Everything from an Instagram story to a full-length movie can be a travel video. If you are looking to make travel videos, you do not need high-end gear or a hefty budget. All you need is to get out and shoot. You can even edit a group of photos using a free video collage maker and instantly publish stunning videos. Check out this video collage maker, we think it’s really cool.
These seven tips will help you kickstart your travel video-making journey:
1. Shoot Small
The first and most important point to note that your camera shouldn't run all the time. Shoot smart, shoot small. What this means is that you should shoot in short bursts. Be mindful that your camera is not running more than 15 seconds at a time; unless it's an interview.
The longer your video files, the harder it will be to export and review them. It could also be hard to find memorable bits when your footage is ten mins each. Remember that you do not need to shoot on a high-framerate or a high-resolution "just-to-be-sure."
It also helps to start shooting in your backyard. This practice means places that you know and are familiar with. Familiarity will help you figure out your process before you invest in an airline ticket.
Plan your shoot for a few minutes in your mind before you hit the red button on your camera.
2. Learn Your Camera First
This brings us to other essential paraments. Learn your camera. Please read about it, learn all the modes, and understand what each button does. This exercise will ensure that you can use your camera faster and make the most of your time on the field.
Here is a pro-tip: read the user manual of the camera. Those come in the camera box for a reason. Take the time to re-program the function-keys and the short-cut buttons of the camera. Avoid staring at the device too long to adjust settings.
If you understand your camera well, you can also attempt to take some stunning photos on the way and compose a simple montage of your trip. This edit is easy to make using a photo slideshow maker with music such as this one here.
3. Find a Story
An excellent way to narrow down your shooting process is to find a story before you shoot. If you are looking to create a montage, then you can shoot as you like. What makes a video more appealing to a viewer is a compelling story or a message.
Make sure all your footage is consistent and circles back to the same subject. This subject could be a place, a person, an event, or an experience. Map out a story in your mind, and you will automatically know what to shoot.
To succeed as a travel filmmaker, you must also take the time to research the place or the event before you get there. This study will help you get one step closer to a story. Film making is innately storytelling.
4. Clip, Then Edit
The first step to your edit is to make sure you export your files wisely. Do not drag your whole file dump into your editing software. Make them into suitable folders on your computer first. Keep these folders relevant to your story. Distribute them by date, events, types of shots, types of cameras, or experiences.
Once you do this, drag each file on the timeline and see what parts of these short-footages are ideal for your film. Take the time and clip these sections on your editor's timeline and place them one after another.
Once you have all the usable parts, it's about arranging them creatively to form a film. You will find clips that blend better together much more manageable by this process of breaking them down.
5. Use Music Creatively
Music is more than just a filler sound to mask the sounds of your camera. When used carefully, they can establish your videos' mood or help make a more dramatic impact.
The first thing to note is the background music. This tack should fit the emotional tone of the videos and complement the camera movements. One trick many travel-film makers use is editing the videos to the beat of the music. Picking the right soundtrack will make all the difference.
The other parameter to concede is sound-design. These are sound bites used to enhance the actions on screen. For example, adding sounds of the water flowing, or a car engine revving, etc. These audio queues will help draw focus to your footage's actions.
6. Watch More, Imitate Less
The best way to learn and improve your work is by looking at others' work --not with the international to copy them but to see what they do differently. Make a mental or physical note of the things that impress you about each video.
Pay close attention to factors like color gradings, transitions, story-lines, camera angles, music, and shooting style. By watching more videos, your mind will definitely spark a few more ideas.
7. Add People
Travel videography is not just about the places, but also about the people. Add people to your videos whenever possible. It makes the footage feel real and endearing to watch. If you take close-up shots of strangers, ask them before you do so.
The other person you must add to your videos is yourself --sprinkles little bits of your personality into your work. The only way to stand out from the clutter of online videos is to be yourself. That does not mean you add long-monotonous shots of you performing mundane tasks.
Interesting people can also be the focus of your travel films. "Under the Arctic Sky", the famous documentary by Chris Burkhard, was intended to be a sailboat captain's story. But as the journey went along, the film morphed into something bigger.
Final Thoughts,
If there are any parting tips to provide here, you must jump ahead of the hesitations and simply upload content. The more work you put out, the better you will get at this. Thes tips you just read are sufficient to start your journey.
One video at a time, you will find your voice and your audience.
