The Most Surprising Video Tips I Learned On A Recent Trip

I’ve been a travel video blogger for years now, and there’s something about a trip that always makes me want to get back into my camera bag.

I was recently invited to attend an event in San Francisco where I got the chance to chat with some fellow travel bloggers, and we all agreed that the best way to learn is through meeting other people who have similar interests.

After this trip, I realized there were some incredibly interesting things travel bloggers do behind the scenes that you might not know about!

So here are 10 surprising tips from travel bloggers on what they learned while on recent trips.

SURPRISING Travel Tips **You Need to Know Now! – YouTube

Takeaways
1. Unexpected techniques can lead to captivating video content.
2. Learning from real-life experiences can inspire creative scripts.
3. Embrace spontaneity and go beyond traditional video norms.
4. Incorporate personal anecdotes for a more relatable narrative.
5. Leverage the power of surprise to keep viewers engaged.

Table of Contents

1. Get Out And Shoot Every Day

I couldn’t put my finger on what I was missing, but I knew that something felt off. Then it hit me: I wasn’t shooting enough.

I’ve been traveling for four months now, and only once did I shoot daily. During this time, most of the video content on my channel has come from one-off projects like reviews or experiments in new formats (like this travel vlog).

But the kind of videos that drive traffic and engagement the ones that get people coming back for more are those that are created regularly and consistently.

So here’s your first tip: Get out there and shoot every day! Even if all you do is grab some B-roll footage of your surroundings as you explore a new town or city, do it every day! It might feel like a waste of time at first.

But trust me when I say that over time these little snippets will add up to become a big part of your portfolio. And who knows? Maybe they’ll even lead to something bigger than anything else you could imagine!

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2. Film In 4k If You Have The Right Equipment And Know How To Edit It Properly. (4k Is A Much Higher Resolution Than 1080p HD.)

Shooting in 4K isn’t necessarily a better option, but it requires a different set of expertise. To shoot in 4K, you will need to have a camera that can output the quality of footage or hire someone who does.

If you don’t have an extreme amount of skill and experience, your editing will suffer greatly unless you are working with someone who does.

Even if you do have the equipment and know-how for shooting at this higher resolution (which is four times as high as 1080p HD), your computer may not be able to handle all that data.

You will likely need to upgrade some parts or purchase more storage space for editing on such large files to be feasible (and if possible).

If all this sounds like too much work and expense, then don’t worry just stick with 1080p!

3. Get A Tripod With A Fluid Head, One That Can Do Pan And Tilts Smoothly

When you’re shooting video, it’s important to have a tripod that can move your camera smoothly. A fluid head is a type of tripod that allows you to move the camera up, down, left, and right smoothly.

A fluid head is often used in conjunction with a pan/tilt head because they work together to allow for smoother movements than if you were using one or the other alone.

Fluid heads are also known as “fluid heads” because they use special fluids inside their mechanisms that help make sure that when you turn the knob on your tripod it turns smoothly without any jerks or bumps along the way (and without burning out any gears).

If you plan to shoot videos regularly I recommend getting a fluid head tripod it will make your life easier! You can use this same setup for both still photography and video recording by simply switching out different cameras:

For example, if I want to take some shots with my DSLR then I just place it into position on top of my existing setup (with no need for any extra equipment).

I got mine from Amazon but there are many other places where these types of tripods are sold at reasonable prices (and even cheaper ones too!).

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4. Get A Lens With A Wide Aperture, Like F/1.8. (The Lower The Number, The Wider The Aperture Can Open, Allowing More Light Into The Camera)

Shoot in bright light conditions whenever possible. When you have more light entering through your camera lens, it results in better image and video quality.

Use external lights when you’re shooting indoors or at night to increase your chances of getting good footage regardless of how much natural light is available at that time and place.

5. Use Shutter Speed To Control Your Exposure, Not Aperture Or ISO

The shutter speed of your camera controls how much light enters the camera and affects exposure. It is measured in seconds or fractions of a second, such as 1/2 or 1/4.

You can adjust your shutter speed to control how much light comes into the camera by setting it slower or faster than normal depending on what you are trying to achieve.

If you want to capture more detail in an image, set your shutter speed slower so that more light hits each sensor pixel in your image sensor (this will give you more detail).

If you want less motion blurriness and better-looking photos with fewer artifacts like ghosting and trails with moving subjects, then set your shutter speed faster so that less light hits each sensor pixel (which also reduces motion blurriness).

6. Try To Get Great Audio With An External Recording Device And Microphone Before Trying To Clean Up Bad Audio In Post Production

If you want to make sure your video is both visually and audibly appealing, you must take the time to get good audio.

You can do this by using a microphone that is external to your camera (such as a Rode VideoMic Pro) or by using an external recorder like the Zoom H6 Handy Recorder. If you’re using a DSLR camera or camcorder, try using an audio mixer (like this one from Roland).

If you’re recording sound on set with your phone or digital camera, consider adding more equipment such as:

A windscreen for your microphone (this will help prevent unwanted noise from wind)
A boom pole if you’re outside where there’s lots of background noise around
A stand if you need more stability when filming in one place for too long

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7. Credit Everyone Who Helped You Create Your Videos, Even If They Were Only On Set For 10 Minutes

To be completely transparent, I’ve been kind of a stickler about this on set. During my trip, our executive producer brought up a good point: If someone helps you with your video in any way, make sure you give them credit.

They might have done something small like passing you a bottle of water or helping you get into makeup but even if they were only involved for 10 minutes, still thank them!

This is how it works in Hollywood. If anyone does anything for your project behind the scenes, give them credit for their work.

Even if they don’t work directly with the camera and aren’t included in the film credits at the end of the video (that’s usually reserved for actors), making sure everyone gets credit is important both ethically and legally.

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8. Use Video Editing Software Other Than Final Cut Pro Or Imovie Whenever Possible To Increase Your Flexibility And Efficiency When Working On Projects You’re Receiving For Free Or Low Pay At First (Like Music Videos, Weddings, Or Short Films)

Editing a video is a complicated process, and it can be difficult to master all aspects of it. However, there are some basic things you should learn that will make your life easier when editing your videos.

I’ve been an editor for over ten years and have tried dozens of different software programs during that time. In my opinion (and the opinion of many others), Adobe Premiere Pro is the best program for professional filmmakers to use on their Macs or PCs.

It’s powerful enough for even experienced editors to be able to do anything they need, but it also has a lot of helpful features for beginners like myself who might want more assistance than iMovie provides but aren’t ready yet for Final Cut Pro X ($300).

9. Know When It’s Appropriate To Use Lower Third Titles In A Video And How To Design Them Properly. (Lower Third Titles Appear Near The Bottom Of The Screen In Most Videos.)

Make sure that you’re using lower-third titles sparingly because they can be difficult for viewers to read and are generally less effective than other types of on-screen text.

Consider using an online tool like iMovie to create your own lower thirds or hire someone who specializes in this type of design work.

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Conclusion

I hope these tips give you some ideas for creating videos you’re proud of. If you’d like more information about video production, check out my blog at videonews.com or contact me at tim@videonews.com.

FAQs

What are some essential tips for making better travel videos?

To improve your travel videos, focus on storytelling, capturing authentic moments, and using proper video editing techniques.

How can I find unique ideas for my travel videos?

Explore lesser-known locations, showcase local culture, and experiment with different filming styles to come up with unique and engaging ideas.

How can I make my travel videos look more professional?

Pay attention to lighting, composition, and camera stability. Also, invest time in post-production editing and color grading.

What equipment do I need to shoot high-quality travel videos?

A good quality camera, tripod, external microphone, and a versatile lens are essential for shooting impressive travel videos.

How can I effectively edit my travel videos?

Organize your footage, trim unnecessary clips, add transitions, and use background music to enhance the storytelling and flow of your video.

Costantine Edward

Costantine Edward is a digital marketing expert, freelance writer, and entrepreneur who helps people attain financial freedom. I’ve been working in marketing since I was 18 years old and have managed to build a successful career doing what I love.