Chances are you’re here because you want some expert advice on how to take your blog to the next level. As someone who has been blogging, vlogging and creating content for years, I’ve learned quite a few tricks along the way and I thought it was time to update my last post about starting a blog. From the best lighting for photos to the must-have blog equipment for creating quality videos, here’s everything you need to know to start creating amazing content!

1. MAKE YOUR PHONE YOUR BFF

This may seem like a no brainer, but you need a good phone to do well in this biz. And I’m here to tell you guys that the newest Iphone isn’t always the best one. Yup, I bought the Iphone X and regretted it. It was super glitchy and all my photos outside came out really dark (pro tip: turn off the True Tone feature if this is happening to you!) I switched back to the Iphone 8 and am wayyy happier with how my photos are turning out. So, now that you have the right Iphone for you, learn how to use it like a pro. For pictures, always face your light source (natural sunlight is best for selfies!). Another tip I have is to take advantage of the App Store! There are tons of free apps you can download to take your content to the next level. Some of my favorites are:

• • InShot for editing and adding text for IG stories
  • VSCO and LightRoom for editing pictures
  • FaceTune for whitening, fixing backgrounds and smoothing imperfections
  • UNUM for planning my feed

A post shared by Sona Gasparian (@sonagasparian) on Jun 5, 2018 at 8:25am PDT

2. GET YOUR LIGHTING RIGHT

If you’re trying to create better content for your blog, vlog or your Instagram feed, lighting is EVERYTHING. Here are some key tips I have for getting your lighting right:

• Take advantage of natural lighting. When I’m taking photos or filming for my YouTube channel in a natural, relaxed setting I like to shoot in front of a window for bright, indirect lighting.
• Optimize your space with some lighting equipment. Sometimes natural lighting just ain’t gonna cut it. To make better video content, I definitely recommend investing in some lighting. Right now I use two DivaLite 415’s, which are great for soft lighting and creating quality makeup tutorials! If you’re just starting out and are looking for a more affordable option, this softbox set is a good option.

A post shared by Sona Gasparian (@sonagasparian) on Mar 24, 2018 at 9:52am PDT

3. SOUND QUALITY MATTERS

For Vlogging and filming YouTube content, some basic tips will go a loooong way.

• Film in a quiet location. Whether it’s your air conditioner blowing in the background or cars honking outside your window, these noises will pick up in your videos and distract your audience. Always try and find a time where the noise is at a minimum and film then!
• Film with a camera microphone. I use the Rode Link Filmmaker Kit, which includes a receiver that mounts directly to your camera so you don’t have to sync audio and video together when editing. This kit also has a transmitter and lightweight microphone I attach to my shirt to pick up the best quality audio!

A post shared by Sona Gasparian (@sonagasparian) on Mar 26, 2018 at 7:16pm PDT

4. INVEST IN SOME EQUIPMENT

By now you can probably tell I’m a big believer that investing in a bit of equipment means you’re investing in yourself. These are a few small things you can do to better engage your audience and make your life a whole lot easier. Here are a few pieces of equipment I use everyday:

• YouTube Camera: EOS 70D. Auto- focus. Self-sufficient. This is the camera I use for all my YouTube videos.
• Remote: Canon RC-6 Wireless Remote. This is how I control my camera without having to get up and risk moving the set up. It is also how I take my thumbnail images and start and cut while filiming
• Monitor Screen: Asus VS248H-P 24″ Full HD. Using a monitor is especially great for makeup videos because you can see EVERYTHING. It will help you see if you need to blend things more or if you have a lash on your face you need to get rid of!
• Vlog Camera: Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark 11
• Vlog Tripod: Monfrotto Mini Tripod

A post shared by Sona Gasparian (@sonagasparian) on Sep 3, 2017 at 10:03am PDT

5. EDIT, EDIT, EDIT

Of course we would all like to have someone edit everything for us, but I can’t tell you how beneficial it has been for me to learn to edit for myself. For photos, I rely on apps like VSCO, Lightroom and Facetune. Seriously, there are so many great editing tools you don’t even need photoshop anymore. For video, I pretty much taught myself how to use Final Cut Pro (and I taught KB!) If I ever run into any issues, YouTube has tutorials on pretty much everything.

A post shared by Sona Gasparian (@sonagasparian) on Apr 24, 2018 at 3:29pm PDT

I hope you guys found this post helpful! These are some of the tips that personally work for me and if you guys have any questions at all, please feel free to ask in the comments below!

xx