How to Shoot Epic Summer Vlogs with Just One Camera
- gear4greatness
- Jun 3, 2025
- 3 min read
Updated: Nov 13, 2025
How to Shoot Epic Summer Vlogs with Just One Camera
When summer hits, I always get that pull to head outside with just one camera in my pocket and see what I can make out of the day. 🌞 There’s something freeing about keeping the setup simple — no backpacks full of gear, no juggling lenses, no stress. Just a single camera, the heat on my skin, and whatever story unfolds in front of me. And honestly, that’s when some of my best vlogs happen. When I’m not thinking about equipment, I end up paying more attention to the light, the sounds, the little moments. Whether I’m filming with the Insta360 X5, the DJI Pocket 3, or even a GoPro 13 strapped to the bike, the whole idea is the same: make one camera feel like a full crew.
I always start the day by thinking about the story instead of the shots. It helps me feel grounded — almost like I’m writing the vlog in my head before I ever hit record. I ask myself: what’s today’s vibe? Am I heading out for a slow morning walk along the river, or am I chasing some action along the bike paths? Summer light plays a huge role too. Early mornings feel calm and clean, like the whole world is whispering. Late evenings hit different — warm air, long shadows, that golden glow bouncing off buildings and water. 🌅 If I’m filming around noon, I’ll throw on an ND filter just to tame the sun a bit. It makes everything look softer, smoother, like the day isn’t trying so hard.
One camera can honestly do everything as long as you use it with intention. When I’m out with the X5, I love the feeling of knowing I can reframe anything later — it lets me stay present. The Pocket 3 gives me that buttery gimbal float when I want something more cinematic and personal, almost like I’m gliding through the scene. And the GoPro or Action 5 taps into a different summer energy — rugged, fast, unpredictable. No matter what I’m using, I keep my movement simple: walk-and-talks, slow pans, a little orbit around something interesting. Even a bike ride becomes cinematic if you hold the camera steady and let the world rush past you.
Audio is the one thing I never overlook, even when I’m filming light. A tiny mic like the Mic Mini or the Mic Air changes everything. It brings my voice closer to the viewer, like I’m right there beside them. And when I’m editing, I always keep it tight — five minutes or less, a bit of music, a few cuts that match the rhythm of the day. I don’t try to overcomplicate anything. Summer is simple. The videos should be too. 🌴
How to Shoot Epic Summer Vlogs with Just One Camera
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Final Thoughts
What I love most about one-camera summer vlogging is how honest it feels. There’s no hiding behind gear and no pressure to juggle setups — it’s just me, one camera, and the day unfolding in real time. 🌞 When I film like that, something shifts. I start noticing the colour of the sky more, the way shadows stretch across sidewalks, the sounds of bikes passing or kids playing in the distance. That simplicity brings out a different version of me — more relaxed, more observant, more connected to what I’m filming.
There’s also a kind of intimacy that comes from filming with just one tool. It becomes an extension of my hand, my eyes, my voice. Whether I’m reframing 360° footage later on or capturing a quiet walk with the Pocket 3’s gimbal, the story always ends up feeling personal. And maybe that’s the real magic of summer vlogs — they’re not big productions, they’re memories. Small moments that feel warm and real because they weren’t over-planned.
And honestly, one camera teaches you how to create with intention. It forces you to slow down, to look for beauty instead of manufacturing it. To trust your instincts. To move through the day like a storyteller instead of a technician. 🌄 When I look back at the footage later, it always feels like a little time capsule — sunlight, movement, breath, colour. Simplicity that somehow becomes cinematic.
If anything, using just one camera reminds me why I film in the first place: to capture the feeling of a moment, not just the look of it. And summer gives you so many of those moments… if you travel light enough to notice them.
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