A Day in the Life of a FIRST TIME YouTuber

In case you can’t tell, I’m new around here. I don’t have much to show yet, but this is the first time – and also the last – that I’ll be NEW to YouTube. So instead of being ashamed of having nothing to show, I’m going to celebrate that instead.

We’re all used to seeing “Behind the Scenes,” and “Day in the Life” from long-established YouTubers. Understandable, since newcomers don’t have a lot to show. But I also think that’s exactly why it’s a good idea to document what little we have.

After all, it’s only your first time once. So let me show you my first-timer process.

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Writing

It all starts with an idea that lives in my notes app on my phone. It’s generally just a bullet point, that I eventually sit down and turn into a script. It starts very messily (like how I look while I write and edit it).

I make it a point to write and proofread on separate days, to make sure I can look at my script with fresh eyes.

For my actual script, I use a freeware called Q10 on my computer because it’s very minimalistic and has 0 distractions! The other great thing about Q10 is that I can access it offline.

I know it’s only my first time, but I do want to start with some semblance of a work-life balance.

Getting ready

Ok, backtracking to waking up in the first place! It starts like most of my days:

I get out of bed and immediately flop onto the couch because who doesn’t? I’m not a morning person, obviously.

But I also don’t have enough space nor the motivation to set up lights JUST for filming. Instead, I take advantage of the butt-ton of natural light this place gets, and do my filming during the day.

So after waking up (reluctantly), I try my best to get over the fact that yes, I’m awake. Then I shower (reluctantly) and get changed (also reluctantly). You get the point.

Next, I do my makeup and hair at my computer desk, since it also doubles as my vanity table. Which is what happens at a studio apartment. If your furniture can’t function as two things or more in a studio apartment, you’re probably doing it wrong. Or at the very least, making things very difficult for yourself.

This part I don’t mind so much, since I don’t have a lot of chances to dress up right now. Mostly by choice, but also due to (apocalyptic) gas prices.

The last time I regularly dressed cute & did my makeup was back when I tried out streaming on Twitch. That ultimately didn’t work out, but it gave me confidence and I practiced my makeup skills!

Filming as a first-time YouTuber

OK, the first thing I do when I start filming, and this is important is: BE NERVOUS.

Why do I include that in the process? I don’t know but it’s part of the process now. Essentially, I let myself feel all of that, get over it, then hit record.

I will say though: that the time it takes for me to feel all that and then get over it has decreased a lot since I first started. That counts for something, right? I think a lot of first-time YouTubers forget to give themselves room for mistakes.

Anyway, as much as I’ve gotten better (or at least hope so), it still takes me a while to film. Probably longer than it should be, to be honest. Which still isn’t too bad unless there’s a lot of noise and activity going on outside, ’cause then I get hungry.

I feel it’s important to note: that I’m not skipping meals just to skip meals. Usually, I just get in a zone and I don’t notice anything else.

Additionally, if I’m nervous about doing something, it’s best not to break my rhythm, as otherwise I lose momentum. I swear I eat as soon as I’m done taking thumbnail photos! It also helps that by then I don’t have to worry about messing up my makeup.

At this point, everything is a learning process. Would I always do it this way? Most likely not.

But right now, as a first-time YouTuber, I’m working with what I currently have. I don’t recommend comparing myself (or yourself) negatively to others who have been doing this so much longer than we have.

Thumbnail (part 1)

I usually just have a general idea of what I want my thumbnail to look like, and I suppose a general… expression?

Ok, I don’t know what I’m doing, and I wish I could plan this step out more.

But honestly, I’m still not 100% sure what thumbnails work best for me, so for now I’m just trying my best. Hey, it’s my first time as a YouTuber.

Full disclosure: In my early (or earlier day) couple of months ago, there have been times I’ve just been so happy and relieved to be done with filming that I forgot to take thumbnail photos.

My first time filming, I changed back into pajamas before I realized I forgot to take photos.

So I had to change back to what I wore for filming. The good news was that I still had my makeup on! That doesn’t happen now, thankfully.

Once I’m done filming and taking photos for the thumbnail, I transfer everything in my SD card to my PC. I use a 400 GB micro SD card with an adapter (yes, that really said 400 GB). Is it overkill? Absolutely. But it was only $50 from Costco, at the time of purchase.

Editing as a first-time Video Editor

Honestly, the bulk of what I do in the editing process is cutting out my awkward silences. I don’t even cut out my mistakes (or at least, not all of them). I save that for a little bloopers reel at the end of each video.

In case you didn’t know I have bloopers, this is your friendly reminder to go watch my videos to the end! Why do I do this? Oddly enough, in this case, I can honestly say: It’s not you, it’s me. At least, it’s for me.

Remember when I said that part of my process is to allow myself to be nervous and self-conscious? Whether I like it or not, that’s how it feels for me. The good news is that it’s getting better.

Largely thanks to being able to find the humor in my own mistakes and just laugh at myself, I feel more confident about seeing myself on camera. It helps that I don’t have to take myself so seriously all the time.

Seriously, bloopers help out far more than I can say.

Honestly, picking out which bloopers to include is my favorite part of my editing process. Seriously, I can’t endorse it enough.

Especially if this is also a first-time moment for you, as it’s an effective icebreaker. 

B-roll

Now that I’ve trimmed the video down to the basics, it’s time to spice it up.

I know right now I don’t have a lot of my own B-roll since it’s my first time. It’s something I’m working towards fixing someday, but baby steps here, OK? I’m still mentally bracing myself for filming outside the comfort of my own home.

Thankfully though, this is where pexels.com comes to the rescue! They have a LOT of high-quality images and videos that are free for commercial use, such as this. This isn’t sponsored, by the way, it’s just been an awesome resource. Of course, they have even more excellent quality media that you have to pay to use, if that’s what your project needs.

Yes, I have chapters in my editing program, though my account isn’t eligible for that feature yet. I figured it can’t hurt.

Once it’s all together, I play through the whole video, to make sure it sounds cohesive and the timing of the titles and B-roll is correct.

Then it’s time to render. So it’s done, right? This is goodbye?

NOPE!

Remember when I said this is my process from start to finish? (Mostly). Well, I’m not done until I’ve uploaded and scheduled the video.

For that, I have to go back to my thumbnail…

Thumbnail (part 2) & uploading to YouTube

This part is a lot more flexible: I generally work on my thumbnail whenever I have free time.

This can be right after filming, waiting for my oven to preheat, or even while sitting on the couch semi-watching TV. Otherwise, I work on it while the video is rendering.

The thumbnail (part 2) process is basically cropping and positioning the photo I want on a 1920×1080 canvas. I save it to my Dropbox, and I add the title and whatever else using Procreate on my iPad. Which I then save as a separate file in my Dropbox again, since I upload my video through my computer. Essentially it goes like this:

1. Camera (take the photo)
2. Computer (adjust & crop)
3. Dropbox
4. iPad (add text & other graphics)
5. Dropbox
6. Computer (upload).

Yeah, it sounds complicated. It’s probably not the most efficient, but I found that if I want a hand-drawn feel, I need my iPad. But I’m also not a fan of adjusting and cropping on my iPad.

I know, I know, it’s hardly an efficient process. But this is what your first time is for, to learn and refine your process and technique!

As for scheduling, I wrote a little tidbit about the video in the description. Then I copy-paste the generic information like my equipment, affiliate links, music, and relevant attribution. Technically, Pexels doesn’t require attribution, but I believe in giving credit where it’s due.

There you have it. If you think it’s a lot, well, that’s because it is.

At the end of the day,

Creating a video (for YouTube or elsewhere) is a LOT of work, especially if you’re doing it all by yourself.

A lot of people end up quitting, or just straight up not starting because it’s so overwhelming. I don’t blame them. 

Some people outsource parts of the work as soon as they can, and I can admit there are days it sounds VERY tempting.

But for now, I’m enjoying the learning process and the experience, and trying to find entertainment in the mistakes and setbacks I’ve encountered.

Watch it on YouTube