Travel, Tech

Simple Techniques To Make Stunning Travel Videos

Written by Qasim Hussain · 4 min read >

Travel videos are an awesome way to showcase your journey and reveal special stories to your audience. You can share an enticing travel video and share your world experiences, highlighting various tourist spots.

You can create a narrative of travel from your vacation, whether you are at the Taj Mahal, the Egyptian Pyramids, at the top of New York’s Skyscrapers, or even on the streets of Thailand – the possibilities are endless. 

Many think that making travel videos is an extravagant and costly job, but this is just a myth. The initial phase of making travel videos could be as interesting as making movies, and you get to make all the decisions as a movie producer!

Before you start making your travel video, consider the following factors:

  • What is the goal behind making the video, and whom is the video for?
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  • Do you plan to make a documentary, a travel guide, a road trip, a travel adventure, or simply a spectacular travel escapade video as a memory of your tour?
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  • Research the various video formats, have a bigger vision in mind, and implement what you want to achieve.
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  • Record the narrative and start visualizing it and the ways you would like to capture it as the storyboard. Your tone can be descriptive, and you can also add a sequence of video shots.
  • Identify the footage you need so that you can compile a recording list to track the content.
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How Long Should Your Video Be?

Travel videos shouldn’t be too long if they’re not for YouTube (which allows longer documentaries and videos). If you are considering social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter, your video should ideally last 30-60 seconds.

The travel videos displayed on various channels are fast-moving, and if the viewer thinks they are too long, they may just skip them. So, keep it short but sweet.

Now, on to some specific tips you can follow to create riveting travel videos!

Simple Tips for Filming Amazing Travel Videos

1. Get the right equipment

It is extremely important to use the right equipment and gear with the latest video capabilities to capture very high-quality footage. Smartphones work well enough these days, but a professional video needs expert attention, perfect craftsmanship, and the right tools.

Here are a few things you can take note of before you start preparing to film that awesome travel video:

  • Pack a compact camera bag and minimize gear as much as possible, especially if you’re shooting a trip in different locations a day, so that it becomes easier to move around
  • You can use gimbals or small stabilization systems to capture smooth shots
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  • Carry the right lens – preferably a wider lens with a 16-35 mm lens, with attributes like a narrower focal length and a better image quality than zoom lenses.
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  • If you plan to carry a hi-tech professional camera, make sure it is mirrorless so that you can reduce bulk. Always keep a spare one handy in case the other one gets lost or stolen. Avoid the bulky ones, as they refrain you from capturing candid moments.
  • You can also carry a drone to capture those amazing aerial shots, but make sure you are licensed and legally permitted to fly them at your chosen location.
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2. Pay attention to the lighting

Lighting dictates the feel and look of your travel video and is a crucial element that needs strict attention.

Most people generally love shooting during the Golden Hour, which has now become a favorite time for many travel vloggers and videographers. Just after sunrise or just before sunset, you can seize the beauty of a place or nature with the warm, smooth, and directional light that beautifully complements the subject.

You can shoot indoors with proper LED lighting and fixtures but let some natural light in to bring clarity to your travel videos.

3. Decide on the types of shots you want to film

Consider the type of shots or video clips that you want to film when you travel.

What is the subject that you want to pay attention to? Is it vlogging about the food, culture, or habitation of a specific place, talking about people, or simply revealing the natural beauty of a place?

Your shots depend on what you want to shoot. You can use static or gimbal-processed shots to make your video more attractive. You can also consider silent tripod shots, wide shots, detailed shots, open moments, lively behavioral broadcasts, and time-lapses and edit them using an online video editor.

Create a variation of shots to keep your video interesting and attract maximum attention.

4. Accept the unexpected

There will be times when things might not go as planned, but you must not get disappointed. Take the expected in your stride and just shoot in whatever weather, ambiance, atmosphere, or even people you face.

It is all about your love of capturing the beauty of traveling and presenting it in front of the world to wonder about it in awe. So, accept whatever comes your way and simply give it your best shot (pun intended!).

5. Always take permission

If you do commercial work, you must seek written permission (legally) from the people you include in your videos, especially if you are covering their life stories, their homes, or their lifestyle.

To avoid any kind of legal problems and to be on the safer side, it’s best to get prior assent. People love to get involved in videos, but there could be apprehensions, so be mindful of such factors.

6. Organize the clips and cuts

Every travel video, even if it’s not a feature-length documentary, can be in chronological order or can have a story arc.

Create a unique structure and group similar shots into a mini-scene. If you’re adding a drone shot, make sure the next 2 to 5 shots should show the same scene and be shot differently.

Always intentionally structure the sequence, regardless of how you make the movie. Think about how the clips are connected and how they work together to tell a story.

7. Don’t forget the sound

Choose the right music, sound, and background score that complements the narration, interviews, and video shots.

Record the sounds at the several shooting locations and use them in each video clip. The sounds of the rain and forests, the waves at the beaches, the traffic, etc., rejuvenate the senses and help the viewer immerse themselves in the landscape.

Conclusion

There are many things to consider when starting to make a travel video, but one of the most important things to remember is that you should be at peace, in a completely relaxed state of mind, and you must enjoy the entire process of travel video making. Only then will you create an enchanting travel video that will wow your audiences.

Don’t worry about the technicalities – your passion and perspective matter the most.

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