Filming my first YouTube vlog with my partner in a new channel, SubtleAsians, required a few ingredients: A whole lot of confidence, chemistry, creativity for content, basic video editing skills, a Canon camera, a mini tripod such as the Canon Tripod Grip HG-100TBR, and a microphone (mine was the Canon Stereo Microphone DM-E100). Using a phone may seem like the easy option, but keeping it steady would be a huge challenge and post-editing would be so much tougher.
Key Ingredient 1: Content
https://youtu.be/BykejjA_ORM
We let our Instagram followers decide our day in Sydney! Well, not the most original idea ever, but the fact that we did it in Sydney is (hopefully) more fun to watch for our largely Singaporean audience. We ran polls on our Instastories a day or two in advance, collated the numbers, and rushed to make bookings for our activities.
One of the highlights of the trip was Activity 1, which was dinner in SEA Life Sydney Aquarium, where the whole aquarium is open for a private tour and three courses were served in three gorgeous areas.
Activity 2 was skydiving! Insane right? The followers chose that over hot air balloon, and that was how I ticked off ‘skydiving’ off my bucket list. It was an unforgettable and thrilling experience with the view of crystal clear ocean beneath me.
The last activity was a cruise along Darling Harbour which was a scenic ride. We passed by the iconic Sydney Opera House as well as Luna Park, with a glass of champagne in hand.
Key Ingredient 2: A Camera
Too much to share about this one, so stay tuned for the next article in this series!
Key Ingredient 3: Canon Tripod Grip HG-100TBR
The tripod was extremely crucial in filming our footages as we film on the go and needed something to stabilise our videography. The tripod gave us greater creative versatility with the different axes we can rotate the camera to various angles, and wireless operation, thanks to the integrated Canon Bluetooth Remote Control BR-E1.
Depending on where I propped the tripod, be it midway a hiking trail at the Blue Mountains or on a giant rock at the beach, I would change the adjustable mount to allow the camera to tilt forward 45° and back 90°. Framing is important! If YouTube is not for you and you prefer to film content for IGTV, you can even shoot in vertical mode with the tripod.
Key Ingredient 4: Canon Stereo Microphone DM-E100
The best part of a vlog is how personal it can be, and the best way to stay connected with the vlogger is to listen to what he or she shares about her thoughts and emotions! A large chunk of our video consisted of us talking and sharing our experience. Half the time, we filmed at places with significant ambient noise. The Canon Stereo Microphone kept our audio pretty clean and audible with its 120º unidirectional stereo and windscreen to filter background sound. The microphone was an easy add-on as well, as I simply plugged it into the camera’s 3.5mm audio jack. No extra effort needed to pack it along with the camera and tripod as it is Canon’s lightest microphone to date at only 64g. If vlogs are for you, then this microphone is a must-have.
Our Instagram video would not have been possible without great videography tools like the ones from Canon to assist us. Stay tuned to nxtmag.tech to catch my second article on the camera I used to vlog, and feel free to share with me what YouTube content you want to see next!
You can buy the products that I used by clicking here!
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