There are many different versions of a travel video, and it depends on which one you’re making, how you plan and film it. After all, travel videos could be a full hour-long travel documentary, with cultural and natural expositions, or they can be short social media videos that compile similar experiences, or a video diary on YouTube. There are so many ways you can make a travel video and you will need to plan for them in advance. But how? Don’t worry. Here are a few tips that can help you to plan and make a travel video that you can be proud of.
1. Set A Budget
One of the most important parts of your plans should be the budget. Not only do you need to know how much you’re going to need for the travel, but you also need to factor in how much you need to film the video, especially if you’re filming a full documentary. For the most part, short social media videos won’t need too many numbers, since they’re very quick and very short exposure videos. But for documentaries, you’ll need to arrange the cost of accommodation, transportation, insurance, equipment, and many other things that may seem insignificant, but are very important for the process.
So, set a realistic budget for your travel video, and bear in mind that if you’re travelling with others, you may need to include their costs into your budget. After all, planning for a trip is hard enough, for just one person, it’ll be even more difficult for a crew of people. That’s why you need to set a budget that can cover everything you need for your travel video.
2. Do Your Research
Research is vital for any factual based video. Regardless of what type of video you’re making, facts are what your audiences want, especially if it involves other cultures and countries. This will help you with what you say and do in your videos. After all, if you’re doing an exposé on a cultural tradition, in your video, you will want to explain the tradition correctly, especially if it’s not your culture. This will help you avoid insulting that country’s culture and saying the wrong thing in your video.
Not only that, but your research should help you with your budget, because if you do the right research, and if you ask the right people, you might be able to get things for a lower price or even for free. That’s why you need to do your research, make sure that what you’re going to say and do in your video is the right thing, and what you’re saying is fact, rather than rumour or fiction. It shouldn’t matter how long you need to do your research for, as long as the research is correct, it will help your travel video, no matter where you publish it.
3. Make A Story Out Of It
When you start filming your video, remember to make a story. All videos, no matter how abstract it is, are stories. Even those video lists you see on TikTok are stories. Stories are important for any video, because they’re what keeps your viewers interested. Even travel documentaries expose their destinations in a storytelling manner. So, when you make your own travel video, make a story out of it. It’ll help with how you expose the country or location you’re featuring.
Think about it this way, if you’re making a video about a country like Italy, there are so many aspects to it, if you create a video about the country, it may seem messy if you edit your video where you start with a region in the north, and then suddenly speak about a region in the south. Or you may start talking about its history, and then suddenly you’re talking about its current fashion industry. So, make your travel video a story.
4. Use Different And Moving Shots
Creating a good video requires different types of shots and angles, including moving shots. So, when you film your video, don’t just stick your camera in the corner, and watch the scene go by. Include moving shots, like panning or tilting shots, or even handheld shots. Walk with the camera and shoot the scene around you. Why? Because it makes your video even more interesting. It’ll give your audience a different perspective and may give them the opportunity to see what it would be like to be where you are. It’ll inspire them to want to go!
Although travel videos are a different calibre to fictional videos, the necessity for interesting shots and visuals are the same. That means, you will need varied and interesting shots and angles. Include high angle shots, low angle shots, and even drone shots into your video, so that you can show the different aspects of the place you’re featuring. It’ll give your audience a sense of wonder and awe and will encourage them to find out more.
5. Learn From Example
Of course, there are many travel videos out there on the Internet, on TV and even in movie theatres. From those big travel documentaries, to travel vlogs on YouTube, and even video diaries on TikTok and Instagram. There are so many out there, you can learn from them, whether it’s by going to the same destinations, or using the same filming and editing technique, you can learn a lot. And even if you think that your video might be just one in a million, none will be like yours. After all, you may experience things that those previous videos don’t have.
There may have been developments that were missing in those videos, so don’t write yours off yet. The world is ever-changing, and travel videos document that change, including yours. So, watch other travel videos, gain inspiration from them, and in your own way, do what they do. Just don’t forget to keep on trend, because like with any form of media and technology, there will always be a trend. So, remember to keep on top of it, and you’re guaranteed to have a video that’s watched by thousands of people, if not millions!
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