How to vlog as an expat
I’ve been living the expat life for almost 5 years now but I only started sharing vlogs about my life here in Australia in 2020. Vlogging is the perfect way to show your friends and family at home what your life is like in the new country and there is a lot of interest for expat stories on YouTube so you might want to consider starting a channel and share your expat life in 2022! But first you might ask yourself how to vlog and what goes into it? This post will give you a little guide to help you get you started.
While there are far better vloggers than me out there, I have learned a few things about vlogging since I started so I want to share with you my 5 tips on how to create engaging vlogs yourself.
Scroll down to the end of the post to check out the YouTube video.
#1 Make a Plan
While you might think you can just wing it in the moment, trust me, if you get a clear idea in advance on what type of vlog you want to create and what the story will be, it will save you a lot of pain in the moment and later when you’re compiling all your clips in the edit.
Check out Cody Wanne'r’s video on vlog templates.
#2 Build Your Story
Once you decided what type of vlog you want to make you can start thinking about the elements you need to tell your story. Think about how to start and how to end the vlog. Create a shot list of what you want to include to make sure you will have enough footage when you edit and to not miss out on any essential shots in the moment. If you are making a tech vlog where you want to talk about the features of a new product or an educational vlog, write an outline of the points you want to get across and talk about in your vlog.
#3 Equipment
You basically need just 3 things: a camera, a microphone and a tripod. You can burn so much cash on camera gear but if you are a total beginner, your phone is a great starting point. Most smartphones today have incredible cameras and record decent audio. The only thing you might need is a small tripod that can hold your phone so you can hold it comfortably in front of you or place it down anywhere you like.
If you want to step up your vlogging camera game, you can look into compact point-and-shoot cameras such as the Sony ZV-1 or a mirrorless camera for better image quality. Here are a couple of videos I made about my vlogging gear:
A vlogging setup for every situation // iPhone, Compact, Mirrorless
PRO TIP: Get good quality audio. People can tolerate bad image quality but they can’t tolerate bad audio.
#4 Get the Shots
Now that you have basic idea of what your vlog will be about and you’ve got your camera gear ready, it’s time to start recording. This can be challenging because most likely you will not be in a controlled environment so you will end up scanning your surroundings for things worth capturing.
If you made a plan in advance, then use that as a guide for the essentials shots you’ll need but also make sure to capture the candid moments that you didn’t think of in advance. These will bring more fun and relatable elements into your vlog.
Also really important: Get B-Roll. B-Roll are filler shots where nobody is talking and that drive the story forward. I have neglected those shots in the past but including B-Roll in your vlog will help show the viewer what’s happening and make your video more engaging.
If you are looking for some inspiration for different kind of shots, check out this video by Becki and Chris.
#5 Compile your Masterpiece
This is the part where you compile all your clips into the final product. Since editing is such a huge topic that could be a whole series of blog posts, here just a few tips to get you started:
Editing Software: If you’ve never edited before, try and find a software that is easy to use and get you in the habit of editing. For example for Mac, this could be iMovie.
Time/Speed: Things can get drawn out really quick in your vlog so use different speeds or time-lapses to show time passing and move the story along.
Cuts: Each cut should show something different, even if it’s within the same activity. You don’t want to show the exact same thing from 5 different angles.
Music: Music truly brings your vlogs to life. It help convey emotion and generally makes your videos more engaging. There are a number of subscription services out there for royalty free music. I for example use Epidemic Sound.
Most importantly have fun. Editing is the step that will probably take the longest so you want to make sure you’re having a good time.
I hope you found these tips helpful to get you started on your vlog journey as an expat. Check out the full video below.