Advice for aspiring content creators from "Island Girl"

Social media star Niamh Mackinnon has half a million followers across her platforms, where she shares her down-to-earth lifestyle on the Isle of Skye and celebrates the island's culture and traditions. Her ambition, however, was to step up from travel and lifestyle vlogging into more creative content creation, and it was the Canon EOS R50 V that enabled her to undertake her dream project based on the folklore of Skye.

If you're a photographer taking the leap into video, or shoot mainly stills and want to improve your video, here are Niamh's top tips for aspiring video content creators.

"My biggest advice, which I needed to give to myself at the start, was don't be scared to try creating video, to experiment or make mistakes. When I first got the EOS R50 V it was a little bit daunting because I'm not used to having so many options and settings available, but with this camera it's so easy to switch modes and play around with it until you find stuff you like.”

Niamh used to shoot her videos using her smartphone, but definitely recommends stepping up to a camera like the the EOS R50 V. “Compared to a smartphone, it's a completely different ball game. The thing I'm most excited about is having that cinematic feel, which you don't get on a smartphone, and the capability to shoot in Canon Log and colour-grade my footage to bring out the depth and detail in the landscape. And just the high quality, of course. Plus the zoom and the autofocus, which are completely different from a smartphone. But it's not just about features – using the camera makes me want to be more creative. You can push your capabilities and see what you can do and be more creative with it, which is the biggest difference, actually.

“So just let your creativity take over and experiment. It's okay if not every shot looks perfect."

The key difference between still photography and video is that instead of trying to freeze the moment, you capture it unfolding. If you've never shot video before, this means you need to learn to let things run their course. However, it doesn't mean you can do without planning and preparation.

For many kinds of photography, you'll go out with at least a provisional shot list. Video is no different. "Before you even pick up the camera, it really helps to have a clear idea of what you're trying to say. What's the story, and why would someone want to watch it? Once you know that, everything else – such as what shots you need or how you'll edit – just becomes a lot easier.

"Planning a little bit ahead also makes filming way less overwhelming. Even if it's just a rough outline, having some kind of structure means you're not out there shooting hours of footage you'll never use."

That said, there's a lot of upside to getting extra footage. "I always capture way more than I need for the final edit. That takes off a bit of pressure." Professional filmmakers always value B-roll and behind-the-scenes footage to fill gaps, cover slips, or simply function as cut-scenes. If something catches your eye, it could slot right into another sequence, take you in a new creative direction, or inspire your next project. "At the end of the day there's no harm in trying things out, and if it doesn't look great, I won't include it."

Spare footage is also invaluable if your shoot doesn't go to plan because of bad weather or other factors. Niamh had to cancel a sequence she had planned to shoot from a boat because conditions on the water were too rough for the boat to go out, which meant she had to improvise something else. Your story will inevitably evolve and change both in the shooting and the editing, but unlike stills, video must eventually come together into a coherent sequence. It's all about the story!

"Honestly, one of the biggest things I always consider is 'Would I actually keep watching this?' If not, I just rethink it a bit. That question keeps me focused on making something that feels worth sharing.

"With content creation, especially on social media platforms, it's so easy to get lost in that mindset of just throwing content out every single day and keeping up with that, and as a result so many people have lost the quality of content. Take a step back and slow down. You maybe don't need to be posting as much – take time to make stuff you're proud to put out. Audiences are valuing quality so much more now."

We’ve mentioned the value of planning, but general preparation is also critical in video even more than in stills. "Always prepare for the worst in the weather and shooting conditions. Skye is very changeable, and when I leave the house – even if it's summer and it's sunny – I will always bring waterproofs, and often hot water bottles, scarfs and hats. Even if you think it's fine while you're walking about, it can be a very different story when you're up a hill and trying to get the shot for some time. It's very disappointing if your hand goes numb and you don't get the shot simply because you haven't prepared."

For Niamh, video content is a natural aspect of her social presence. If you're already sharing photos with your followers, adding video is a simple next step.

"For vlog-style content, the best advice I can give is to talk to the camera like you're chatting with a friend. It makes everything feel more natural and takes the pressure off trying to sound polished or perfect – because people connect with people, not perfect!"

"With my content I aim to keep it real. I want to take people on the journey with all the ups and downs of learning how to up my creative game. I'm excited to show people how I'm developing as I go, and share the realities of it – the fails and struggles as well as the successes. If they're also wanting to experiment, then they see both sides of it as I try to expand and raise my game. Hopefully that will inspire them as well."