How To Film Great Travel Stock Footage

Travel stock footage is a type of stock footage that is often used a lot by film makers to provide interest and background to a film.

Step 1: Choose a Subject

There are numerous subjects you can choose from for travel stock footage including landscapes, monuments and landmarks. If you would like to shoot monuments or landmarks, choose an area near these places where you can get the most shots.

Step 2: Get the Appropriate Permits

There are some locations or landmarks that do not allow photo shoots. In this regard, make sure that you acquire the appropriate permits or licenses to film in these locations. Doing a little bit of research on the history of the destination can also help determine how difficult or easy it will be to get a shot of the location. Also, do not forget to check the different documents you will require to get permission to shoot a specific monument or landmark.

Step 3: Look for a Focal Point

Before you actually start shooting, you need to choose a focal point. This will eventually help you when you start shooting the different angles and shots of your subject. Your focal point should be interesting enough that it will automatically draw your attention.

Step 4: Shoot a Tight Shot

Begin by shooting a tight shot of the subject. A tight shot is like a close up of the subject. Zoom in on the subject, making sure you capture a specific point of interest of the destination. Shoot the part of the subject where it is most interesting like a gargoyle, huge doors, arched ceiling, or a fire tree surrounded by lush greenery.

Step 5: Shoot a Mid Shot of the Subject

After you have shot a tight shot, shoot a mid shot. A mid shot will reveal what the tight shot looks like. You can shoot the façade of the building or a patch of flowering plants for your mid shot.

Step 6: Shoot a Wide Shot of the Subject

A wide shot of travel stock footage is probably one of the most popular. Shoot a wide shot of the subject from a specific location that will give you the maximum view. For landscapes, make your shoot at least eye level of the scene. For monuments, landmarks or other construction pieces, you can play between shooting from a person's point of view or another building to give you an entire view of the subject matter.

Step 7: Shoot Different Angles

Do not forget to shoot different angles of your subject matter. Aside from shooting a wide shot of one specific view, also shoot the subject on different angles. Shoot the subject from the left and right side to provide different stock footage options.

Step 8: Moving Shots

After shooting the subject on different angles, you then need to shoot a moving shot. A moving shot is shooting a constant shot from one side to the next. To do this, keep the video camcorder running, then using the wide shot, shoot from one side moving the camcorder to the next side. It is advisable to use a tripod for this shot to keep the camcorder steady.