So you've got some skills operating a video camera and using video editing software and now you want
to make a compelling outdoor video that other people actually want to watch. Well, I'm going
to share with you my top tips for making outdoor videos, which is essentially knowing what you want
to do, knowing your equipment, and making a plan. And while I'm talking specifically about video,
you might realize that this is true for almost any outdoor activity. So let's get started
Now before you get started, you want to have a clear idea of why you want to make a video
and brainstorm your ideas. What would video accomplish that another medium like writing
or photography not accomplish? While you brainstorm, you should answer 3 big questions:
What are you going to show? Who is going to see it? And How are you going to show it to them?
Once you know what your goals are it's easy to come up with a plan.
So when you're making videos outside you're going to be dealing with 3 main factors:
the sun, the landscape, and the weather. Now you can't control any of these
so the quality of your video will depend on how well you manage these factors.
The best thing you can do is know the area. Become familiar with your surroundings.
Get a map if you can. Ask a local for any points of interest or any hazards to avoid. Check around
for spots with good lighting and clear sound and make sure you can physically get to all the
places you want to go with your equipment. It's pretty tough to get around sometimes.
Now that you know the area you want to make a plan and be prepared, ask yourself what do I want to
see in this video and how do i get it?Write out where you want to be and when. Even draw it out
on a map. For instance I like to do the most physically demanding work early in the day.
When it gets too hot, you can take a break, get some easy shots and hydrate a little bit
Make a list of shots that you want so you can remember to get them. Make a list of questions or
prompts for people talking on camera so that they have something relevant to say and write it all
down on a piece of paper that you can carry with you. You could put it on your phone but you might
run out of batteries or just get distracted by your friend's dog on Snapchat - oh my god so cute!
Now there are endless debates on what's the perfect camera to use but the right equipment is
usually the gear you already have. Practice using your equipment and you'll get the most out of it.
Spend some time making several videos start-to-finish just to get used to the process
of making videos. With practice you can get a feel for what techniques produce the best results.
You might find points of failure within your equipment like not having enough
batteries to last a full day, running out of memory or not having the right tripod mount.
The more you know your gear, the easier it will be to get what you want out of it.
While video is mostly a visual medium, nothing adds to the quality of your video like good sound.
And nothing ruins a good video more than bad sound. Come on!
So forget that mic that's built into the camera. It's no good. Get yourself a quality microphone
and use it regularly for getting sounds that you want to hear like the sounds of nature or
a person talking. Plug the microphone into your camera, listen to what you're getting with a pair
of headphones and while you're out, record some footage just for sound. You can later pair the
best sounds with the best shots in your video editing software for the most dramatic effect.
Once you're outside and you start shooting, it's always good to shoot more than you need.
So if you're making a 3 minute video you want to shoot anywhere from
10 to 30 minutes of unedited footage. Try to get multiple angles of things you want to show
and try to get a good mix of wide shots, medium shots and close-ups - so many close-ups.
So if you make it a habit to know your goals, practice using your equipment and make a plan.
Your video will be great just like this one, right? So good. Nice work, Jeffrey, good job