10 tips on how to make great travel videos!
If traveling is your passion and you want to share your experiences with the world, starting to make travel videos is a fantastic idea. Video content is not only the most colorful and authentic way to present a destination, but it’s also a sought-after medium nowadays. However, a travel video needs to be very well-made in order to capture attention and create the desired effect. Here are 10 tips that will make your travel videos to the next level!
Prepare your gear
If you are a beginner at video making, you should start by getting the appropriate equipment and, even more importantly, familiarizing yourself with it. Today, smartphones have quite formidable capabilities so don’t feel like you have to immediately invest in an expensive camera for a good video. If you do decide to get a DSLR, make sure you pick a user-friendly one to get started with and study the settings in detail.
Get the technical aspect right
Today, high-definition content is the norm. Therefore, you have to ensure you get the settings right for the most enjoyable video quality. Besides the resolution, which would be optimal to keep at 1080p, you should also mind the frame rate of your video. Depending on the kind of footage you are shooting, you might want to vary between 30 and 60 fps. When there is a lot of motion, 60 fps can really add to the quality, but you should be mindful of the video size.
Keep it steady
No one likes shaky videos. However, you won’t always have the opportunity to use a tripod, nor should you. Your travel video should include dynamic footage in order to be interesting. So, make sure you look into one more piece of equipment which will transform your footage filmed during walks or hikes: a stabilizer. A gimbal stabilizer is a handy tool and it can even be rather compact so it won’t be a hassle to carry along.
Stay authentic
When presenting a place, you want it to look realistic and authentic. Therefore, you may want to skip using strong filters on your production. However, that does not mean you cannot correct your footage so that it gets the atmosphere across. Learn about color grading and keep modifications moderate for the best effect.
Find the perfect length
Pinpointing the ideal length for a travel video is quite tricky. As a general rule of thumb, you can stick to 2 to 3-minute long pieces. This length is ideal for presenting the best of a destination in a concise manner while not risking your viewers getting bored and clicking away. However, it should be noted that today, long-form videos are becoming more and more widespread. On platforms like YouTube, hitting the 10-minute mark can be beneficial depending on your goal.
Get close
You can make your travel video much more interesting by mixing it up a little. Get close to your subject and pique your audience’s interest by zooming in on the details. Show them the vegetation, bring them close to the food, make them appreciate architecture. It will also boost authenticity.
Learn some transitions
The importance of transitions cannot be stressed enough, particularly when you’re working on shorter, more dynamic videos. The right transitions improve the flow and give your video a sense of continuity, so practice some hand motions to get the right footage. Panning, dollying in and out, swiping or tilting the camera; there is a lot of room for creativity. Use these instead of effects on your video as those can make it look less professional.
Consider live
As mentioned earlier, people already consume a lot of long-form videos. Another type of video content that is on a massive rise is live video. High-quality live event streaming has taken the world by storm and the travel industry was not exempt from this. A lot of hospitality businesses adapted to the pandemic by implementing virtual tours but influencers are also finding that their audience likes the real interactions transmitted by such unedited footage, so it might be worth giving it a try.
Mind the audio
Video is a popular content format since it engages several of your senses at the same time. You can take advantage of this by giving ample attention to the auditory aspect of your video. Music plays an important part in setting the atmosphere, but it can even dictate your editing to create a cohesive whole, so pick your song wisely. Besides music, including sound effects will also make your production more immersive.
Stay dedicated!
Finally, making great travel videos is something that requires effort and dedication. You mustn’t let shyness or embarrassment get in your way, but you should also be prepared to go to lengths to get that perfect shot. Once you have a bit more experience, though, you will not hesitate to hike a few extra miles or wait a few extra hours if that means capturing an unrepeatable moment.
Today, anyone has the means to start making videos, but there is certainly a learning curve to making great ones. Hopefully, these tips will help you make your next travel video your best one so far!
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