Start Your IGTV – 5 Things You Need

I’m so excited that I crossed a huge item off of my blogging “to-do” list. After updating my blog, I challenged myself to create more video content. And if you read my post, What to Expect From Dani Smith, then you know that I will be doing weekly IGTV episodes on my IG page. So, yesterday I recorded my first video for IGTV! And even though I was super nervous while recording it, I got through it. I’m so proud of me!

I posted the video last night, and it looks like so many of my followers loved it! I’m so happy for all of the positive feedback. But, to be honest, I definitely have a lot to improve on. I’m very hard on myself; which means that I found so many mistakes in the video. I don’t care though. The important thing is that I did it. And guess what, I’m going to get better.

I’ve decided to stop using perfectionism to stifle my productivity. I’m going to do the work, figure out my mistakes, get better, and try again. It’s that simple.

Anyways, just in case you’re a blogger who is trying to start your IGTV channel, here are the 5 things that you need to get started.

An Intriguing Topic 

I chose a topic that I know my audience is currently interested in: Spring fashion. You know your audience. So, make sure you 1. Create content that they want to see 2. Outline what you plan on talking about 3. Execute!

A Tripod

A basic tripod that I bought from Amazon is all I needed to set up my phone to record my video. I actually set the tripod on top of a few shoe boxes so that it would stand taller. A little improvisation goes a long way.

If you don’t have a tripod, ask one of your friends or family members to record you.

The Videoshop App

This is an amazing app for us amateurs! It allows you to add music, trim your videos, change the order of different video clips, and do a bunch of other things that I didn’t know I could do. I promise you, you’re going to feel like a professional videographer after using this app!

Good Lighting

Good lighting is the single most important part of recording videos for IGTV; Especially if you’re an amateur like me. I don’t have any special tools to create good lighting. I rely on the light coming in from my windows. Preferably facing a window with soft even light. The better the light the higher the quality of your recording.  A good time to record videos is between 2:00-5:00 pm. Just do a few test shots/videos to ensure that your videos aren’t too dark.

If you want to actually buy lighting, here is a great option as well.

About 2-3 Hours

It took me about an hour to record all the looks for my video, and another couple hours to edit the video to my liking. I also had to add affiliate links to my video description as well. It was a long process.  But, my advice to you is to make sure you carve out a few hours to make your video, edit it, and put all the finishing touches on it.

Just do it y’all!  Whatever you want to do, just do it.  Learn from your mistakes, and get better!

Are you ready to start your IGTV? What are some thoughts and tips that you can offer?  Let me know in the comments below.

Shop This Look

By the way, Check out my first IGTV video below!

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Dani Smith (@iam_danismith) on Apr 7, 2019 at 6:30pm PDT

P.S. If you loved this post, make sure you subscribe!!!

Keep up with me on Instagram,Facebook, and Bloglovin!