Travel videos take viewers on a journey and often inspire them to take a vacation. A well-shot travel video can generate a feeling of wanderlust for the viewer. Although there are many travel videos online, only a few of them are eye-catchy. Follow these tips to create a viral travel video to avoid making simple mistakes.
1. Pick an obscure destination – The content of your travel video will mostly depend on the location. It is difficult to create unique content on popular tourist destinations. This is because you will find many travel videos online with similar footage. Instead, you can create an eye-catching travel video by choosing the right location. Do proper research online and find hidden gems to make your video unique. Viewers also tend to show interest in watching travel videos of new places as it is an exciting experience. Also Read video digital asset management system.
2. Avoid tourist rush – Every spot has its own tourist season where all the popular places will be jam-packed. Trying to get decent footage with a crowd around you is going to be a strenuous job. Connect with local guides to find the best time to visit to avoid this situation. Try to visit the destination when it is not too crowded so that you can get amazing shots. Even in tourist season, a simple trick to get the perfect footage is to beat the crowds. Plan your shoot so that you reach the location right before it opens.
3. Check the weather – A successful outdoor shoot depends on the weather conditions on that day. Before you start, check the local weather reports for the duration of your stay. It would be a disaster if the shoot location had unexpected weather like rain, snow, or smog. Poor visibility makes for bad footage that cannot be used for the final cut. Videos with bad footage look unprofessional and do not get enough views. Bright, vibrant footage will make your travel video look exciting. So look for sunny skies before you start off for your destination.
4. Have a storyline – Tell an interesting story through your travel video. Don’t make a video with random footage that you shot at the location. Instead, take the viewers on a journey with you to make them experience the place with you. Keep a conversation flowing with your footage to keep the viewers engaged. A great way to do this is to shoot footage with many cameras. This will allow you to get a live-action effect in the footage. Viewers will feel more connected to you and will remain engaged throughout the video.
5. Add a local touch – Avoid focussing your shoot on the popular spots in the area. Instead, take your viewers on a trip and show them the local culture. Shoot footage of the neighborhood, the local eating joints and shopping areas. Include locals in your video for an authentic experience. Give your viewers a small peek into the local culture, customs, and homes. Bonding with the local community will help you to understand their heritage better. Depending on your content, you can also add footage of the popular tourist spots in the area.
6. Engage locals as tour guides – It is a well-known fact that the locals are the best tour guides in any place. They can lead you to a favorite local spot that has remained hidden from tourists. You can also get interesting tidbits and local lore from them. This local infusion will make your content appealing to the viewers. Before starting on your trip, establish a good rapport with the local guides and hotel staff.
7. Take the right equipment – When you want to make an eye-catchy travel video, you have to use the right equipment. Choosing the right equipment for the shoot depends upon a lot of factors, including
a. The local weather conditions at the location of the shoot. Fog, rain, and snow might spoil the camera and/or lens. As camera equipment is expensive, it is important to safeguard them from damage.
b. If you are shooting near water/underwater, you need waterproof equipment.
c. Setting up equipment on rough/rocky terrain is difficult. Using a handheld camera is easier in such situations. Plan your shoot and include more camera crew in your team if required.
d. If your shoot location is remote and requires walking/climbing, reassess your equipment. Carrying too much equipment will take the fun out of the shoot.
8. Experiment with angles – Using the same camera angle for all your shots makes the video boring. To make an eye-catching video, shoot your footage from different angles. This will help to create an interesting perspective of the location for your viewers. This trick works well if you are shooting your content at a popular tourist destination. Carry different types of lenses to shoot your footage from different angles.
9. Use the right video editor – Editing the raw footage is a delicate task for every creator. Most video creators opt to use an online video editor as it saves them the hassle of downloading it. Using the right shots is crucial as your video needs to reach the intended audience. A well-edited video looks professional and reaches the intended audience faster. Poor editing will make even the best footage look messy and juvenile. There are many video editors that you can use for editing. Choose the right video editor by comparing the different features each one offers.
10. Select the right music – After you finish editing your video, don’t be in a rush to add music. Many video creators make the mistake of adding a random, popular track for their video. In most cases, the music does not match the content. As a result, such videos remain unnoticed and do not reach a wider audience. Having the right background music for your travel video is critical to its success. The music track that you select for your video should reflect the emotions you want to convey. If you want your viewers to relax, add soothing music that relates to your footage. But if you want your viewers to feel an adrenaline rush, then you should add fast-paced music. The right background score for your video will make it viral faster.
11. Use special effects – Adding special effects to your travel video will make it snazzy—effects like slo-mo help you to get the viewers to focus on a particular part of the video. Changing the pace of the video at appropriate places will make it eye-catchy. You can also add cinematic sound/visual effects to your footage while editing it. This will also help you to capture the viewer’s attention and keep them engaged.
