Frequently Asked Questions about Super Enthused! Find answers below, and feel free to leave questions as a comment on this post (down below), or via the contact form on this website. Here we go:
Q: How, when and why did you start Super Enthused?
A: I have answered this questions in a few of my “get to know me” type videos, and on the podcast, but in a nutshell – I first started Super Enthused as a written blog around 2015 (maybe earlier). I’ve always loved being in highly themed environments and exploring out of the ordinary places, and I didn’t know a lot of people who enjoyed these things as much as I did, but I knew they were out there! My fellow enthusiasts, people who just loved doing and trying new things, going to interesting places, travel and road trips. So, somehow I got the idea to start a blog, and I called it Super Enthused for a few different reasons, one a sort of funny play on the “Miami accent” as that is where I was born and raised, and lived at the time I started this, where everything was “super,” and another because I knew I was an enthusiast that was a little over the top, so SUPER!
In the early days, I wrote trip reports to my visits to Universal Studios Florida, Renaissance Festivals, Fruit Festivals, Disney World and other events and places. Some of my early blog posts were about my trips to – Renaissance fair, Diagon Alley at Universal and a stay at Cabana Bay, Halloween weekend in New Orleans at a vampire ball… just enthusiast things.
At some point, I decided I want to try to make my blogs into videos – video blogs – vlogs…. to capture what was happening in the moment, and share it in an edited little episode of my very own DIY travel show. Back then, there weren’t nearly as many people doing this sort of thing as there are now, and I personally didn’t find any kind of YouTube videos that were exactly what I would want to watch. More of a bring-you-with-me, in-the-moment-type experience, but also with a focus on the beautiful details, some of the background and history of places, a little bit more focus on fantasy and mystery, places like the Ancient Spanish Monastery in south Florida (one of my earliest vlogs – https://youtu.be/KyPo7ZMWE9U), and also my love of theme parks, quirky attractions, road trips and travel.
So I decided to make the kinds of videos I wanted to watch, and that no one else was really making (that I could find at least), with my own personal style, humor and desire to capture the five senses! And this is what I still do today. Through the years, I have learned and grown, and tried different things, but I still hold true to my original values. Being myself, bringing you along in the moment to do fun and interesting things, have fun and just keep it real!
Q: Where did you get your sunglasses? Lipstick? Bathing suit? Anything like that (links below):
Retro rewind green sunglasses –
https://amzn.to/3RLqLbq
Darker multi pack of sunglasses –
https://amzn.to/3vsEMU2
Swim dress with skirt –
https://amzn.to/3NTeHnu
Maybelline long wear red lipstick –
https://amzn.to/48NVR97
NYX Long wear nude lipstick –
https://amzn.to/3RWvFCA
NYX long wear pink lipstick –
https://amzn.to/3S1etMm
The sound machine we first discovered at Dollywood’s HeartSong Resort – https://amzn.to/3RLr320
Some of these links may be Amazon affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn a small amount from qualifying purchases, but it doesn’t cost a thing to you! It’s just a small commission Amazon pays to Amazon affiliate creators off the normal price. Thank you for the support!
Q: What camera and editing software do you use for vlogging?
I started off using my cell phone, and that’s what I always recommend for first starting out. Later, I used a GoPro for a bit, and I still use a GoPro for specific situations, like any water activities, roller coasters (only where it is permitted, and with an official GoPro wrist or chest strap, depending on what is permitted). But my main camera has mostly been a Canon Powershot II G7X. This camera is now discontinued, so it’s not one I would necessarily recommend, but it has a lot of benefits that newer cameras haven’t seemed to be able to nail. Great stability, great in low light, very lightweight and sturdy, good audio (but audio can be bad if you don’t know how to use it, which I have slowly learned over time through trial and error). But it also has a lot of downsides – it doesn’t film in 4K, the audio can be very loud if you don’t know how to tweak it, the focus is terrible and you have to be patient to make sure the shot is in focus, and the dreaded dead pixel that seems to be impossible to avoid with this camera! Of course, the main downside is that it is discontinued so the only models on the market are those that were already there, and they are more and more hard to come by.
Other cameras I have tried and ended up not liking:
The Sony ZV1 – I liked it at first but came to very much dislike everything about it. The colors, the audio, the settings, I didn’t like the look or feel of it. It works great for some, but it didn’t give the vibe.
The DJI Osmo Pocket 3 – Trying it in the beginning of 2024. I like the nice, smooth quality the colors are bright and beautiful. The focus is impeccable. There are a lot of nice things about this camera. However, it has a built in gimbal, so all footage will have that “gimbal look,” which some people like and some don’t. It also requires an external ND filter whenever it’s bright out, which is every day here in Florida, that you have to constantly be popping on and off, and it’s a bit of a hassle to use in the kind of in-the-moment, on-the-go type vlogging I enjoy doing. I got a lot of mixed feedback on it and am still deciding whether I’ll keep it or not, but it certainly will not be my main vlogging camera. I think this could be a main camera though and work perfectly for some people!
Iphone 14 or 15 pro max – I use this for about 15-25% of my vlogs and just mix the footage in, and I have no idea if it’s even noticeable or not! The image quality on a nice sunny day is great, the stability is amazing, but the audio is poor and the low light is grainy. But, it is perfectly suitable for vlogging if you know how to use it right!
Q: Are you married? (and any questions about Jackie & Sam)
A: Shameless plug time – this podcast episode answers this question:
(You can find this episode and all the others on all podcast platforms, including Apple Podcasts, Spotify and all the others).
Our podcast also answer questions like – How did you and Sam meet and lots more – we talk about behind the scenes, theme park news and just a lot that doesn’t necessarily fit into my vlogs or Sam’s documentary type videos.
Podcast links here!
If you have questions to add to the FAQ, you can leave a comment on THIS POST below, or you can leave comment on my YouTube channel, or on the Contact section of this website. Thank you for the love and support, y’all rock!
I will continue to add to this page as I have a whole list of FAQ’s to work through!
Here is a playlist of few videos where I have answered more questions & shared more about myself, where you can get to know me better 🙂
Link to playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfwwPOxvTRISnViAlw7X0jzwh1GW6Lo5u
Thanks for hanging out and stay tuned for more! Part of the journey is learning, growing, going new places, and sharing the adventures with you!
http://www.YouTube.com/superenthused
tons of love!
