Ready for your travel vlogger era? Here are 5 things you need to get started

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In the digital age, there’s an undeniable appeal to documenting our travel adventures through the lens of a vlog. Whether it’s the sun-kissed beaches of Palawan, the bustling streets of Manila or the serene landscapes of northern Luzon, vlogging allows us to freeze moments in time and share them with a larger audience. There’s a certain magic in framing a breathtaking sunset, narrating the taste of street food, or capturing the laughter of newfound friends – all while holding a camera and pouring our hearts into the lens. And with technology today, you can even rely on your mobile phone to take great photos and videos. These memories become more than images; they’re our personal time capsules, filled with emotions, spontaneity and the raw beauty of life on the road.  

But beyond the picturesque backdrops and cinematic shots lies connection. As vloggers, we’re not just storytellers, we’re curators of experiences. Our viewers join us on the winding paths, taste the local delicacies, and feel the rush of adrenaline as we leap off waterfalls. Through our vlogs we invite them into our world and they become part of our journey, leaving comments, sharing their own travel tips and sometimes even meeting us in person. It’s a symbiotic relationship fueled by the shared love for exploration and the desire to inspire others to embark on their own adventures. So take pics, short videos or full length vlogs – use a phone, camera or whatever you have. It’s simple, really.

Ready to start your own vlog and create a connection with fellow travelers? To take the guesswork away, here is a “cheat sheet” of the top 5 things you need to keep in mind to create travel vlog-worthy posts. 

1. Know Your Audience and plan your content for them. Understand who your travel vlog is for and what they want to see. Tailor your content to cater to their interests and preferences. Create a short list and map out a story that you want to tell. By planning your content strategically, your vlog will resonate with your viewers and keep them coming back for more. 

2. Use a Wide-Angle Lens to capture landscapes and cityscapes but make sure to capture details. And if you’re using your phone, it’s as easy as clicking 0.5 or wide angle. Don’t forget to pay attention to small moments and details – they add depth and authenticity to your storytelling.

3. Natural light is your best friend. No matter what you use, a phone or proper camera, nothing beats natural light. Capturing photos or videos at the “golden hours” of sunrise or sundown can add so much drama and magic to your shots instantly.

4. Edit and optimize your videos or photos. With phone apps these days, it can be as simple as clicking the reels feature so the phone can do all the work for you. But if you’re willing to go the extra mile, prepare your content to go public by applying color correction and filters where needed, adding in text overlays to highlight important information, edit for smooth transitions between clips, enhance audio and optimize for length – don’t make your video too long that it loses the viewers’ attention. 

5. Promote your vlog or content. Share your vlog channel or even your once a week uploads on your personal page across your social media accounts – use captions that catch attention and interact with your audience when they comment. You may want to collaborate with other creators so that you leverage on their audience. Encourage viewers to share your vlog through promotions or contests with appealing rewards or even tagging your friends to get the engagement going will definitely help a lot.

Some final tips: Make the most out of your phone by knowing all the camera features. And if you have the extra money, invest in a camera that can shoot high-resolution videos, a good mic, a stable tripod and basic lighting setup. When filming locals or in sensitive areas, make sure you ask permission before you film. 

Finally, it would help to connect with like-minded individuals who you can learn from in terms of creating content, what equipment to buy, and destinations to visit and experiences to try out. Join The Lakwatsa Life on Facebook and hear from your fellow lakwatseros and lakwatseras about their travel experiences and best practices, places to check out, and everything else about travelling.