Whether you’re studying in Toronto, traveling through Vancouver, or sharing daily life in Montreal, vlogging has become one of the most powerful ways to express yourself, document your journey, and build real connections. If you are looking for some vlog shooting tips, you are in the right place. More than just a visual diary, a vlog can sharpen your communication skills, strengthen your creative workflow, and even support your career growth.
That said, beginners often struggle with awkward on-camera presence, chaotic visuals, poor sound, and inconsistent pacing. To help you get started smoothly and produce professional-looking videos, this article outlines 5 essential vlog shooting tips—from composition and lighting to audio, pacing, and editing. Even if you’re using a phone, you’ll be equipped to create polished, engaging content.
1. 🎙️ Start with A-Roll: Speaking Clearly to the Camera Is Your Foundation
A-Roll refers to the primary footage where you speak directly to the camera. It’s the narrative backbone of your vlog—where you tell your story, share insights, and connect personally with your viewers.
New creators often assume that vlogging is all about showing scenic clips or meals. But in reality, the most memorable content usually stems from how you speak and what you share. Your A-Roll is what establishes your message and tone. Among all vlog shooting tips, learning how to deliver your A-Roll naturally and confidently is absolutely foundational.
Tips for Effective A-Roll:
- Prepare a simple outline beforehand so you’re clear about what you want to say.
- Treat the camera like a friend—speak naturally and avoid over-rehearsing.
- If you fumble or forget your words, keep going. You can always cut it out later in editing.
- Maintain eye contact with the lens—it builds trust and warmth.
If you can comfortably speak on camera, you’re already halfway to creating a compelling vlog.
2. 🎧 Prioritize Clean Audio: Clear Sound Makes You Sound Like a Pro
Audio is often overlooked, but bad sound quality is one of the fastest ways to lose viewers, even if your footage looks amazing. No one wants to sit through distorted, muffled, or noisy audio. One of the best vlog shooting tips for beginners is to get your audio right before anything else.
Practical Audio Solutions:
📱 Using a Phone or Point-and-Shoot Camera:
- Add a wind muff to your built-in mic to reduce wind noise.
- Stay close to the mic for stronger voice capture.
- Choose quieter locations and test your audio levels before recording.
🎤 Using External Microphones:
- Shotgun mics are great for solo creators and directional sound.
- Lavalier (clip-on) mics offer crisp audio and are ideal for walking or interviews.
- Wireless mic systems provide freedom of movement—perfect for outdoor creators.
🔊 Dual-System Recording (Advanced):
- se a separate audio recorder (like Zoom or Tascam) and sync in post for studio-level sound.
Bottom line: Clean, crisp voice audio = instant professionalism.
3. 🎥 Master Composition and Exposure: Make Your Footage Visually Comfortable Solid
composition and accurate exposure can instantly separate an amateur vlog from a polished one. These visual fundamentals ensure that your content is not only watchable—but enjoyable. If you’re collecting vlog shooting tips, this is one area to pay close attention to.
✅ Composition Tips:
- Use a wide-angle lens (16mm–24mm)
This allows you to frame both yourself and your surroundings, creating spatial depth. On smartphones, use the 0.6x lens (ultrawide) if available, but avoid standing too close to the edges to prevent distortion. - Keep your frame level
Tilted shots look unprofessional. Use your camera’s horizon guide or a tripod to maintain balance. - Apply the rule of thirds
Position your face or eyes at one of the intersecting points in the frame—it’s more dynamic and pleasing to the eye. - Declutter your background
A messy or distracting background draws attention away from you. Clean compositions make it easier for viewers to stay focused.
💡 Exposure Tips:
- Expose for your face, not the background
Your viewers care more about your expression than the sky behind you. Avoid backlit setups like standing in front of a window without fill light. - Use soft, natural light whenever possible
Position yourself near a window with diffused light or use a softbox/lampshade to avoid harsh shadows. - Lock or manually control exposure settings
Auto exposure can change suddenly mid-shot. Manually set ISO, shutter speed, and white balance for consistent lighting throughout your take.
🎯 Stability:
- Use a fixed tripod setup for A-Roll
Even with electronic image stabilization, handheld footage can still wobble. A fixed camera helps viewers focus on what you’re saying. - If moving, use a gimbal or stabilizer
For walk-and-talk shots, a handheld gimbal ensures smoother footage and a more immersive viewing experience.
4. 🌤️ Use Natural Light Strategically: Build a Practical Indoor Lighting Setup
Lighting is one of the most underrated factors in video quality. For lifestyle and personal vloggers, using what you already have—mainly natural light—can go a long way in improving your visuals.
Pro-Level Indoor Lighting Tips:
- Maximize your natural light sources
Set up your recording area near a window with soft daylight. Install neutral-colored curtains to diffuse harsh sunlight and produce soft, flattering light. - Soften artificial lights with paper lanterns
Clip-on paper lampshades over your regular ceiling bulbs can reduce shadows and balance skin tones. It’s cheap, effective, and doesn’t clutter your space. - Avoid invasive lighting setups
Unless you’re producing studio-style content, there’s no need to fill your living room with industrial lights. Portable LED panels, bounce boards, or reflective white walls are more than enough.
A well-lit indoor setup doesn’t need to look like a film set—it just needs to be clean, consistent, and comfortable for both you and the viewer.
5. 🎬 Add B-Roll to Elevate Your Storytelling and Visual Flow
B-Roll is any supplemental footage that supports your main narrative (A-Roll). These clips enhance context, add emotion, and create smoother transitions throughout your video. It’s one of the most creative vlog shooting tips you can explore.
What is B-Roll?
Think of B-Roll as the “cutaways”—footage of streets, hands at work, cityscapes, reactions, or product close-ups. If your A-Roll is “you saying you had ramen downtown,” the B-Roll is the walk to the shop, the steam rising from the bowl, and your first bite.
B-Roll adds rhythm, depth, and clarity—it’s the secret to a video that flows.
Popular B-Roll Styles:
- Time-lapse — capture cloud movement or street crowds.
- Slow-motion — emphasize detail in actions like pouring coffee or flipping pages.
- Top-down shots — ideal for food prep, flatlays, or unboxings.
- DIY props — use mirrors, tin foil, or colored light gels for creative visuals.
Tips to Nail Your B-Roll:
- Plan ahead — list what supporting visuals you need while scripting.
- Keep it stable — use tripods or stabilize with your elbows.
- Shoot extra — capture each scene from multiple angles for flexible edits.
- Think in layers — add foreground/background elements to add depth to your frame.
Professional-looking vlogs feel effortless—but they’re built on thoughtful B-Roll.
✅ Final Thoughts: Great Vlogs Come from Smart Execution, Not Expensive Gear
Creating great vlogs isn’t about having the most expensive camera—it’s about knowing how to use what you have. From speaking confidently on A-Roll, to maintaining clear sound, structured visuals, balanced lighting, and intentional editing—mastery lies in execution.
Every video you shoot is a step forward in storytelling. Don’t wait until everything is “perfect”—just start.
📌 Take Action
📷 Challenge yourself:
Record a 60-second vlog with both A-Roll and B-Roll. Focus on clean sound, stable framing, and good light. Keep the topic simple—“My Morning Routine” or “A Walk in My Neighborhood” is more than enough.
💬 Share your struggles:
What’s the biggest challenge you’ve faced while shooting a vlog? Drop your question in the comments—I might address it in the next post.
📩 Subscribe for more:
In the next article, we’ll dive into vlog editing: transitions, subtitles, and thumbnail design. Stay tuned!