Ready to take your travel journaling to the next level with vlogging? Let’s get down to the details.
A video blog, or vlog, is a form of blogging where the medium is video instead of text. Thanks to platforms like YouTube, Vimeo, Instagram, and TikTok, vlogging has increased in popularity in the last several years as a way to share your life and travels with others.
Vlogging has even become a career for some! Famous vloggers post daily or weekly videos, but vlogging can be used in many ways, including as a way to showcase your trip. Here are our top tips on how to use vlogging for your next educational travel adventure.
Center your videos around an activity or place.
Plan ahead of time where you’ll be traveling and center your videos on a certain activity or aspect of your tour.
The small details are just as important as the big highlights.
Did your friend buy some fruit from an outdoor market? Sample some amazing gelato? What about that cute gift shop you bought postcards from? The impact of these small moments really adds up and helps diversify the content of your video.
Include other people in your videos!
Include your sightseeing squad, your Program Leader or Tour Director, and locals you’ve interacted with (but get their permission first!). Ask questions (think: What was your favorite activity today?) and get their answers or comments on video. Remember that even without audio, people give context to beautiful views, and smiling faces anchor the cobblestone streets of your destination.
Don’t forget to include yourself.
It’s great to show who you’re traveling with, but don’t forget yourself! You experience this trip firsthand, and viewers of your video would love to see what you’re doing as well.
Most importantly, have fun!
You’re creating this vlog to show friends, family, and classmates what you’re up to! Showcase how much fun you’re having so you can look back on the video years from now and enjoy the experience of travel.
In addition to sharing our best practices for vlogging, we’ve created a quick resource with tricks for shooting video content.
- Shoot horizontally. Ok, we aren’t going to pretend like shooting vertically isn’t easier (and, admittedly, best for social media content). But, if you’re looking to produce a vlog that will work on every channel, horizontal is best!
- Shoot in airplane mode. If you’re traveling internationally but still have data turned on, switch it off when you’re shooting. This way, you won’t be interrupted by a notification while you’re talking to the camera or getting the perfect shot.
- Pay attention to the lighting around you. Mornings and evenings have even, diluted light. By mid-day, you’ll encounter shadows, which might make it more difficult to capture your subject. If you’re shooting indoors, see if you can grab a friend to shine a little light on the situation with their phone!
- Steady, steady! If you don’t have a tripod, there are a few ways to help get steady shots, even if you’re walking. Start by practicing good posture—a wide stance with a little bend in your knees will help any panoramic shot look smooth. Keeping the camera in towards your center of gravity will help, too. Tuck your elbows into your sides and bring the camera close to your body. While moving, try and keep your arms stationary—it will make a world of difference! And finally, breathe steadily.
Now that you have all the tips and tricks for vlogging, go out and try it for yourself—and don’t forget to share your best photos and videos with us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter!