Whether you’re on Youtube, Instagram or Facebook video is one of the best ways to communicate with your audience. It’s a simple way to get your message across quickly and it’s easy to get started. In this ‘how to’, we share the steps to produce a high-quality vlog with the help of a GoPro and Premiere Elements from Adobe.
The Project
Suitable for: Beginner
Time required: Depending on the type of video/vlog – at least one hour of shooting time and for editing
Budget: approx. £500
What you need: GoPro, Premiere Elements
Extend with: Tripod, gimbal, video light, external microphone, GoPro accessories
What you also need: Laptop and a powerful memory card
Preparation: Topics and Storyboards
If you’re thinking about starting to vlog, you should first ask yourself a few basic questions:
- Which topics would you like to cover in your vlog?
- How often do you want to vlog?
- And how long do you want your videos to be?
This will help you plan your content schedule. After that it’s time to start filming with your GoPro. It helps to create a storyboard for each vlog with sequences and settings. This makes it easy to quickly see which accessories you need and which settings to use for each scene.
Select GoPro settings
If you’ve never recorded a video before, it’s a good idea to use the Actioncam’s automatic video settings. However, if you‘re familiar with ISO limit, shutter speed, white balance and colour saturation, you can use the “Protune” mode. This allows you to set the values manually to achieve the perfect effect.
When it comes to resolution, consider carefully whether you record in 4K. There are benefits but it requires a lot of storage space and many devices are not yet able to reproduce 4K video.
Good perspectives and the right accessories
The next step is to bring your ideas to life through the small screen cinematically. The perspectives and accessories you choose will make all the difference.
- For example, if you want to speak into the camera while moving, a gimbal or selfie-stick will keep the camera steady.
- Taking action shots on the move while cycling, skating or skiing? Then adhesive pads and a helmet holder or chest strap to will help to create vivid video sequences.
- If you plan to speak into the camera from your desk then we recommend a tripod and a video light to get the perfect frame.
To keep your vlog interesting, use different perspectives and film both detail and overview shots. Switching up your shooting angles and the distances to objects or people will make your video dynamic and exciting.
Import and edit GoPro recordings into Premiere Elements
When you have finished recording, import the video files into Premiere Elements. Connect the GoPro to your computer using a USB cable or plug the microSD card into the memory card slot using an SD card adapter.
Step 1: Import Footage
Open Adobe Premiere Elements. Select the “Add Media” button, where you can select and import your rotated clips.
Now you can start working with the material in Premiere Elements. Premiere Elements includes a specially created “Guided Edit” to help you get started. This is called “Fix action cam footage”. Select this in the “Video adjustments” tab, to be guided step by step through the creation of your vlog.
Step 2: Select and cut video sequences
Select the video sequences you would like to use in your final vlog. In the second step, the “Smart Trim” tool lets you make cuts yourself or have the software do this automatically.
Step 3: Add music
If you want to put music under the video, make sure you cut video sequences exactly to the beat of the music. This subtlety makes the video appear dynamic and fluid and makes the individual cuts less visible. Note: Be sure to use royalty-free music so you can publish the video later.
Step 4: Fine tuning and improvements
Then, if you like, you can compensate for the lens distortion of your video footage. Select the effect and Premiere Elements compensates for the distortion. If necessary, you can make manual corrections.
The final editing step is colour editing. The editing software provides preset suggestions that you can select according to your taste.
Step 5: Export
Finally, you export your finished vlog in just a few clicks. Simply select the desired export option and Premiere will do the rest.
The finished project
After completing your first vlog, you’ll find that all the steps will be easier and faster each time. Working with Premiere Elements, which is already very user-friendly, will also become more intuitive. So nothing stands in the way of your vlogging career!
Images: reichelt elektronik
