Whenever you go on vacation, you take lots of videos on your camera or cell phone, right? Don’t wait to look at them for two years when you are trying to free up space on your camera roll. Make something with them! Share with everyone. Let’s go one step further and make a compilation of your best travel clips. Something fun and interesting, watch-worthy travel videos that your followers will watch and share.
Know Your Shots
A random video clip of “Bob” on a backpacking trip is not a shot. “Bob hikes down the trail” is a shot. And that shot is interesting for about 5 seconds unless Bob falls off a cliff. So once you’ve got the action covered, be done.
A good video is lots of these shots. Get the good 5 second clip at least a dozen times. Bob laces up his hiking boots, Bob opens up the map, Bob trips over a rock, Bob stops to take a drink, Bob at the top of the mountain. Now you are not only getting interesting shots, you are telling a story of aspiration, perspiration, and achievement.
Focus on People over Scenery
The Grand Canyon has been filmed countless times. The novelty of your vacation video is your family mugging for the camera with the Canyon in the background. Capture that.
Designate one camera as the main camera and pass it around to everyone. The whole family was on the trip, so make sure everyone is in the video. Have Bob film on the way up, and Carol film on the way down.
A great tip for kids and pets, shoot at their eye level. You will be amazed at how different (and gorgeous) the world looks when you aren’t looking down at the little ones, but looking up and out at the scenery from their vantage point.
Find the Story
Instead of random shots of the family posing on a boat, find the story of everyone getting together and taking your parents on a cruise. Have your camera ready when you surprise them with the tickets. Interview your brother, who hates cruises but is coming anyway, armed with Dramamine and wrist-bands because he loves his parents. Capture your dad tearing up as he gives a speech to the group at your first big dinner on board
What’s different about your vacation? Is it the family’s first time out of the country? Your daughter’s first plane flight? The Disney vacation you’ve been saving up for for 5 years? Think before you shoot. Tell that story.
Choose Candid Over Posed
Video is incredibly powerful when it gives the viewer a window into real-life moments of your companions being themselves – it makes your video unique. So, instead of having your family pose near famous landmarks, get shots of them bickering about what train to take, or catching their breath after one of San Francisco’s famous hills.
In a video of your Disneyland trip, forget the clip of your daughter posing next to Cinderella, choose the clip of her squirming with excitement while waiting in line to meet Cinderella.
Showing the small details tells more of a story.
Shoot Sparingly
When you’re in a new place and taking in fresh experiences, it’s tempting to document everything you see. But, once you get to editing, cutting down too much footage can become a headache. Keep your final video in mind as you’re shooting, and be selective. This will give you much less video to go through when editing, and make finding your best shots easier.
The Magic is in the Details
Sometimes little things like an ice cream cone melting in the sun can bring back the strongest, most relatable memories. Capture the little things and give them some screen time.
And if you’re having a blast on your vacation, try to convey that happy energy. Remember to let someone take a few shots of you – it’s your vacation, too!
Credit: This post was written using advice from great articles by Steve Stockman and Katie Armstrong.