Tips for recording great video footage while travelling*

Recording videos while travelling nowadays is a whole lot easier than it once was as most smartphones and digital cameras can record decent quality videos. However, if you want to record really great video footage that looks amazing, there are a few tips in particular that you should follow…

Increase the frame rate of the recording

In order to record the very best quality video footage while you’re travelling, you should increase the frame rate of the recording. By increasing the frame rate the videos that you record will look smoother, and any action within it will look a lot more fluid.

Seeing as travel videos are unpredictable and generally have lots of movement involved they stand to benefit greatly from a higher frame rate. If possible you should try to set your video camera to record at 60 frames per second.

Try to keep the camera steady and avoid shaking it

As much as possible you should always try to keep the camera steady and minimise the amount that it is shaken. That can be easier said than done when you’re travelling and at times it may be out of your control.

The best thing that you can do is to make sure you’re holding the camera firmly and close to your body. If you still have difficulty or if you feel you want to record videos while you’re walking around – try looking for a camera mount of some kind or use a gimble.

Mix up the types of shots that you record

Although you may not be able to plan your shots in advance because of how unpredictable things can be when you travel – try to mix up the types of shots that you record. When you go someplace new try to get a variety of wide shots at first, and then some medium or tight shots of specific subjects.

The more varied the video footage that you record, the more options that you’ll have when you edit and compile it later. At the end of the day there’s no such thing as unnecessary video footage – just good B-roll material that you may or may not use. If you don’t use it for the video of the trip that you’re doing, you can always use it in another video at a later date.

Keep your camera ready at all times

Get into the habit of keeping your camera ready at all times so that if you come across something interesting you can immediately start to record (I often make the mistake of putting the lens cap on and the camera away in my bag!). That is why it is a good idea have your camera dangling from a strap around your neck – as all you will need to do is lift it up and press the record button if you need to.

Being prepared to record videos could make a world of difference when you’re travelling as it will let you capture quick moments that would otherwise pass you by. Recording frequently can help as well, as the only thing better than being able to start recording quickly is to already be recording.

Each one of these tips should help you to truly record great video footage while you travel – and when you’re done with your trip you may even want to cut it together into a video. That is easier than ever nowadays, and all you really need is a user-friendly video editor. For example you could use Movavi Video Editor and follow the instructions on the Movavi website.

Make no mistake recording impressive videos while travelling can be challenging, and there will be factors outside of your control that affect some of the video footage that you record. However with the tips listed above you should be able to minimise their effect, and ensure that you’re able to record good footage regardless.