5 Travel Film Mistakes I Made and How to Avoid Them as a New Videographer and Photographer

Creating Your First Travel Short Film: Avoid These 5 Common Mistakes

Creating your first travel short film is an exhilarating journey filled with unforgettable moments and stunning visuals. However, this adventure can come with its fair share of challenges and blunders. In this post, I will share five significant mistakes I made while shooting my first travel film and offer insights on how you can avoid them. Whether you want to make engaging videos or capture breathtaking photos, these lessons can help you enhance your skills! Don't make the same 5 travel film mistakes I made.

A Journey into the Unknown

In the fall of 2023, I had the rare honor of meeting and staying with the Mentawai Tribe, an Indigenous community deep within the Sumatran jungle of Indonesia. Getting there was an expedition in itself — a combination of planes, ferries, small wooden boats, dirt roads, and eventually, a jungle trek that felt more spiritual than physical. Once you arrive, the real journey begins: stepping into a world so untouched and raw, it feels almost surreal.

I spent four days and three nights fully immersed in their world — sleeping under palm-thatched roofs, waking to the sounds of the forest, and witnessing traditions that have been passed down for generations. You’d think I’d walk away with a treasure trove of powerful footage — and in a sense, I did. But was it usable? Was it the kind of content that holds up to my current standards and storytelling vision?

The short answer: no. And here’s why.

1. Footage Quality: Know Your Formats

Coming back from my trip, I had a ton of footage but felt disappointed with the results. A significant portion was shot in JPEG or basic color profiles on my simple phone camera. At the time, I didn’t have access to a mirrorless camera, which could have dramatically improved my shots, but that wasn't the main problem. I hope these 5 travel film mistakes I made will help you avoid yours!

Now equipped with an iPhone 15 Pro, I learned about the potential of shooting in ProRes. However, I hesitated to do so due to a lack of confidence in my post-processing skills. This meant I missed out on capturing the vivid colors I now only remember. Had I chosen to shoot in RAW format instead of JPEG, it would have allowed more flexibility during editing. Understanding your gear and maximizing its capabilities from the start is crucial for achieving high-quality footage.

The left photo is taken with an iPhone camera, normal JPEG color profile. The right photo is the attempt to salvage it in post-processing such as Lightroom. Had I originally shot in RAW (on the iPhone), I would have had more dynamic range to play with in the post-processing phase. October 2023.

2. Gear Familiarity: Get Comfortable with Your Equipment

Just because you own high-end gear doesn’t mean you know how to use it well. I traveled for two months with an action camera and a gimbal, but I barely utilized them. I used the DJI Air 3 drone extensively and felt more comfortable than ever after shooting with it for two months straight. Had I applied that same level of practice to the gimbal and action camera, I would have felt equally confident with them.

Looking back, the best way to get comfortable with your equipment is to practice. Before you even leave on your trip, spend some time exploring all the buttons, settings, and features. Use that trip as a training ground—film everything you can, whether it's a bustling market or a quiet sunset. Embracing your equipment will allow your creativity to soar.

3. Lighting and Framing: The Building Blocks

Two vital elements that I neglected during my first shoot were lighting and framing. There’s a saying: “The early bird gets the worm.” In photography, this means getting up early to catch the best light, which typically happens in the hour after sunrise and before sunset. I should give myself more credit on the lighting end. I do remember getting up quite early to meet the sunrise, but sometimes it doesn't always cooperate.

Framing is equally important and takes practice to master. I’m still working on this step. Spend time scouting your locations and envisioning your shots before hitting record. For instance, a well-framed photo of a mountain range with golden light reflecting off its peaks can transform an ordinary film into a stunning masterpiece.

4. Drones: Adjust Your Settings Manually

In my eagerness to capture amazing aerial views, I missed out on using my drone effectively. A memorable moment of us in a boat turned into a letdown because I had set the shutter speed too slow, leading to blurry images.

Always take the time to manually adjust your drone settings. In fact, a study found that proper setting adjustments can improve footage clarity by up to 40%. Given how quickly conditions can change when filming aerially, these adjustments are critical for ensuring high-quality footage.

5. Post Processing: Find Your Rhythm

You might return home with stunning footage, but if you lack editing skills, it won’t make a difference. When I first tried to edit my clips, I felt overwhelmed and uncertain about how to bring my vision to life. Later, I noticed that for 2-3 months, I was uploading on IG with a 720p format! I thought I had downloaded it from 4K to 1080p, but nope! It was a simple button I had to turn on; however, imagine how foolish I felt! LOL.

Finding your groove in post-processing requires practice. Explore various software to find one that suits your style. Experiment with aspects like color grading, sound design, and transitions. While the learning curve might seem tough at first, remember that many successful videographers spend hundreds of hours honing their editing skills. Eventually, you will find that editing becomes one of the most enjoyable parts of creating your video.

Final Thoughts

For new videographers and photographers embarking on exciting travel adventures, remember that mistakes are part of the journey. Each misstep offers a lesson, and by sharing my experiences, I hope to ease your path.

Invest time in learning about your equipment, optimize your camera settings, focus on lighting and framing, and most importantly, enjoy the editing process. By steering clear of these common pitfalls, you'll capture the true essence of your adventures and elevate your travel films to new heights.

Happy filming!

xo,

J