If you’re a fan of vlogging, or even just looking for a new way to spice up your YouTube channel, consider vlogging in your car. This unique video-making technique can be a lot of fun and provide an interesting perspective on the world around you.
To begin with, Vlogging in the car is going to be a bit tricky at first, but once you get the hang of it, your viewers are in for a treat.
For starters, I use a hands-free camera mounted somewhere in an angle that captures my subject and background perfectly.
I start recording before starting to drive the car and then edit the extra part out, because trying to record and angling the camera while driving is a safety hazard.
Below is a step by step guide for you to master the art of car vlogging!
Step 1: Planning for Car Vlogs
Driving is a common practice now and every other person has a car and a driver’s license.
In fact, vlogs shot in a car are interesting and fun to watch as well, especially the different challenges that vloggers do while in a car.
Though it seems easy to multitask Vlogging and driving, it actually isn’t.
One requires complete focus and attention towards the road, the traffic, the navigation and one has to be ready for any surprises.
To avoid any unpleasant encounters and to ensure your safety, it is vital that you plan your vlog beforehand; these are some things to consider fitting into your plan:
1. Map it out!
Decide beforehand where it is that you wanna take your viewers with you and go through the directions to avoid any wrong turns or constantly checking the navigation system.
Make sure you know which route you will take in case of multiple routes being available and visualize the whole trip to plan for any contingencies.
2. Prepare a Draft Content Outline
Knowing in advance what you want to talk about in your vlog throughout the journey is one of the most important ingredients of the planning stage.
Now I am not asking you to write a whole script but just to outline the main talking areas and plan out the flow of the video so that you don’t blank out while driving.
3. Test Your Equipment
You will be needing some extra equipment if you’re going on a Vlogging journey.
This may include a camera mount, earphones, external microphone, memory cards, power banks or extra batteries etc.
It is wiser to prepare and test all of the equipment before you hit the road.
Check if the angles are perfectly set, if the camera is perfectly mounted; because it might fall off if it’s not if or when you hit a bump on the road.
Record a test video to check the voice capture and everything and once you’re confident that everything is perfect, you’re good to go!
4. Hit the Record Button
Now just before you press the accelerator, make sure to hit the record button and double check if it’s actually recording, because I am sure you don’t wanna waste your precious fuel and time and find out later that the camera wasn’t recording.
I would suggest you to not touch your camera or any equipment while driving as this could be dangerous.
Also, do not flip your screen for selfie mode, it could be dangerous as well as illegal in some places as it’s a safety hazard.
Step 2: Decide What Equipment's You Will Use
The art of camera Vlogging comes from experience and so does the understanding of the equipment you need for different kinds of videos.
You may need a gimbal for your daily vlogs or sports vlogs but you wouldn’t need it when filming a makeup tutorial.
Similarly, it is important that you know what equipment you will need and whether you would use selected things or everything.
Here is a list of all the equipment that you can use while recording vlogs in a car, but remember, you don’t have to use everything to get a good quality video!
1. Camera
This one goes without saying, you will need a good quality camera to get a good quality end result.
The choice of camera depends on you, you can either use a professional grade camera, an action camera or just your smartphone’s camera; whichever you choose, make sure the video resolution is clear and the stabilization is good because while driving, you will hit bumps on the roads and maybe sudden turns and other things of the sort which may make the video shaky, and you don’t want that, nobody wants that.
GoPro is my preferred camera for this type of Vlogging because its wide lens is perfect to capture the subject and the background.
Along with that, it is small in size and lightweight which makes it perfect for mounting in your car.
RECOMMENDED CAMERA FOR CAR VLOGGING:
2. Camera Mount
Camera mount cannot be compromised upon. It is an essential part of equipment that every car vlogger needs.
It is used to fix the camera at your preferred angle and then it’s not to be messed with, that is of course if you want a flawless end result.
You can fix the mount above the air conditioners, on your side, on the dashboard, or right above the steering wheel.
You can use multiple mounts for multiple cameras at different angles too if you’re not sure which angle would work best or if your video content requires multiple angles.
RECOMMENDED MOUNT FOR CAR VLOGGING:
3. Ring Light
You can skip the ring light if your whole journey is going to be in daytime.
Though if you plan to show the night life and the night journey, I would suggest you pack a ring light with yourself that is mountable of course, so that you can fix it right behind the camera and have an illuminated shot.
RECOMMENDED LIGHT FOR CAR VLOGGING
4. Extras/Accessories
Apart from the main equipment, it is suggested that you take these with you to get the best car vlogging experience.
- Microphone
- Memory cards
- Extra batteries
- Power bank
You can check the Recommended Equipment's for Travel Vlogging: Essentials for Beginners in 2022
Step 3: Take Appropriate Safety Measures
Recording while driving can be very dangerous and in some places, could be against the law as well so it’s important that you take necessary precautions for your safety.
As I mentioned above, setting your camera or moving angles, connecting your microphone, mounting your camera, or flipping your screen can be serious safety hazards.
Following are some safety measures that you should definitely consider when Vlogging in a car;
- Don’t take your hands off the wheel
- Don’t take your eyes off the road
- Focus on the road only; you can edit out the bad parts of the video
- Connect the microphone beforehand and test it out
- Have someone accompany you and ask him to record you
- Try to record the maximum of your video while the car is parked, as it is safer but will give a similar footage.
3 Best Car Vloggers to Watch and Learn From
There are a number of content creators that have started car vlogging, some of them who actually introduced the concept of Vlogging in the car.
Since I believe it’s better to watch and learn, I suggest you go through the videos of these 3 amazing vloggers and pick up some tips and tricks on how to ace your car Vlogging game!
1. Travel Pockets:
Check out her video on road trip car vlog setup. She gives some useful insights on the equipment, their placement and how to achieve the best results.
2. Tedward:
His POV videos in cars are so aesthetically pleasing and fun to watch; you should check these out to expand out to POV videos!
3. Vehicle Virgins:
Though they review cars, their videos are amazing to understand the dynamics of angling and you can learn a lot from these videos!
Frequently Asked Questions:
1- How do you film the road while driving?
If you want to show your audience the road towards your destination, it is suggested that you mount the camera on the dashboard of your car; make sure it is facing the road and capturing a wide angle, showing the whole road to your viewers.
2. Can you record yourself driving?
Of course you can record yourself while driving, keeping in mind the safety precautions to take. You can easily record yourself while the camera is mounted onto a surface in your car.
3. Can we play video in car while driving?
Yes, you can play videos in your car while driving but you have to make sure, it’s not entirely visible to the driver as it may pose as a big safety threat. An alternate to this could be to listen to the audio version if it’s a song.
You should never lose focus from the road; though you can put on a video and listen to the content without diverting your vision and attention towards the display.
4. Is Vlogging while driving illegal?
It’s depends on the country or state you are driving in. For example, in the United States, there is no federal law banning the act of recording a video while driving. However, some states have implemented their own laws on the matter.
For instance, California specifically prohibits anyone from using a handheld device to record a video while driving.
As a result, Vloggers who film while driving in California could be subject to a fine.
In other states, such as Florida, there is no specific law against Vlogging while driving, but motorists could still be cited for other offences, such as distracted driving.
Therefore, it is important to research the laws in your area before filming a video behind the wheel.
