It has never been easier to make a travel video today. Anyone can share their adventures with a simple smartphone camera. In this article, we share 15 practical travel vlogging tips for beginners.
The tips and tricks below can be applied by anyone regardless of technical know-how or level of experience. Learn how to make the filming more enjoyable and hassle-free, while improving the quality of your content. We hope you enjoy!
If you want more travel vlogging tips and info, or learn about vlogging in general, check out our other articles as well:
- How to Start a Vlog in 2020: The Ultimate Guide
- Top 8 Cameras For Travel Vlogging
- 101 Creative Vlog Ideas for Youtube
Best Vlogging Tips
1. Start With What You Have
The first vlogging tip might also be the most important. And is primarily targeted at people thinking about getting into travel vlogging.
With the power and quality offered by a simple smartphone camera today, there are really no excuses not to get started right away. If you wait to get the best camera, drone, or that exciting new piece of gear, you risk not getting started at all. Instead, use the gear you have available.
Through proper planning, set up, and editing, you can do a lot with very little. Even though you might not be able to capture a drone shot or underwater footage, it will be the human element people return to your content for.
As you progress, you will want to upgrade and add gear to your toolkit. But do not let the gear itself hinder you from getting started today.
2. Audio is as important as video (If Not More)
While viewers might forgive mediocre video quality, bad audio can make a video unwatchable. Capturing good sound for your video can be hard, especially when you what to capture unique moments while traveling. Take the time to think and plan how to capture audio for your vlogs.
Ideally, you will want to use an external microphone for recording. But there are steps you can take to make the best of the smartphone or camera mic you already have; Like avoiding windy locations, using a microphone muffler, and speak close to the camera.
3. Use Video Stabilization
When it comes to travel vlogging, there is nothing more annoying than shaky video. Today, most cameras have some video stabilization features. You can even find it on most smartphones as well. Quality will vary greatly, and built-in stabilization will only get you so far. Overall, make sure to plan out our shots in advance with proper positioning and gear.
4. Find the Story
While it can be nice to showcase amazing locations, travel vlogging is about telling a story. A video featuring amazing drone shots and beautiful scenery but with no narrative will be pretty boring to watch.
Have a narrative or story in mind as you shoot videos. This will help you understand what it is you need show, and what you can do without. In the end, you will end up creating a more interesting and engaging video for your viewers.
5. Use First-Person Shots
Make use of first-person shots in your videos. First-person shots can help bring the viewer along for the ride and feel they are part of this experience. This type of shot is also ideal when you don’t have time to set up a scene or you are moving, like when boarding an airplane or biking.
6. Use Establishing Shots
Always try to capture wide, establishing shots for the location you are visiting. Some do this with drone footage while others with a simple tripod.
7. Include the Locals
If you are able to, try to include the locals in your videos. Interview and interact with them, and ask for permission to include them in the vlog. They can bring a new perspective and personality to your vlog while helping people learn about another culture or way of life.
8. Center Your Content Around Activity (Not Just Location)
A good travel vlog is not just about the location. The location is just the setting around an activity or story. The story is what your video is really going to be about. As we mentioned in the previous tip, focus on a narrative behind the video. In each place you visit, try to center the narrative around an activity; This could for example be exploration, a guided tour or people.
9. Use Timelapses
Timelapses can be an amazing way to establish a location in a video or capture a beautiful sunrise or sundown. A timelapse is not that difficult to do but will require at least a smartphone camera and a proper tripod.
To create a beautiful timelapse, it is important that you choose a background with one element that changes or moves. This could for example be clouds, car traffic, or pedestrians.
10. Use a Sun Chaser App
In travel vlogging, you will have to work a lot with natural lighting. To capture good-looking video, it is essential to know the weather and the sun’s movements. Use a sun chaser app to find the best times and locations to get amazing lighting for your videos.
11. Schedule Enough Time at Each Location
When you are out traveling, it can be tempting to try to film as many locations and activities as possible. But if you are on a very hectic schedule, you risk not really capturing the moment in the vlog.
Make sure to schedule enough time at each location, and also have good margins, as problems and unexpected events can arise. By prioritizing quality over quantity, you will create better and more entertaining travel videos for your audience.
12. Have Extra B-roll
B-roll is incredibly useful when editing. Always make sure to capture some extra shots and close-ups, as you never know what you could use it for when editing. Only record B-roll when you are done shooting the primary footage of the video and have some extra time on your hands.
13. Find Great Music
Music can make a big difference. Because of copyright laws, you can’t just use any song. Luckily, you don’t have to look far to find good royalty-free stock music. You could use YouTube’s free Audio Library or look into paid alternatives like AudioJungle or PremiumBeat.
14. Master Editing
A good video editor makes the most of the footage and can help really capture the story in the vlog. Learn the editing techniques and tricks the pros use. By becoming a better editor, you can improve the production value of your videos.
15. Learn From Others
The best way to get new ideas and advance as a vlogger and storyteller is to watch other channels and videos. There is a lot you can learn from the pros, anything from editing, camera angles to storytelling.
If you are new to travel vlogging, checking out other channels can be incredibly beneficial for your journey. While you should never copy someone’s ideas, gaining inspiration from them can help you along the way.
In Conclusion
We hope you found these travel vlogging tips helpful. By applying and practicing what we showed you above, you will become a better travel vlogger. Below is a quick summary of the list:
15 Travel Vlogging Tips Summary:
- Start With What You Have
- Audio is as important as video (If Not More)
- Use Video Stabilization
- Find the Story
- Use First-Person Shots
- Use Establishing Shots
- Include the Locals
- Center Your Content Around Activity (Not Just Location)
- Use Timelapses
- Use a Sun Chaser App
- Schedule Enough Time at Each Location
- Have Extra B-roll
- Find Great Music
- Master Editing
- Learn From Others
