Producing a vlog is like any client project I tackle. I take it seriously. I take great care in all the details and vividly imagine a perfect end result. No detail is too small to attend to.
What’s a vlog you ask? Well, it’s another way to say video blog. And, yes, besides my life style business I’m now in the production business, too! Well…not really but I know how to produce a vlog like the ones you’ve been watching in Season 1, 2 and 3 right here on The Report. I produce each of these vlogs like I would handle any project for my clients. There’s the troubleshooting, the scripting, the prepping, the organizing, the styling and the filming. To give you an idea of how dedicated to a project I am, let me walk through with you how a typical cooking vlog is produced by yours truly.
- Troubleshooting
The first thing I do is decide on a theme for the upcoming season of vlogs. Then, I create a series of episodes for each season. For example, the upcoming Season 4 will be my dinner party series where I’ll be creating a fantastic dinner party menu! Each episode will be a different course. Stay tuned! - Scripting
I will script out each episode, detailing which location I’ll be in and all the dialog. In a cooking vlog, I’ll say something like, “Open on Robin in kitchen.” I’ll detail the entire recipe process, the necessary tools and add in some quippy dialog. Of course, when I actually shoot a vlog, I ad lib along the way because it’s more natural. - Prepping
This is the hardest and most time consuming part of producing a vlog. For a cooking vlog, I need to make sure I have all the necessary tools and all the necessary ingredients. I decide which “R” brand items should be included such as “R” napkins, “R” grilling mitt, “R” toothpicks etc. It’s important I have all of the ingredients for a display for my viewers, as well as all of the ingredients perfectly measured out for the cooking demonstration. Everything needs to be precise and organized for a shoot to go smoothly. - Organizing
It’s important when I create the grocery list for a cooking vlog that I double up on the ingredients because cooking a recipe doesn’t always go as smoothly on camera. Ha! I love to go to the grocery store so I shop at multiple places for the best ingredients, best prices and best deals! I typically make a list of “to-do’s” starting four months in advance for my vlog series. When it’s a month before the shoot date, my lists start to get very precise as to when I can prep and schedule certain things. - Styling
Before I start deciding what my image will be on the set, I style each station or set for each vlog. That means I have all the tools laid out, the ingredients in a creative recipe order, flowers and any necessary props to make the shoot a vivid success. I make sure all of the cooking equipment is in working order and even checking if all the outside outlets are in functional order. There are a lot of details that go into shooting a life style vlog. My style and image is just as important as my content. I am my personal brand, so that means I need to not only have a stylish set for each video, I need to create my outfit, my hairstyle and my make-up to emphasize that I walk the talk. You’ll notice in Season 4 when I am showing my viewers how to make a great chocolate dessert, that I’m wearing a chocolate brown blouse with my iconic “R” apron. Watch for it! I plan out a different outfit and hairstyle based on the recipe content. Yes, I do! I didn’t dye my hair brown though for the chocolate dessert. Darn. I can only do so much. Ha! - Filming
My set is ready with all the various creative accents needed to complement the cooking segment, the display of tools and ingredients on the table is ready, my ingredients are perfectly proportioned into colorful ramekins, my prepped food is waiting patiently to be demonstrated, my hair is beautifully coiffed, my makeup is artistically applied (thanks Nicole and Annette!), my fun and fashionable outfit is all pressed and set to wear, my creative intro’s and outro’s have been fully practiced and now I’m ready to shoot. That’s when my videographers spring into “Lights, Camera, Action!” (Thanks Dan and Marcus!)
Would you like me to help you on your next project? You won’t be disappointed as I will be fully engaged and committed to the success of your project, whatever that project may be. From event coordination to even helping you produce your own vlogs, all you have to do is click Just Ask! to contact me.
Enjoy what life has to offer right now!
