Travel Video Tips

When traveling, it is exciting to make discoveries both of the ordinary and the extraordinary. When we get back home, we are full of energy and eager to share all we have seen, heard and done. However, sometimes the travel video about which that we are so passionate is not quite so exciting for our audience who doesn't share the memories or experience of being there. These tips and ideas are designed to help you make your next vacation video riveting not only for you-but for all your family members and friends who weren't able to come along.

I have divided the tips into 3 categories: preparation, shooting and editing.

Preparation
1. Know your camera charger/Pack Extra Batteries.
If you are traveling abroad and your camera has a rechargeable battery, get a travel plug adapter. Most chargers will accept varying input voltages. Mine works with anything between 100 volts and 240 volts. So it has worked in Japan, the Philippines and Namibia which all have different voltage inputs. If your camera uses disposable batteries, pack more than you think you will need because they can be hard to find or prohibitively expensive.

2. Have enough memory
Running out of memory is devastating, so plan ahead. If you are bringing along your laptop, a camera such as the Flip Mino with a USB plug is an excellent solution. This video camera has the plus of being super small. It's small as a deck of cards and holds from 1-2 hours of video depending on the model. Prices are from $149-$229. If you won't be bringing a laptop along, buy extra memory cards to take with you.

3. Have your camera handy and secure
Although it might be safe from pick pockets, your camera is useless by the time, you get it out of the bottom of your backpack, that blood red sunset has disappeared. An interesting solution to keep your camera secure yet within easy reach is the Grabbit Pack. The pack fastens around your waist and one thigh. It will easily hold your camera, wallet, cellphone, passport, keys and more. A Grabbit Pack costs approximately $30 including shipping and handling. As an added precaution, when filming keep the strap wrapped around your wrist.

Travel Video Shooting Tips & Ideas
1. Explore the Angles
Location, location, location. It doesn't only sell houses and donuts. Look for scenes, people, actions that are worth filming. Then consider your own position. Try to find a unique view to it. Climb the hill. Crouch down. Point your camera down, up, sideways...explore the possibilities.

2. Focus on the Action
In video, action or movement becomes the focal point. Sometimes that movement in the background can take over and distract the viewer (unpleasantly). If you find that to be the case, try to change your view or zoom in and eliminate the movements from the frame. Sometimes that distracting background movement is actually more interesting than what you originally planned to film. So grab the chance and switch your focus.

3. Spot the Details
Look for the beauty in details. Is the kimono in the window or on the girl striking? Bold colors and intricate designs! The typical shot showing the entire outfit will still show nicely, but it won't impress your viewers who weren't there with you. To truly appreciate it, they need to see the color, the intricacy, the details... So get permission from the girl first and then start filming. Although zooming in or out can give your viewers an idea of scale and the big picture, don't overdo it. Watching the camera zoom in and out can have a dizzying effect as well as get repetitious. Instead of zooming, try filming close up and far away scenes separately.

4. Capture the Sounds
Sounds can greatly add to or distract from your video so pay attention to them. Often in a noisy or crowded location, they will become distorted and sound quite different from what you hear. Of course, sounds can be edited out, but you can also edit them in. So if you hear the monks chanting in low tones or water dripping on a rock, you may want to push record even if there is nothing exciting to film.

5. Know where you have been
Take note of where you are, the date, who you meet along the way. This can easily be done in a notebook or better yet on your cell phone. You can also film sign posts. Although later on, you still might not be sure of where it was if the signs are in a language you can't read such Chinese, Japanese or Korean.

Editing
1. Keep it short and simple.
This can be a painful process because you probably have many hours of wonderful video footage to share. Unfortunately, if you want your family and friends to watch it until the end, you will need to make it a whole lot shorter. When deciding which footage to keep, think about the highlights of your trip. Show snippets of these main events and experiences that you want to share. Keep the transitions simple and as seamless as possible. Although there are many dramatic and impressive transition techniques, they can detract from the flow of the video. If you are really have trouble making it short, consider creating several short videos.

2. Use a variety of sounds
At some points, it might be appropriate to play some local music. At other times, you wish to keep the original sound. You may also want to add special sounds collected during the journey. The key is everything in moderation.

3. Don't talk too much
It's tempting to talk and over explain everything so focus on keeping it simple. Let your audience, ask you questions later. If you explain it all in the video, they will ask you again anyway because they won't be able to remember what you said. Make what you do have to say important, meaningful and memorable.

By following these tips on being prepared, shooting and editing your travel video, you can create your own engaging vacation video. They will be asking you when your next travel video will be out instead getting up to use the restroom, grab a coffee or a sandwich.

Sources:
Flip Mino. < http://www.theflip.com/en-us/Products/mino.aspx#/meet-mino> Accessed on October 18, 2009.
Grabbit Pack. http://www.grabitpack.com/product.htm> Accessed on October 18, 2009.