During the Trip
My (self-imposed) Golden Rules for Filming
1: Don’t say it - show it!
Whether it’s a stunning vista or something going horribly wrong, film it. Even if the latter means pointing your camera at the ground while chaos unfolds, always try to capture the audio and atmosphere of the moment. Not only does this put the viewer bang in the centre of the situation, it also adds undeniable authenticity. If a creator tells their audience something happened without showing ‘the receipts’, people naturally start to wonder if it even happened at all?
2: Too much footage is always better than not enough
This is a rule I’ve been fighting with for a while, as I always come home with overloaded SD cards. However, when you get down to the edit, it is of course easier to cut the excessive clips than it is to invent footage you forgot to capture. Efficient filming is a great goal, but more often than not, having too much footage opens up far more creative options when you start pulling the video together.
3: Embrace background interruptions
A baby screaming, a teenager scrolling through TikTok full blast on the bus, someone coughing directly behind you - all of these things might make you want to do a re-take. Resist that urge. What you are capturing is the unfiltered reality of travel. In the edit, you are actually much more likely to use that raw footage because it accurately reflects what the journey felt like on the day, long after the immediate annoyance of the interruption has faded. By all means capture both the noisy and the calm, but I bet I know which clip you’ll use ;)
4: Don’t be afraid of filming in public
It can be difficult to switch on the camera when you have a lingering feeling that you’re about to get a telling-off. But within reason, public filming is absolutely fine. Everyone has a smartphone in their pocket these days anyway. While I do get approached occasionally and asked to stop filming (railway stations and ferry terminals are classic culprits for this), I have never once been asked to delete the footage already on the SD card. As long as you aren’t pointing your lens directly into an individual's face, you’ll be okay. Be respectful, but stand your ground and try to know your rights in advance.
5: Overcome the public camera shyness
If you are struggling with the awkwardness of vlogging in public, remember one liberating truth: nobody cares. The anxiety is entirely internal. Passers-by might look at you wondering what you’re doing, but they’ll quickly move on with their day and forget all about it. You’ll never see these people again anyway. I find the more you film, the easier it gets. It’s like most things, you need to warm up. Starting cold on a very early morning is never easy, but you’ll get there after ten takes of an intro :)
Top Tip: To build your confidence, go somewhere far from home just to practice. Visit a touristy area where everyone else is already taking photos and videos so you don't stick out. Alternatively, hold the camera like you're FaceTiming a friend. It tricks your brain into feeling normal.
6: When you least want to turn the camera on, DO IT
This one has taken years to sink in, but there is nothing worse than sitting at home wishing you had captured a moment you let slide. It could be for a multitude of reasons: maybe you were grumpy, exhausted, or all of the above and just felt you looked awful on camera. Push past it and hit record. You will be incredibly glad you have that exact, vulnerable footage sitting in your timeline when it comes to editing. That being said, don’t worry too much if you miss a golden moment, another one will come along soon, be ready for it!
7: Avoid the perfection trap
You could be in one of the most beautiful locations in the world trying to capture a pristine shot, only for someone to walk right past your lens or a construction crane to swing into view. Don't worry about it. Most viewers would much rather see the unvarnished reality than a sterile, cinematic production. That real-world friction is exactly what differentiates a genuine YouTube vlog from a heavily filtered Instagram post.
Top Tip: If a massive crowd of tourists is blocking a famous landmark or a sunset, don't try to squeeze past them. Stand behind them and fill the frame with the crowd and the view. It makes the final video feel much more immersive and relatable. I remember seeing a video of how busy the viewpoints on Santorini really were. I found it much more interesting and helpful to see the true experience.
8: Plan your edit while you film
This one comes with time and experience, but isn’t as complicated as it may sound. Whenever I am out in the field, I am always thinking further down the line about how a particular clip will fit into my editing timeline. In real time, this influences what I choose to say to camera and where to point the lens. Believe me, learning to film with the final sequence in mind saves you a lot of time later on, so next time you are out filming, give it a go and try to make it a conscious habit. All will make sense when you sit down to edit.
9: Check your settings before every session!!!
I have been caught out by this more times than I care to remember, and it inevitably strikes at the worst possible moment. A camera glitch or an accidental button press can leave you shooting at the wrong frame rate, or worse still, without audio. Because most golden travel moments cannot be recreated, do everything in your power to get the technical side right the first time. I don’t even use an external mic because I prefer keeping my equipment as simple as possible, but believe me, mistakes still happen. Never take for granted your camera settings being correct. Check every time.
10: Accept missed moments and move on
On an average travel day, you will miss shots. It’s happens to me every time. Always try to be ready for the unexpected, but if you miss a moment, let it go, even if you feel it was vital to the narrative. Chances are it wasn’t, and you’ll find plenty other interesting things to fill the video. Don’t waste time and energy trying to recreate something special, it’ll never look as good or authentic as it did the first time anyway.
I’ve filmed flight reviews where, due to an empty battery or camera glitch, I completely missed key moments like the landing, and while it's frustrating at the time, you can easily cover it up in the final edit. Trust me, it won’t be as important as you think at the time. Keep moving forward; interesting things will always happen if you stay curious.
💡 A quick note on scripting & rules…
Only script your introduction: There is good reason for this - what happens after the intro is anyone's guess. The introduction is the only part of filming you have total control over. No trip ever unfolds exactly how you pictured it in your head. Leave the rest of your commentary to how you feel in the moment; an off-the-cuff reaction to an unexpected situation will ring truer than a rehearsed script.
Break traditional video rules: We’ve all been told before - never shoot directly into the sun, stick rigidly to the rule of thirds, hunt for perfect compositions, etc etc. That's fine for traditional filmmaking, but if you are vlogging, getting the shot is much more important than it being traditionally ‘correct’. If the blazing sun is beating down on you and ruining the contrast, show it! Because that’s exactly how it felt to be there. Always try to prioritise the story over the aesthetic. If you get some perfect shots along the way, just treat it as a bonus!