Having your own vlog dedicated to showcasing your personal style and fashion expertise can be both a captivating and rewarding endeavor. Your fashion vlog can be the perfect outlet for sharing your unique fashion sense with others, offering styling tips, and inspire an audience to try out the latest trends for themselves. It also doesn’t take much to get started. All you need are a few essentials, like a camera or smartphone with video capabilities and a basic video editing app or software.
But simply recording videos will not be enough if your goal is to create compelling content for your viewers. Actually employing videography techniques in your fashion vlogs may help you elevate each video’s visual and storytelling qualities. If you can capture the essence of fashion in an engaging and aesthetically appealing manner, this, in turn, can keep your viewers hooked and help your vlog stand out in the crowded online fashion space.
To that end, here are some simple videography techniques that even beginner fashion vloggers can incorporate into their videos:
1) Steady Shots
It’s important for your viewers to get a clear picture of your outfit and its components, and shaky camera work can detract from that. Aside from sharing your full outfit for the day (OOTD), you’ll also want to give your audience a good view of the mod shift dress, black leggings for women, and ankle boots that make it up, for example.
A steady shot will allow you to fully showcase your outfit and the individual pieces that comprise it. To ensure that the camera will stay steadily on you, use a tripod or stabilize your camera using a gimbal or handheld stabilizer.
2) Close-Ups
If you want your audience to get a good long look at each of the components of your outfit, as well as the craftsmanship on your accessories, you should learn to make use of the close-up shot. This can be done by positioning the camera close to the subject to emphasize its texture and details. To pull off this videography technique, you must have a steady hand, good lighting, and an awareness of what detail you want to emphasize.
3) Slow Motion
Including slow motion shots in your fashion vlog will be a great way to earn your audience’s attention and add a level of sophistication to your videos. Slow motion shots should be captured at higher frame rates, while the slow motion itself should be done during the editing process. You can utilize this technique when capturing intricate moments, such as when you’re striking a pose.
4) Time Lapse
If you want to showcase how your outfit, makeup, or accessories adapt to your activities and schedule for the day, try using the time lapse videography technique. This can help you capture your movements as you get ready or showcase multiple outfits that you’ve worn throughout the day. You can make a time lapse by setting up your camera on a tripod and programming it to take photos at steady intervals. Then, piece the photos together during post-processing.
5) Panning
Panning or moving your camera horizontally from one side to another will help you capture dynamic movements. If you want to let your viewers see how your outfit appears when you’re walking, twirling, or stretching, for instance, then record the moment with a panning motion. Start by keeping your camera stationary on a tripod. Then, swivel it smoothly from the left to the right or vice versa.
6) Tracking or Follow Shots
A tracking shot can also be used to highlight movement and show how your outfit looks from different angles. It can also be a practical way to give your viewers a glimpse of the scenery that serves as your video’s background.
Take note that you’ll likely need another person’s help to incorporate such a shot into your vlog. The person holding your camera can walk alongside you or behind you while keeping you in focus and inside the frame.
7) Depth of Field
Another way to highlight your look and contrast it with the background is by using depth-of-field shots. This technique makes use of a wide aperture (low f-number) to create a shallow depth of field, blurring the background while keeping you in focus. Using it in your next vlog will help you achieve a cinematic and professional impression.
8) Bird's Eye View
If you have a drone or a friend who’s willing to take videos of you from a high vantage point, you can also incorporate bird’s eye view shots in your fashion vlog. Shots from a high angle are a great way to showcase fashion ensembles and events. Get a bird’s eye view shot of your outfit by mounting your camera on a tripod or using a drone to capture shots while looking down at the subject or scene.
Incorporating the videography techniques mentioned above will allow you to add both variety and flair to your upcoming fashion vlogs. Feel free to experiment with these videography techniques the next time you want to create a vlog, and let them unlock your creative potential when it comes to showing off your personal style.
