Filming a Vlog in London - a videographers guide
There’s a big difference between visiting London with a camera and filming in London for a living.
Tourists see postcard moments. London based Videographers see bus lanes, blown-out skies, permits, and the guy who’s about to walk straight through your shot with a Pret bag and zero remorse.
London is one of the most visually rich cities on earth to to filmi n as a videographer. But it’s also unpredictable, crowded, overcast half the year, and obsessed with rules. Filming here is less about finding beautiful locations and more about knowing how to work with the city that London is instead of constantly fighting it.
Filming a Vlog can take you from one side of London to the other so is very unpredictable in its very nature. Experience will aid you creating a successful vlog and getting the shots needed for your clients.
The light will humble you
If you’re used to filming in places with reliable sunshine, London’s lighting will be your first reality check.
Overcast skies are the default here — but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. The cloud cover acts like a giant softbox, which is amazing for skin tones and avoiding harsh shadows when you’re filming walk-and-talk segments along the South Bank or through Covent Garden.
Consistency can be an issue but if you know how to work with different light you can manage this. Rain is the real enemy and as a videographer working in London I'm constantly checking the weather app.
Golden hour? It’s one of the most magical moments that videographers chase. It’s a thing of beauty in London but blink and you’ll miss it. In winter, it happens at near 3.45pm!
Audio can be a battle
Visually, London is a cinematic masterpiece for videographers. Sonically, it’s chaos.
If you’re filming anywhere near Oxford Circus or Piccadilly Circus, expect:
Sirens every 90 seconds
Double-decker buses idling next to you
Roadworks that began in 2007 and will outlive us all
Street performers with suspiciously powerful amps
On-camera mics are basically ambient noise collectors in this city. A decent lav mic (with a furry wind cover — always) is the difference between usable dialogue and a vlog that sounds like it was recorded inside a kettle. As a videographer with 15+ years experience, my personal recommendation are the Rode Go Gen 3 mics. They’re small and perfect for gimbal filming with a mirrorless. You can also have a set with 2 x transmitters for simple swap outs without charging.
Movement Changes Everything
London is a walking city, which is great for storytelling. A vlog by its very nature lends itself to movement. It’s all about the story and taking audience with you. Any good videographer will move their camera to enhance this aspect of a vlog.
From charming cobbled streets around Notting Hill to bridges like Millennium Bridge. There is such a variety of beautiful diverse locations that you can move through and take the audience on a journey. Of course, a gimbal is essential. In an ideal world you would mix up some of the moving shots with more static imagery for a contrast in the edit. However the reality is that time is of the essence and a greater variety of footage will serve you better in the edit. A simple setup consisting of a mirrorless camera like th Canon R5, a gimbal, a fast lens and some mics. Sometimes your job as a videographer is to keep things simple and get good looking content in the bag.
Filming Etiquette Is Real Here
Londoners are generally unfazed by cameras — we’ve all walked through about six student film shoots on our way to Tesco — but that doesn’t mean you can film anything, anywhere.
Tripods in busy areas can attract attention from security pretty quickly, especially around landmarks like the London Eye. And if you start setting up lights near St. Paul’s Cathedral without permission, someone in a high-vis jacket will materialise out of thin air and send you packing.
For vlogging, staying lightweight is key:
Mirrorless body
Small wireless mic
No massive rig unless you enjoy conversations with private security
The take home for creating a great vlog video
London is an exciting city to film a vlog in. Plan your locations, check the weather and keep your camera kit light. Experience as a videographer is needed to create something professional looking but engaging.
