Avid vlog-watchers try vlogging for a day

After spending hours each week scavenging on YouTube and watching “vlogs” about people’s daily lives, we decided we had to try vlogging for ourselves.

Vlogging, or video blogging, has gained a cult-like following in the past few years.

Many of our favorite YouTubers are daily vloggers. In watching their vlogs, we can see how much work it is to put out daily content, a job that involves nearly constant filming,  editing and more.

For example, vlogger Casey Neistat uses GoPros, DSLRs and drones to get most of his shots. On the other hand, the vlogs from Caspar Lee are more casual. He simply uses his iPhone to film, as well as Jobi tripods or add-on lenses to enhance his videography.

For our vlogging experience, we chose a recent weekend. Right after school ended, we met up to discuss what our vlog would be about and what kinds of camera techniques and equipment to use.

We used an iPhones to film, because it was the most convenient, and many of our favorite YouTubers also do the same.

The first place we went to was Los Gatos Cafe to have brunch. As soon as the food came, we took out our phones and started recording different angles of our meal, much like we see in our favorite vlogs. In addition, we filmed our server getting us the food and our reactions to serve as a transition to the montage.

Since the restaurant was loud and busy, few people noticed or paid attention to us talking to our phone cameras. The couple seated next to our table glanced over, but they did not think much of it.

For us, talking to our phones in public felt uncomfortable and embarrassing. To our relief, we soon realized that people only took a glance out of curiosity and immediately went back to their activities. Although we may have felt self-conscious, we were too distracted in getting the perfect shot or take to care what other people thought.

On second thought, many people probably assumed that we were on FaceTime or were taking a Snapchat. These days, with social media and technology so prevalent, people aren’t as surprised to see two friends talking to a camera in a public environment.

We took a break from vlogging for the rest of the day since we didn’t do anything that exciting. At around 6 p.m., we decided to go to Valley Fair mall and Santana Row to vlog our spontaneous shopping experience.

First, we went to Gucci, something we watch YouTubers do all the time, to see the most expensive belts and bags. When we walked in, the sales associate greeted us with a happy smile. However, when we pulled out the iPhone 7 and started vlogging, she proceeded to kick us out, saying not to touch the displays and that filming in the store was not allowed.

Even though this sudden shock of disapproval from the Gucci employees brought our morale down, we did want to make the video at least five minutes, so we proceeded to stores like Forever 21 and Urban Outfitters and vlogged some cute clothes and recorded us trying different random pieces on.

Unlike uptight Gucci, they allowed filming.

At the mall, people looked and judged us, especially at Urban Outfitters, which didn’t have many customers. By now we were somewhat used to the stares, but we still don’t understand how daily vloggers get past the weird looks and stares they get from recording themselves in public.

Though vlogging was a fun experience, we feel like our daily lives aren’t quite entertaining enough for the big time. After all, our lives consist of going to school, playing sports and doing homework: Nobody would find our vlogs entertaining. The vlog life just isn’t cut out for us.