Filming your travels is the best way to capture the memories made during your journey. If you want to start filming like a pro, head over to this affordable corporate video production house for useful tips on videography. Whether it’s for an audience or yourself, a well-made travel video is one that you’ll want to watch over and over again. With shots that look like they came out of a movie, some travel videos just simply make you want to pack up and go. To bring out the wanderlust in everyone, here’s our guide on how you can film your travel videos!  

1. Shoot With A Goal In Mind 

Planning is key in everything. Before you start filming, you should have a big picture in mind. What are you trying to do with your travel video? Is it to tell a story? Or are you trying to evoke a feeling? 

Once you have a goal in mind, you can start fleshing things out. Starting from what you’d like to capture in your travels, think about how you want to sequence your video. For example, if you’re planning to film a hike in the mountains, you can start filming from the hiking preparation to the hike itself and end off with the view from the summit. 

This process is also known as storyboarding and it acts as a visual guideline for your video shoot. Depending on your needs, it can be a rough outline or one that’s meticulously planned out to the smallest detail. 

With a bigger goal in mind, you get to save time and enjoy your travels instead of worrying about what you want to capture. 

2. Expect The Unexpected 

Not everything will turn out the way you intended and with travel shoots, there will definitely be a few surprises. Expect the unexpected and when things go off tangent, think about how you can adapt to them. It could even add value to your videos, with candid moments that give your videos a unique and authentic edge. 

3. Know Your Filming Gear 

To make the most of your equipment, you need to know them well. Whether it’s your phone, camera or mic, understanding how they work will save you plenty of time and trouble. Of course, this cannot be done without practice. 

Before you embark on your travels, practice with the gear you have! Test them out in different settings to see how they perform and learn how you can manually adjust the controls. To get the best shots in different lighting, learn to adjust your camera’s shutter speed or aperture. 

4. Lighting Is Important 

Lighting makes or breaks your videos. The intensity and quality of the light can dramatically change how your videos look and feel. It’s also important to understand that different settings work differently with different lighting. Some places might look much better at night and some must be filmed in daylight. 

However, the most versatile lighting would still be the golden hour. This happens when the sun is about to set and the light is warm and golden. It’s flattering for most subjects and places so a golden hour is usually a safe bet!

5. Film With Intention 

Instead of shooting continuously, film in short single shots. 

If you’re walking and recording everything continuously, the footage can look shaky and amateur. To level up your videography, break it up into single shots. This means that in the same location, you’re not filming everything in one long take but in separate, purposeful shots. 

This forces you to make the most of the space and look for the best shots, which will be more visually interesting. The footage will look a lot more professional and it saves you a good chunk of time when you’re editing your videos. 

6. Experiment With Different Shots 

If your video is always shot in the same way, it can end up looking flat and boring. To jazz it up, think of different angles and shots.

A wide angle shot helps to give the place a grand scale. 

A close up shot makes the subject look bigger and builds a stronger connection with the audience.

A candid shot gives the video an authentic feel. 

These are just a few examples but there will be abundant opportunities to experiment with different shots on your travels. Make the most of them! 

8. Don’t Skip On Sound

Videos are painfully awkward without sound. Sounds immerse your audience and help to set the mood for your videos. If you plan to post your video on platforms like TikTok, consider using a trending sound to attract wider audiences. 

Including snippets of conversation and sound bites also help contextualise your videos, giving it a smoother flow. Matching different settings to appropriate sounds can also help sell the scene! 

9. Edit With A Goal In Mind 

Video editing is a long process and mirroring the very first point, it’s also another process that requires planning. You’ll have to arrange your clips in a way that feels cohesive, with a logical flow. 

This is also where your storyboard comes into the picture. Using your storyboard as a reference, start compiling the different clips in your intended sequence. With practice, you should be able to pick out scenes that connect and complement each other. The different scenes should build upon each other to guide the viewers along your main story. 

10. Don’t Forget To Have Fun!

Ultimately, filming your travels is meant to be a fun experience. While you’re capturing these special moments, don’t forget to live in them!