Today I´m going to talk about how you can vlog with a camera that doesn´t have a flip screen without losing any filmmaking quality in the process.

So, how to vlog with a camera that doesn´t have a flip screen? You can download an app on your phone, use the right software in order to see yourself on your laptop while filming, set your stage and practice, or simply use a mirror to get the reflection of your image.

Now, keep in mind that there are a few different ways you can see yourself when vlogging without a flip screen but you still need to practice framing your shots and/or proper image stabilization in order to get best possible image when recording.

That being said, let´s dive in!

1. Download The App

Whether you have Sony, Canon, or Nikon camera it doesn´t really matter because there is a FREE app for every camera you can think of.

You´ll find they pretty easy to use and you´ll be able to see yourself on your phone so that you can easily play around with your shots and framing without any worries.

In fact.

In the Canon app, for example, you can even change the shutter speed or the ISO in order to get a better shooting or simply to adjust the overall outlook of your video.

You can get the exact same image that you´d see directly on your camera screen but on your phone as long as you have a reliable Wifi connection.

Plus! As I´ve said before, every App has its own features that allow you to adjust different things right from your phone.

I use the Canon App and it has the capability to connect via Wifi, bluetooh, and NFC, which is great!

2. Use Your Laptop

If you are at home of any other place where you can place your laptop near you then you should consider using it to record, adjust, and see yourself while shooting.

Here´s how:

You can simply attach a USB cable to your computer and download the App required to manage and use the different feature your camera offers.

You´ll be able to see yourself on your computer screen, which can be very comfortable as it is a bigger picture that you can keep near, and adjust some of the image settings.

Things like white balance, frame rate, or any other feature that you need to change can be done directly from your computer quite easily.

Now, two things you NEED to know in order to use this.

First, you´ll a USB cable to connect the camera and the computer, you can´t use Wifi, and second, if you are going to use your laptop to manually change ANY of the settings of your camera don´t make any “extra” changes directly on your camera, it can mess things up a bit on the software, I know cause I´ve done it myself. 😬

I have a Canon camera and I use the EOS Utility software on my laptop and I have to say it works great! You´ll be able to see yourself and adjust things with much comfort as it is a bigger picture than the camera sceen has.

That being said, both the iPhone/Android app as well as the computer software have great capabilities and I would recommend you to use both in order to get a better idea of which you prefer to use from now on.

PRO TIP! You should consider using a USB cable extension so that you don´t need to keep the camera and computer too close together, which can affect your overall settings.

3. Set Your Own Stage

Although it might sound silly to you I promise it is not.

If you can set your own stage at home you can pretty much step into your own “stage”, hit record, and start talking, which is incredibly useful when you don´t feel like making another YouTube video.

Now, the way you can do that is to set up your camera in place and record a few seconds with an object in the middle of your frame (I use a standing lamp) and see if your framing is right where you want.

Then, you can rearrange your furnitures, or use any sort of indicator that allows you to know where you want to be standing for your shot.

Another great one that I´ve used in the past is the duct tape method.

The Duct Tape Method

I LOVE this one, I´ve learned to use duct tape when I record myself a while ago, in fact, one of my friends that studies video production taught me this.

You probably have some duct tape at home, right? Well, pretty much everybody does actually.

Here´s how it works:

You will use duct tape to mark the corners of your “stage”, meaning where are the limits where you can move and you will also mark the placement of each camera tripod leg.

That way you´ll be able to accurately see every time where you should place both your camera and yourself when you are about to record another video.

EXTRA TIP! Here´s an update for you guys, now I´m currently using a carpet, it is very comfortable to stand and record, and it´s an effective way to stay on the frame while moving.

4. Use a Mirror

Yep, you can simply use a mirror, or any sort of reflective material for that matter.

I´ve used one of the windows at home so that I could notice any mistakes while recording myself.

However, one thing you should keep in mind is that you want to film at night if you are recording inside your house.

Now, here´s a good example of how your own resourcefullnes might help:

You can easily DIY this by using a simple homemade system that allows you to see yourself in the mirror while you vlog.

5. Practice Makes Perfect!

Last but not least, you NEED to practice.

Not only because the more you practice the better you´ll get but also because you will more comfortable with yourself and the camera the more you do it.

You have to keep doing it until you don´t need to constantly see yourself on the screen to check if everything is looking sharp.

If you want to perform for your audience and get better at it the true secret is to do huge volume of work.

THAT is the only true way to get good at anything you want to do, especially vlogging.

When I got started at this I filmed for hours before I got comfortable enough with the camera, how I used my hands, the way I talk, and basically not being too weird when vlogging.

Related Questions

How to see yourself when vlogging? I think I´ve laid out what are the best ways you can be sure to vlog without actually seeing yourself while you do it, but in case you want to be able to see yourself then you should use a mirror or any sort of reflection that can give you some idea of how well are you framing the shot. Some other things you can use to reflect your image are an off monitor/television or a window inside at night or outside during the day.

What is the best (but yet cheap) vlogging monitor? Although using your phone as you vlogging monitor is probably the cheapest option there are some others you might want to consider if you are willing to upgrade your gear. The best cheap option I´ve found that actually works is the FW450 4.5 Inch DSLR On-Camera Field Monitor, which has good reviews on Amazon and it´s pretty affordable compared to others.