The sunshine is shining, the vaccines are working and vacation is calling. As we get deeper into 2021, it’s evident that a sense of normalcy is finally starting to show its familiar and welcomed head again. More places are opening back up to visitors and the common consensus among cabin-fevered people is “It’s vacation o’clock!”
So, as we flee our homes to undo a year and a half of social seclusion, it’s important that you make the most of your trip by capturing it with the best travel video ever!
Here’s some tips to make that perfect vacation video happen.
Forget the fancy schmancy camera
A nice DSLR camera will do wonders to make your vacation footage top notch, but you don’t have to break the bank to get great quality. The phone in your pocket is more than capable of capturing gorgeous footage. And with so many other functions available like time-lapse, slo-mo and numerous filters at your disposal, your videos are bound to look amazing.
Selfie stick for the win
Sure, if you get yourself a selfie stick, you’re going to risk looking like “that person.” Or “that tourist.” The truth is, who cares? A selfie stick is the perfect tool to help you capture those elusive selfie shots and videos, while encompassing more of that beautiful vacation background. Who needs a camera operator when you can do it all yourself with the little help of a holder on a stick?
Pick your hot spots
Nope. We’re not talking about Wi-Fi hotspots, although you’ll probably need those for posting your videos, if you don’t have great service where you’re traveling. Rather, we’re talking about vacation hot spots, you know, popular areas that will really make your footage dynamic: sprawling highlands lush with green waving grass, enormous caverns deeper than the eye can see, a white beach so pure that it’s like fresh fallen snow, winding rivers as blue as the sky above, mouth-watering food so good that simply looking at it can make your taste buds salivate. Make sure to pick your hot spots and capture them in all their glorious bliss!
Give it a soundtrack
There’s a reason movies have music. Imagery and music go hand in hand, which is why giving your vacation video the appropriate soundtrack is a must. If you’re on the beach, dabble in some Bob Marley, Beach Boys or Dirty Heads. If you’re on the river, try out something a little more folk like Caamp or Mumford and Sons. If you’re at the Grand Canyon, try out “Free Fallin’” by Tom Petty … on second thought, don’t do that. Read the room.
Lighting is key
When you watch your favorite shows and/or movies, what you don’t see is the crazy amount of detail that goes on behind the scenes to capture the on-screen moment just right. There are grips, light techs, focus pullers, directors, makeup artists, etc. Now, we’re not saying you need to go to that extreme for your vacation videos, but it’s important to know things like the golden hour – that perfect time right after dawn or just before dusk where the natural light of the sun looks like it was perfectly staged in a studio.
Digitize your old videos
Okay, so this one doesn’t apply to future vacations since that video footage is already digitally recorded. However, if you’ve got some vintage videotapes from past family vacations, now is the time to digitize them. It’s the only sure way to make sure that your past vacation memories stick with you moving forward. The good news is we can help!
