Traveling is a great way to see new places and experience different cultures. For many, travel vlogging is a way to document their travels and share their experiences with family and friends. For others, it’s a way to build an audience and connect with like-minded people worldwide. No matter what your reasons are for wanting to start a travel vlog, there are a few things you’ll need to get started:
Equipment You’ll Need
The first thing you’ll need is a camera. You don’t need an expensive DSLR to get started, but you’ll want something that records in HD and has good audio. Many travel vloggers use their smartphones to film. This would be a good option for beginners as you likely already have a smartphone. However, the quality won’t be as good as with a dedicated camera. So you might consider investing in a quality camera for better video recordings later.
Aside from this, you would also need a laptop and software for editing videos. This wil allow you to upload them on your platform even while you’re on the go and don’t have access to a desktop computer. Other equipment includes an external microphone, a tripod, or another way to stabilize your camera. However, you don’t necessarily need these to get started. Many vloggers started with only their smartphones and some editing ability to kickstart their vlogging journey.
Types of Content
Travel blogs can cover various topics such as food, culture, history, and language learning. You can also focus on a specific niche, such as solo or budget travel. The most important thing is to find a topic you’re passionate about that will keep your audience engaged.
Regarding the format of your travel vlogs, there are many options. You can do a daily vlog, where you film every day of your trip and upload a new video. You can also do weekly or bi-weekly vlogs, where you film throughout the week and edit the footage into one longer video. Both formats have pros and cons, so it’s important to find what works for you and your niche.
Preparing Yourself for Recording
Aside from your equipment and planned content, you must also prepare yourself. This includes both mentally and physically preparing yourself for the task ahead. Mentally, you’ll need to be ready because not every day will be perfect for vlogging. There will be days when you don’t feel like vlogging or simply can’t find anything interesting to film. This is perfectly normal, and it’s important to remember that your audience will still appreciate your content even on days when nothing exciting happens.
Physically, you need to have the energy and stamina to film. This means having enough rest and eating healthy food. Vlogging can be tiring, especially if you’re doing a daily vlog, so taking care of your body is important. Moreover, if you’re starting a vlog, you need to project a cheerful personality. Nobody wants to watch a vlog with a grumpy person, so make sure you project confidence and positivity in your videos.
In addition, when filming, you must look confident on record. If you’re not, your viewers will likely notice that. For example, say you’re insecure about your close-up image on video because of your teeth. In that case, you can take measures to manage these concerns. You can get dental veneers to have the perfect smile on camera without being careful about your angles or worrying about how the video would turn out on screen. Your confidence in yourself will show to your viewers, so taking the means to feel confident is essential, especially if you plan on vlogging for the long term.
Video Uploading
After you’ve prepared your content and yourself for vlogging, it’s time to start uploading your videos. As a travel vlogger, you’ll likely be doing most of your filming while on the go. There are many mobile editing apps that you can use to edit your videos while mobile. Once you’re happy with your edited video, you can upload it to your vlogging platform of choice. The most popular vlogging platforms are YouTube and Vimeo, but there are many other options out there that you can explore.
Growing Your Following
When choosing a vlogging platform, it’s important to consider audience size, video quality, and monetization options. YouTube is the largest vlogging platform with over 122 million daily users with over 62% of American users using the platform every day. This gives you a large potential audience for your vlogs. Moreover, you might also want to expand towards other platforms for more views.
You can easily create content that engages your audience with the right equipment and preparation. Remember to focus on quality over quantity, and to always be authentic in your vlogs. With enough practice and experience, you’ll be vlogging like a pro in no time!
