Travel Vlogging: Capturing Authentic Adventures, Sharing Unique Stories

Travel vlogging is a fun and immersive way to document your experiences and adventures. It allows you to share your journeys with viewers, showcase your personality, and connect with your audience. While it may seem glamorous to travel to exotic destinations and make a living from it, becoming a successful travel vlogger requires hard work and dedication. Here are some essential tips to help you become a good travel vlogger:

- Find your niche: Determine your unique angle or specialty. This could be related to your travel style, interests, or a specific destination. For example, you might focus on budget travel, hiking trails, food destinations, or cultural explorations.

- Choose the right equipment: Invest in a good camera, such as a lightweight camera with image stabilization, a flexible tripod, and an external microphone. Consider the type of equipment you need based on your niche and story.

- Plan and research: Before filming, plan your content and research the places you will be visiting. This will help you provide insights and reduce quiet time in your videos.

- Focus on captivating content: Create content that highlights your passions and interests, such as food, culture, or activities. Keep your videos engaging by focusing on specific locations or activities rather than including all the material from your trip in one video.

- Include yourself in the vlog: People will not only watch your video for the location but also for your personality. Use a selfie stick to record yourself while walking around, and consider giving a live intro to the location or sharing your observations.

- Interact with locals: Engage with the people you meet and include them in your vlog. Ask for their recommendations or interview them about their experiences. Just remember to always get their permission before recording.

- Edit your videos: Use video editing software to compile your content and create a seamless vlog. Focus on including the best parts, and consider adding music and a video intro to make your videos more engaging.

- Promote your content: Share your videos on social media and relevant communities. Embed them on your blog or website, and collaborate with other bloggers or vloggers in your niche.

- Be consistent: Create a schedule for uploading videos and stick to it. Consistency will help you retain followers and build a loyal audience.

- Be mindful of your public image: Remember that you become a public figure when you start travel vlogging. Be cautious about what you say and do to avoid making insensitive statements or jokes that could cause you to lose followers.

Choose a niche: be it budget travel, hiking, food, etc

Choosing a niche is an important step in setting up your travel vlog. It is what will make you stand out and gain a loyal following. The best travel vloggers don’t just make random videos of their travels, they have a unique angle that everything revolves around.

To define your niche, start by looking at your travel style and interests. Do you like to backpack? You could make videos about budget travel or hiking trails. Do you have a favourite destination? Your videos can focus on that one spot. Do you enjoy wine? Your travel vlog niche could be about wine destinations.

The best travel channels cover their niche from assorted angles. For example, an adventure vlogger might share travel tips or talk about solo travel, but it will still be an adventure vlog. The point is that all your content should align with your niche. Everything should be harmonious.

If you are unsure what to focus on, start by researching what others in the field are doing to get inspired. You can also begin by filming and publishing a few different ideas. Take note of what your audience seems to like and what you enjoy doing, then lean into that.

It’s ok if what you like is outside the box. Many people have built empires around non-traditional topics or interests. For example, Jason Rupp has almost half a million subscribers on YouTube posting videos of himself getting barbered and pampered around the world. People make a sustainable living on YouTube by posting hour-long videos of fishing. So, use this to your benefit.

Get the right equipment: a lightweight camera, tripod, and microphone are essential

When it comes to travel vlogging, having the right equipment is essential. While you'll need to capture quality footage, it's impractical to carry around a heavy bag full of gear. So, what are the essentials for travel vloggers?

A lightweight camera is a must. You can opt for a dedicated camera like the Sony ZV-1, Canon G7X Mark II, or Sony Cybershot, or simply use your smartphone if it has a good camera. Modern phones are almost as powerful as most semi-professional cameras, so as long as your phone has good stabilisation and image quality, it can be a great choice. If you plan to record a lot in low-light conditions, consider investing in a mirrorless camera, as the larger sensor improves footage quality in the dark.

A tripod is another essential item, and for travel vlogging, size and flexibility are key. The Gorillapod is a popular option as it's small, flexible, and easy to use. It can be transformed and set up on any kind of surface, no matter how irregular. If you're looking for something even lighter, the Manfrotto PIXI EVO 2 is a good choice, though it's not as versatile.

While some built-in microphones are now quite good, an external microphone can improve your audio quality. Lavalier microphones are small, inconspicuous, and can be clipped to your clothes. If you opt for a shotgun mic, you'll need a hot shoe to mount it on your camera or smartphone. A windshield for your microphone is also a good idea, especially if you plan to film outdoors, as it will help reduce wind noise.

With the right equipment, you'll be well on your way to becoming a successful travel vlogger!

Prepare for filming: do your research, plan your shots, and interact with locals

Before you start filming, it's important to do your research and plan your shots. This will help ensure that you have the best possible content for your vlog. Here are some tips to help you prepare for filming:

• Do your research: Familiarize yourself with the places you will be filming. This will help you provide insights and reduce quiet time during your videos. Researching beforehand will also help you avoid making mistakes that could be costly or dangerous.
• Plan your shots: Think about the type of shots you want to get and the story you want to tell. Try to get a variety of shots, including landscape shots, shots of yourself, and shots of the people and things around you. Plan out the rough flow of your video and the footage you want to capture.
• Interact with locals: Engage with the people you meet and include them in your vlog. You can interview them by asking for their recommendations or sharing their stories. Just make sure to get their permission before recording them.

In addition to the above, it's important to invest in good equipment, such as a quality camera, tripod, and microphone. Practice filming and editing, and don't be afraid to experiment and try new things. Remember to be yourself and have fun!

Edit your footage: use video-editing software to splice clips, add music, and create a narrative

Once you have all your footage, it's time to start editing! Editing is a crucial step in creating engaging content that will make your viewers feel like they're travelling with you. Here are some tips to help you edit your travel vlogs like a pro:

Choose the Right Video Editing Software

There are many video-editing software programs available, and some are even free! Popular options include HitFilm Express, iMovie (for Apple products), VideoPad, DaVinci Resolve 15, and VSDC (for Windows). If you're using a Mac, iMovie is a great choice, while VSDC is a good option for Windows users. For more advanced editing, you might want to consider Adobe Premiere Pro, which offers a wide range of features and tools.

Compile Your Content

Start by compiling all your videos into a single project in your chosen editing software. You'll want to arrange them in a way that tells a story, with a beginning, middle, and end. Think about the journey you want to take your viewers on and the information they'll need upfront to stay engaged. For example, if you're visiting wineries, start with a short video of yourself in front of a vineyard, explaining what you're about to do.

Trim and Splice Clips

Chances are, you've captured a lot of footage, so it's important to be ruthless in your editing. Trim down each snippet to include only the most interesting parts. Delete any dead space or transitions where nothing is happening to maintain your viewers' interest. You can also rearrange clips to create a more engaging narrative. Keep in mind that viewers' attention spans are short, so aim for a final video length of 3-5 minutes.

Add Music

Music can complement the feel of your vlog and enhance the viewing experience. Choose upbeat, fast-paced music for adventurous activities like parasailing, or something more mellow for scenic walks. You can find free music for your vlog on sites like Soundcloud, the YouTube audio library, Free Music Archive, and Free Sound. Remember to lower the volume of the music during sections where you're speaking so that your voice can be clearly heard.

Review and Refine

Before publishing your vlog, review it several times to ensure a smooth and engaging final product. Watch your video from beginning to end at least twice and look out for any rough transitions or audio issues. Take a break for 24 hours and then watch it again with fresh eyes—you may spot something new. It can also be helpful to get feedback from a trusted friend.

Promote your content: use social media, collaborate with other bloggers, and engage with your audience

Promote your content

Now that you've created your content, it's time to promote it and build your audience. Here are some strategies to help you with that:

• Use social media: Share your content on social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok. Engage with your followers, respond to comments, and encourage them to share your posts. Social media is a powerful tool to reach a wider audience and build a community around your travel vlog.
• Collaborate with other bloggers: Once you've gained some followers, consider collaborating with other travel bloggers or influencers in your niche. This can help expand your reach and attract new followers. For example, if your channel is about mountain hiking, you can collaborate with an online hiking gear store or team up with other travel vloggers with a similar focus.
• Engage with your audience: Respond to comments and messages from your followers. Building a community and a personal connection with your audience is crucial for the long-term success of your travel vlog. Be approachable and accessible, and try to incorporate their suggestions or requests into your content when possible.
• Create eye-catching thumbnails: Design attractive and eye-catching thumbnails for your videos that will make people want to click and watch. Use colours, interesting imagery, and large fonts that stand out.
• Share to relevant communities: Join and actively participate in Facebook groups, Slack communities, Reddit threads, and other online communities related to travel, vlogging, or your specific niche. Be mindful of the rules regarding self-promotion, and contribute valuable content beyond just promoting your channel.
• Embed and link your videos: If you have a blog or website, embed your videos in relevant posts or pages. This will not only drive traffic to your videos but also boost your SEO, making it easier for people to find your content when searching online.
• Build an email list: Encourage people to subscribe to your email list by offering exclusive content, updates, or discounts. Sending regular newsletters or updates about your travels and vlogs can help keep your audience engaged and coming back for more.
• Cross-promote with other channels: Collaborate with other YouTubers or content creators in complementary niches. For example, if your channel is about food and travel, you could collaborate with a channel focused on cooking or restaurant reviews. Cross-promotion can help expose your channel to a new audience and vice versa.
• Paid advertising: Consider investing in paid advertising on social media platforms or Google AdWords to boost your reach. This can be an effective way to target a specific audience and gain more followers or subscribers.

Remember, building an audience takes time and consistency. Focus on creating high-quality content, engaging with your followers, and collaborating with others in your niche. By promoting your content effectively and building a community, you'll be well on your way to becoming a successful travel vlogger.

Frequently asked questions