There’s a growing pool of professional and semi-professional travellers sharing their experiences for fame, and sometimes also for fortune.
From the digital nomad movement to Instagram influencers with hundreds of thousands of followers and corporate sponsorship, the gig economy is strongly pro-travel. On the other hand, you might have a regular day job and a modest online following, and simply be interested in documenting your own travels for future reference or the benefit of friends and family.
Either way, modern technology is transforming the ease and accessibility with which we can document our travels. The equipment, software and sharing apps available make it simple to capture great shots and footage and get it out to a wider audience than ever before.
The best documentation starts with the planning stage. What kind of adventures do you anticipate on your travels? Are you a diver looking to capture the gorgeous diversity under the sea with a waterproof camera, or a thrill-seeker in need of a GoPro to put fans in the driver’s seat. Maybe you’re into something more sedate and really just need to work on your indoor photography skills so that you can document telling architectural detail and archaeological items of interest for a more erudite audience.
Preparation is key to successfully documenting your travels. Knowing your area of interest and the sorts of things that you’re likely to do helps you go in with the right equipment, and putting some time into studying and practicing photographic and videographic techniques will enable you to better capture content in the moment. The equipment can get bulky, but it’s a better investment to travel lighter and leave room for your gear than to be stuck overseas with extra socks and no way to capture the experience.
Post-production is another huge area of opportunity. You can bring up unexpected details, cast a new and different light on familiar territory, or just make your followers jealous with glossy glamour shots of gorgeous scenery, depending on your approach. If you’re going to document and share in real time, either for the benefit of loved ones or an online following, then you probably want to nail down your apps and get a little experimentation in ahead of time for best results.
The other thing you can do in post-production is start telling a story. This improves the entertainment and/or educational value of shared content and is great for documenting in more detail and communicating branded messages. You can use a free explainer video maker to do things such as introduce parts of your trip, share tips and tricks, and tell funny stories about your travels.
Keep in mind that combining text, animation and transitions helps you document in more detail and with more polish. Additionally, incorporating a narrative approach in post-production not only enhances the entertainment and educational aspects of your shared content but also allows for a more comprehensive documentation of your experiences.
Finally, when it comes to sharing your travels, you need to consider on-the-ground realities. Plan ahead for where and when you’re going to access Wi-Fi, or look for an esim data plan, so that you’re not stuck with masses of amazing content and no way to get it out to your followers.
Furthermore, having good network connectivity can greatly enhance your ability to share real-time updates and engage with your audience. Whether you’re sharing through social media platforms or utilizing a blog, a strong and reliable network connection ensures a smoother and more interactive sharing experience.
You can maximise travel experiences by documenting for friends and family, personal use, or the professional and brand-building benefits. Plan ahead with the right equipment and tools for best results.
