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We’d talked about starting a YouTube channel for years.
It sounded fun in theory, but every time we thought about actually doing it, we got stuck. What kind of content should we make? How much work would it take? Would anyone even watch?
Eventually, we stopped overthinking and just hit record. That first video wasn’t perfect, but it taught us a lot.
If you’re thinking about making travel or outdoor videos, here are the biggest lessons we learned from getting started.
Talking to the Camera Feels Awkward, but It Gets Easier
We didn’t talk to the camera at all in our first video. We worried about wind noise, felt self-conscious, and figured voiceovers would be easier.
But watching the final product, something felt off. It was missing the natural reactions, humor, and in-the-moment storytelling that makes good videos interesting.
Next time, we’ll talk to the camera more. It won’t be perfect at first, but getting comfortable on camera is like any other skill. The more you do it, the less weird it feels.
Stabilization Matters More Than You Think
We wanted to show what it was like to drive down Gardner Canyon Road, so we strapped an Osmo Pocket camera to the Jeep’s bumper.
In theory, the gimbal would smooth out the footage. In reality, the road was rough enough to turn the clip into a jittery, unusable mess. Even Premiere Pro’s stabilization tools couldn’t fix it.
Lesson learned. For bumpy off-road footage, a dedicated action camera works better. We picked up an Osmo Action for next time.
You Will Always Need More Footage Than You Think
We filmed plenty of scenic shots, but once we started editing, we realized how many moments we had missed.
We forgot to record camp setup. We didn’t capture the drive into the area. We had nothing showing the gear we used.
Without enough footage, editing was harder than it needed to be. We had to stretch clips too long or fill gaps with photos instead of video. Next time, we’ll hit record more often. If something seems even slightly interesting, it’s worth capturing.
Music Should Be Used Carefully
Bad background music can ruin an otherwise good video. One of our biggest pet peeves is when music drowns out the person talking, so we learned how to adjust it properly.
Premiere Pro has an audio tool called “ducking” that automatically lowers music volume when someone is speaking. It took a little experimenting, but it made a huge difference.
Now, we know that the key to good background music is making sure it actually stays in the background.
Humor and Personality Make Videos More Engaging
The first video felt a little too serious. It showed where we camped and what the area looked like, but it didn’t capture much of our usual banter.
We were too focused on getting everything “right” and ended up leaving out the personality that makes content fun to watch.
Next time, we’ll let the camera roll more during conversations. We’ll also include a blooper reel because let’s be honest, we drop things and trip over stuff constantly.
Would We Do It Again? Absolutely.
Even with all the mistakes, getting that first video done felt like a huge win. Now, we know what to improve. We’ll keep testing ideas, figuring out what works, and making videos that are fun to create and watch.
If you’re thinking about making travel or outdoor videos, the best advice we can give is to start. It won’t be perfect, but neither was ours. Hit record, learn as you go, and make something you’d want to watch.
If you want to see what we’re working on, you can find us on YouTube.
Let us know if you’ve made travel videos or if you’re thinking about starting. We’d love to hear what you’ve learned.
Still Here? You Must Be the Human Equivalent of Well-Seasoned Cast Iron Pan.
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