Traveling Videos

This is part 4 in a series of blog that is sort of out of order, and I do apologize.  At first, I thought, I will mention these videos in case writing is not really their thing, and that’s it.  Actually, I am really having fun with this series, and I wanted to continue with it for a while.  I know it has been a month since I wrote the first one, but as usual, life got in the way, and I sort of wanted this series to transition me off of the controversial posts, as I am saying goodbye to them.  Not even Trump’s latest thing with Putin is driving me back to these posts.  Let someone else have them.

So, today, I am tackling the travel video, and the different types of them.  The reason behind writing this as a separate post is this is a broad subject.  You can do all sorts of things with this type of video.  I love watching them, and like my last post, there are some posters I do watch, and I will mention them, although it is not as many as the family videos.  First, a PSA that bears repeating:

Protect yourself.  Post your videos after you come back.  When posting while on vacation, you are giving thieves notice that your home is an open banquet for your goodies.  You know thieves love goodies.  In fact, do not post your address.  Be very careful.

Amusement/fun videos

I love these videos.  These are the “try it before you get there” videos.  They can give you a plethora of information of what at a theme park, popular vacation destination, or this is “what your getaway looks like and this is what you get to do”.  I am going to give you two different perspectives on this type of video and the first one is POV or Point of View.  POV is that, your point of view.  Say you are on a roller coaster, and you want to show the path and which direction the car is going.  Do not point the camera on you.  This is showing your reaction.  Point it on the track.  Be careful to hang on tight to your camera, but make sure that you are securely in your seat.  In either case safety is always best.  For that reason, Universal Studios Orlando do not allow you to film on rides.  The other reason is what I mentioned in an earlier post, they are protecting their IP (intellectual property).  Disney does not have that restriction or at least they do not enforce it. 

The person who I watch the most is Spokesmayne.  He posts a video almost every evening live from either Walt Disney World or Universal Studios Orlando. (in fact, I am waiting on him now).  He gives me my Disney fix until I am able to take a trip (hopefully in 2019), and with the equipment he uses, I feel like I am right there with him and his girlfriend, Jennifer.

Another channel I watch, although not as much is ResortTV1.  They do pretty much what Chris does, but the only thing I do not like about this channel is in the middle, they have to mention sponsorships, and that is sort of a turn off for me.  Yes, when you get as many views as they do, people tend to notice, and want to sponsor you to bring in others to their shop, but I am usually there to see what is in the parks, how long it is going to be there, so I can make plans.

Informational Videos

I have not talked about these videos, but they serve as a purpose as well. Sometimes it is news, showing what is around the parks, food reviews, and general information. 

For these videos, I turn to Dis Unplugged.  They give news on what is going on in the parks, the company (both Disney and Universal Studios), Food reviews of the eating places and resorts, and sometimes legal stuff. (I like what Pete Werner of Dis Unplugged says, “boring legal stuff).  This help me as a 2 unit stock owner of Walt Disney, and as a fan of Disney.  But I mostly listen to them for travel advice.  They also cover the cruise line industry on their other channel, Dreams Unlimited.

A word for the wise on both of these types of videos, I mentioned equipment.  You do not need a fancy camera to start out with.  In the case of Dreams Unlimited and Dis Unplugged, they are professionals, so they feel that they need the equipment to give you the best quality videos.  This is their job.  If you are taking family vacation shots, a simple phone camera or your click and shoot camera will do nicely.

Another warning do not let Google take control over your vacation photos and turn them into a video.  I did when I took my cruise.  I had to edit because there were a couple of unflattering photos that made into the video.  Photos is not the best way to have a video in my opinion.  Photos do not show the whole picture of what you are looking at.  It is best that if you are taking a video, you do the editing.  You can control what in it, the music, and the tone of the video.

One of my "Animals from my cruise
in January 2018 (c) 2018 P.Lynne Designs

Now for some more tips on travel videos. 

1.    Do show the adventure.  If you want to show your child surfboarding for the first time, do it.  If you want to show you eating a strange new food from the Fiji Islands, do it.  If you want to show the tour of your stateroom from a cruise ship, do it.  It shows that you had fun, you have learned from your trip something new and different, and if that the person viewing it may want that same experience.

2.    Do not show all the fun.  If you want to inform about something that happened to you, and you do not want people to have that same mistake, put it in.  In my last trip video, I gave a warning about tour guides in Jamaica and how some tour guides may want to take you to Indian shop owners instead of Jamaican shop owners.  Nothing is wrong with it if that is what you want, but I and my friend wanted to give back to the people who were born on the island vs. an immigrant. Our tour guide took us to the Indians instead of the native shop owner.

3.    Have a clear video.  It does not matter what your camera equipment is if your picture is not clear enough.  Try not to have a grainy video.

4.    Have narration.  I like to know what I am looking at when I view a video.  If you do not have narration through the video, at least have an introduction.  This goes back to another reason why you can edit the video when you get home.  You can add in the introduction. At that time, you can say when you were there and what was happening. Also, in the introduction, mention the places you went to and what you did there.  Do not haphazard put up a video.  Give it some order.

An array of pumpkins makes
a great video opportunity
(c) 2014 P. Lynne Designs

5.    Finally, have fun on vacation.  People do not have to see every aspect of your vacation unless it is necessary. Sometimes it is necessary to “unplug” for dinner when there is a security measure involved. For example, both Disney and Universal do not like you to have your camera out while you are walking through their gates.  Once through the gates, you are free to take as many photos and videos as possible, except for the riding rule and Universal, as mentioned earlier.

Takeaway Moment:

The first rule of vacation is to have fun. It is nice to see vacation videos, but have fun just being you. Unplugging helps sometimes.  Remember the POV video and the information video and take care of you and your equipment for safety factors.  Equipment can be replaced, but you cannot. One thing I did not cover is be mindful of others around you.  you are in a public place and there are some people who do not like being photographed or videotaped.  Also, use a panning shot show what is around the area that you are in.  Highlight when you can.  Also remember that these videos are for memories first, public second.  Your child may not remember the moment, but you have it on video, so they can.  Last remember to use good lighting, keep the camera focused, and narrate often.  This ends part 4 of this series. God bless.