ache. Having two or more means each of your cameras will always have a memory card, or if you just own the one camera, you will always have a spare card to use. No frantically deleting old files in an attempt to clear up space anymore!
BUY ALL THE BATTERIES
Like memory cards, it’s good to keep spare batteries. Alongside no memory, no power is a mass ball ache. Having to wait for one battery to recharge because it ran out mid-film will add hours on to the production time. This can ruin entire videos during the winter months as we lose the light so much quicker.
TRIMMING YOUR AUDIO
Depending on what editing software you use (if at all) you could have lots of different audio options. One thing I came across quite early on that isn’t always picked up on when you’re starting out is the importance of trimming your audio (both speech and music) to ensure your music starts at the exact same time as your clip (some tracks come with an extra 10 seconds at the beginning before the music kicks in) and your silences and the “inbetweens” (for lack of a better word) of clips are cut out. It sounds so basic, but it often doesn’t happen and makes all the difference.
Some of these are definitely more on the technical side – this definitely isn’t a beginners tips type of post (there are plenty of those out there already and I’d already touched on a few pointers here). Let me know if these types of posts are something you would like to see more of – I have a little something else drafted just incase!
Great Tips! I recently started a channel and already know from a couple of times the nightmare of running out of battery, losing your Mojo whilst waiting for it to charge and then your position or lighting changing – it is a lot harder than people think! Hopefully I will get better with practice, but I am off now to get an additional battery ordered! xxx
www.lurchhoundloves.com
http://www.bloglovin.com/blog/4995777
Good tips you got there! I haven't made any videos, but I imagine getting the light right is very difficult! Especially on dark days if you don't have artificial light like softboxes.
Once Upon A December
those are some amazing and extra helpful tips ! going to bookmark this for future reference if I ever decide to start a yt channel x
CLUB AVENUE / http://club-avenue.blogspot.com / instagram
Such great tips for when you want to start YouTube π
http://www.thoughtsinstyle.com/
These are some awesome tips, thanks for all of the help
xx
http://diamondsandtulips.blogspot.com.au
This post caught my eye straight away. I have wanted to start a Youtube Channel for quite a while now but I never get around to doing it… If I ever make a channel I will re-read this post! Loved it x
I live with YouTubers and all of this is pretty smack on haha. Although sometimes they can go a bit mental with the set-up. They like to be fancy though! π Great post π
Kim x
The Lens Affair
Great tips! Love the post!
Love
Pili
Records of my Troubles
Just started my own channel recently so this post is of great use. Lighting is my BIGGEST problem, hoping the new lighter walls in my room will help sort it out a bit xx
MissyRed.co.uk
I've been so scared to start my own channel but you are so inspiring! Thank you for all these wonderful tips!
xx Bash | Bash Says Hey | bloglovin'
These sound lovely tips and I've been thinking about starting one as soon as I get a decent camera.
Jackie | fashionxfairytale | bloglovin' |
there are great tips! seeing as im in the process of starting my own youtube channel. thanks girl!
www.maryjucel.blogspot.com
The colors are so important no matter if it is a picture or a video – colors give life.
jeansandmacaroons.blogspot.com
I always wanted to start youtube but then I decided to start a blog. Maybe I will start with youtube too someday and your tips will be really helpful.
x Kate
the-little-day-dreamer.blogspot.com
Great tips, and I agree with natural light looking better! It's a lot softer but maybe if I did it more I'd get more soft box lights to help π
Lauren x
Britton Loves | Lifestyle Food Fashion Beauty – www.brittonloves.blogspot.co.uk
Loved this post Suzie!! I'm trying to grow my channel and have just started playing with he colour correction bit definitely makes all the difference x
I'm a new Youtuber (like, filming my third video tomorrow kind of new) and I found this post really helpful, as I'm past the awkward "beginner" stage but I know there's still a lot I could improve on. Colour correction (the white balance is never spot on) and lighting are things that I'm always tweaking. I think investing in a third soft box at some point will really help, but I might use your tip of adding fairy lights or something to the background. Thanks for sharing!
alicered.co.uk
Such useful tips, I really want to set up a youtube so I think these will all come in really handy!
Maddy, xo // UNSTITCHEDD
Great tips! I really want to start a youtube channel!
xx
belle-fin.blogspot.be
I think natural light is the best. I love your videos btw!!
http://tea-partyyy.blogspot.sg
Interesting read. I don't make videos but these are great tips for those who do (:
ABlogByPhilippa
Cool photos
http://milasindinka.blogspot.com
http://milasindinka.blogspot.com
There are some great pointers here to help people. Lovely post.
Jess x
www.jessicalaar.blogspot.co.uk
At this stage, i'm not interested in making a YouTube channel because I don't think it'd ever get used but these tips are so useful. I love the way you justify things – life happens. has
www.melissa-lou.blogspot.com
Great tips- I am finding it really hard to get into my YouTube channel but I might give it a go again π
http://www.champagne-lifestyle.com/
Lovely tips thank you for sharing π
www.lifeinthefashionlanee.blogspot.com
I really enjoyed reading this, I always love learning about how people work and create!
xx
Great post Susie! Not planning on setting up a youtube any time soon, but its interesting to read your tips!
Emily x
www.emandthem.co.uk
Lighting is such a beast, regardless of video or still photography!
Love the tips here, its nice to see someone actually giving tips on what to do with lighting since most you tubers don't talk about.
Deebeefairy | www.deebeefairy.com
I adore any advice posts on blogging, vlogging ect. I'm sure there are lots of us out there (myself included) that need encouragement in starting these new adventures. I waorked up the courage to start a blog and hopefully a youtube channel soon! Thank you so much for your extremely helpful posts!
http://ladypennyfeather.com/
Great tips! I'm gonna keep them in mind for when I'll start my channel!
http://atouchofpink1.blogspot.ca/
These are really great tips! Thank you! x
BlogΒ |Β A Girl with a Camera
I really enjoyed reading this and they are great tips! I just recently started up a blog and am thinking about starting a channel. I feel that I would be terrified to vlog though! xo
http://justjessicalee.blogspot.com.au
I bought a battery on Amazon that allows me to connect it to the wall to keep my camera running on electricity rather than just a full charge. It is so nice not having to worry about running out of battery! It's also extremely affordable so I highly recommend going that route instead of having 2 to 3 spare batteries.
www.lauraneuzeth.com
It looks like it's an easy job but definitely it's not!! Great tips <3
https://aspoonfulofnature.wordpress.com/
Really interesting post Suzie, I don't make videos but I do blog. Taking decent pictures this time of the year where theres only sporadic bursts of sunshine throughout the day makes it pretty hard work to get decent shots!
Bea X
www.thebeacollective.blogspot.co.uk
Such good tips! I'd love to start a youtube channel one day if my blog grows! xx
alicekatex β₯
Great tips! I'm very intimidated to start vlogging… I feel it is so much more personal, and anyone who does it, I absolutely take my hat off to.
Well done you! I definitely think reading would be the only way to survive for me. It's certainly an interesting thing to try though. Thank you for sharing your experience. X
Jess X
http://chasinglifeandme.blogspot.co.uk/
Great Post! This would really help someone who was thinking of starting a YouTube channel!
https://www.bloglovin.com/blogs/blogella-13712993?
yessssss white balance is so key. i think anyone starting a blog or youtube channel needs to learn their cameras basic functions, especially white balance. also back everything up, and try to back it up 3 times. this is drilled into us at school, if it doesn't exist in 3 places, it doesn't exist!
Great tips! I will definitely keep them in mind when making my videos from now on!
Mandy
Loved these tips! So great xx
roseblvd.blogspot.com
I just started a YouTube channel! So this came in perfect timing! Thanks xx
http://lilliemysel.blogspot.com
Great tips! π These will really come in handy.
http://www.youtube.com/porridgenpickles89
Some of these tips work for taking photos for the blog as well. I always wonder if youtubers edit their own videos or have help from their bf/friends..
http://mmemento-mmori.blogspot.com
I want to start daily vlogging but the time commitment puts me off.
Lizzie Dripping
I've been thinking about starting a YouTube channel, so these tips are great! I never knew that there'd be a time when you wouldn't use lighting, and extra batteries is definitely something I never thought of. Thanks for sharing!
xoxo
Sockwun
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