KITE VLOGGING

WITH SAM LIGHT

WORDS AND PHOTOS BY SAM LIGHT

Kitesurfing Magazine explores the world of kitesurfing video blogs. What makes for a successful video? How can we all make better videos? We track down the personalities behind kitesurfing’s most popular video blogs and find out their secrets for success. For this issue Slingshot team rider and videographer Sam Light shares his story.

WHAT ARE YOUR MOST POPULAR VIDEOS?

My most popular videos have been my race with Alex Thompson and going around the Isle of Wight.

ARE YOU EVER SURPRISED BY WHAT GOES VIRAL?

Yeah for sure. You need a good thumbnail and title to clickbait them in, but you also need good engaging content to keep them locked. It’s not easy.

DO YOU HAVE A LOVE OR A HATE RELATIONSHIP WITH THE YOUTUBE ALGORITHM?

I prefer the YouTube algorithm over Instagram and Facebook; it’s similar but much easier to create traction even if you don’t have thousands of subscribers.

TELL US ABOUT YOUR FILMING SET UP? HOW OFTEN DOES IT CHANGE?

I use a Sony 6500 and a GoPro most of the time. It hasn’t changed for a while but I do try out different tools, gimbals, housings, clamps and mounts to get some fresh content. Good quality helps but I have learned it’s all about the content and story,

WHAT IS YOUR RATIO OF MINUTES FILMED O MINUTES IN THE FINAL PROJECT?

That really depends on the project. Some of them are super direct and simple, and some of them take weeks. If I am filming a tutorial in my study then I use everything. If I go away on a trip for a week I use about half of what I film. I film everything just in case I need it.

DO YOU HAVE THINGS PLANNED OUT WITH A STORYBOARD IN ADVANCE, OR IS IT MORE ORGANIC CHAOS?

Again it really depends on the video, timeframe and location. I don’t like to script. I have tried before and it loses all its feeling. I have a rough plan of what I want to get across then run with it.

HOW DO YOU MANAGE YOUR WORKFLOW? GET IT EDITED RIGHT AWAY, OR FILE IT AND WORK ON LATER?

If I am on a trip I label the clips each day but save the editing until I’m home. If I’m home I try to knock it out straight away when it’s fresh.

WHAT WAS THE BEST ADVICE YOU HEARD THAT HELPED MAKE YOUR VIDEOS BETTER?

Get your head out your arse and just accept yourself for who you are, be yourself and have fun with it. People will take the piss but who cares? So many people don’t vlog because they are worried about how they come across. You come across so much worse if you are worried what people think. I get inspiration from top vloggers like Peter Mckinnen.

ANY BIG PROJECTS IN THE WORKS?

Yes! I have just dropped a big project of kite foiling around Antigua. Super stoked with the outcome so go check it out.

SAM LIGHT’S SETUP

Camera: Sony 6500 / Go Pro Hero 8 Mic: Rode video mic pro Lenses: Sony 10-18, Sigma 18-35 Hard drives: Lacie Editing software: Final Cut Computer hardware: Apple