A lot of people have asked me and keep asking me How to Start a Vlogging? What do I need to buy to start a vlog? This blog is for everyone who has begun vlogging recently and thinks that 1 million subscribers come from the latest gadgets and gears.

Vlogging is for anyone with knowledge or skills that they want to share or showcase. It is not about expensive gears and cameras, it is about what you make with what you have. If you can teach, talk, or show what you have, you are good to go. Let me share with you some secrets about how you can start a vlog with what you have.

What did I buy to start vlogging?

Nothing. If you have seen my vlogs, you will know I was trained for acting and film-making. The gears  I had were from my film-making and acting days. My camera, high-quality mics used for producing movies, backdrops, and a GoPro were all I had when I heard about vlogging in 2016. My gears were over-qualified for vlogging.

The cameras used to shoot movies are different from the camera we need while shooting videos for a vlog.

How I made my first vlog?

For my first vlog, I used my GoPro and iPhone. After I got the hang of vlogging, and I gained some subscribers, I bought my first Sony Alpha a6300.

What do you need to start vlogging?

The following are the five main ingredients to start vlogging. You don’t need to invest in anything to start vlogging. And trust me, this recipe works. I have also mentioned my recommendations in case you have saved some up to invest in gears:

Content – Make original and relatable content. Be who you are, don’t copy anyone. Be comfortable with yourself and in your space. If you have a sense of humour use it to your advantage. You don’t need a good camera to start vlogging, you need good content.

Camera - You don't need a DSLR or digital camera to start a vlog. You can use your mobile phone camera to vlog. There are many phones in the market with the best cameras. If you have a cell phone which gives you videos in 1080 resolution or 4K, you are good to go. Many vloggers with millions of subscribers today started vlogging using a smartphone. Even today, I don’t carry my camera everywhere because it’s bulky and I prefer to use my phone. 

These are some of the best cameras for beginners at a range of Rs. 50,000 to Rs. 80,000. They are lightweight with auto-focus and flip-out screen. You can also connect an external mic. You will not need to invest in any other cameras if you have this for vlogging. Consider this an investment for life.

Sound – The sound quality in your videos is another very important element, however, vlogs can be made without external boom mics. If the audience cannot hear you, they will not watch your videos. All you need to know is how to record your sound in noisy situations. In breezy places or places with a lot of disturbance, you can use your mobile's earphones. Most of the earphones that come with the phone have a noise cancellation feature which can be useful.

Microphones - In any case, if you still insist on purchasing a mic, I would suggest the following. Microphones are helpful to record good quality and clear sounds when walking, riding, or moving around.

• For Shotgun Mic I would suggest Rode VideoMicro. It costs approximately Rs.5000. It can be connected directly to the camera. This mic is ineffective if you’re holding the camera far away from your face or source of the sound. That is when you need a lavalier mic.
• For the lavalier mic, I would suggest Rode SmartLavPlus Mic. It is one of the best microphones for mobile phones. You simply have to connect it to your mobile and use the phone’s recorder. For better results, use the Rode Rec app for voice recording, it will give you the best quality sound.

Also Read: RODE SmartLav Plus Review

Lights – Your videos should always have proper light on your face and objects. Viewers will not watch your videos if they are dull or dark. In case of night shots, use flashlights from another phone, or look for shops or street-lights. Also, don’t shoot against the light.

Lighting is one of the most critical aspects of a video. The use of lights can change the way people and objects appear and also set the mood for the video.

• Ulanzi VL100 LED light - These lights cost approximately Rs. 1800. This video light is not only portable but also very powerful. It is one of the best lights I have used for vlogging and shooting videos.

Editing – You don’t need a lot of editing skills to make a vlog. You just need to know the basics. Some of the major edits you would need to do are remove dead pauses and keep it crisp and raw. I use Final Cut Pro X to edit my videos on my MacBook. You can use Adobe Premiere Pro for windows systems. You can also edit videos on your mobile phones using an app called PowerDirector.

Tripod - A steady and strong tripod is useful when you have to hold the camera for a long time. You can get a tripod for both your mobile phone and camera.

• Joby GorillaPod Tripod for phone
• Joby GorillaPod Tripod for camera

What else?

Consistency is most important - Consistency is important because a vlogger shows his/her day-to-day life. So you need to vlog daily to keep the audience engaged and give them a reason to come back to your channel. All these gears and gadgets are useless if you don’t upload vlogs regularly.

All the best and happy vlogging. Live your life, live your dream.