Have you ever taken a video during one of your travels and realized that some moments are better captured on videos than photos? After all, videos are more dynamic, and perhaps more attention-grabbing, than still images.
Videos allow you to hear the sound of waves crashing onto the shore or cars honking on busy streets, record yourself reacting or commenting on an exotic food you’ve tried, show your heart-stopping adventures like skydiving and bungee jumping, and a lot more! You can also compile your footages into one coherent video that captures the story of your epic adventures.
Whether it’s for your travel blog or for personal viewing (or sharing with family and friends), there are ways to make your travel video more interesting and exciting to watch, just like this jaw-dropping video below.
Wow Tapes: Philippines from WowTapes on Vimeo.
1. Use a 4K camera.
Cameras with 4K video recording capability are ideal for creating sharp, crisp videos. A versatile DSLR for filming your travels, the Canon 5D Mark IV shoots highly detailed Digital Cinema (DCI) standard 4K videos at up to 30 or 24 fps, thanks to its 30.4 megapixel full-frame, high-speed CMOS sensor and smooth autofocus.
If you’re looking for a cheaper alternative, consider the Mark IV’s elder brother, the Canon 5D Mark III with a 22.3 megapixel full-frame Canon CMOS sensor that delivers professional-level, stunning cinematic videos in EOS HD quality.
2. Find the perfect location.
Look for possible locations and make sure that the one you choose will help build up viewer excitement for your travel video. For example, when documenting your beach escapade, try to find the most captivating spot, like one with a white sand, crystal-clear water, or clear blue sky. Pay attention also to your background to avoid unappealing surroundings. Every single detail in the shot should represent the location well.
3. Always stabilize your shots.
Stability is important in video recording because wobbly or shaky videos can be hard to view. If you don’t have a tripod or monopod, use handheld shooting techniques to keep your footages stable.
4. Document moments you want to remember.
Shoot every fun and memorable moment in your travel. Will it be your first time to dive or swim with whale sharks? Do you want to be reminded of your romantic dinner by the beach with your new spouse? Record them on video! Don’t leave out anything you think is essential to your story.
5. Edit seamlessly.
Make sure you edit your video seamlessly so that viewers will easily grasp the travel story you’re trying to share even if it runs only for 2 to 5 minutes. Make consistent transitions that have something to do with videos or color correct your materials. Also, ensure that the video clips and the background music are in sync with each other.
6. Pick an amazing background music.
Sloppy tracks or slow-paced songs, when used in travel video, are a surefire way to bore your viewers. When editing your videos, choose a moderately upbeat song or any type of music that can excite viewers. It should make you remember exactly what you felt while you’re recording your travel videos.
7. Keep it short and sweet.
Your ultimate goal is to inspire your viewers to leave their homes and try the experiences you’ve featured in your travel video. It’s like a teaser of how amazing it is to travel to other places, encouraging people to get out of their comfort zone and take a break from their daily grind.
Lastly and most importantly, don’t forget to enjoy the whole process of creating your travel video!
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If I was traveling I would not be taking the 5D IV for video. Massive file sizes, limited wide angle with that crop, not made to be handheld with no EVF, and seriously oversized when there are way better options available.
I disagree with bringing such a big camera for travel and 4k is not necessary. My wife and I are travel filmmakers (YouTube @wanderworx) and we use a variety of smaller cameras to do big projects. Recently we’ve been using the A6300 and GoPro 5 to get some awesome footage. 4K is nice to have, but half the time we’re shooting in slow motion so the 120fps is amazing to have in such a small package. I’d add to this list 8. Make sure you get timelapses and slowmotion wherever you go. Always adds so much to a travel video!