Get Ready, Get Set: Planning & Preparation for Travel Shoots

Me walking up to Kite Hill with my backpack and camera gear

On my way to location with full walking loadout: 4 cameras, full-size tripod and a belt-mounted selfie stick for quick-access shots

3. Packing for Flow

Good packing is about more than what you bring — it’s about how you bring it. I’ve learned the hard way that a poorly organized setup can kill momentum in the field.

One current debate: whether to invest in a dedicated camera sling to centralize my core gear. I’m evaluating for structure, quick-access design, tripod attachment points and theft-conscious carry options. The right bag reduces friction and supports agility — which matters when you’re balancing creative goals with unpredictable conditions.

My gear categories include:

Mounts and clamps for dynamic support
Lightweight tripods that can double as iPad stands or static camera rigs
Multiple selfie sticks, from compact to telescopic
Dry bags and waterproof accessories for tropical terrain

The goal here is quick deployment and peace of mind — so that once I’m on site, I can focus on the creative, not the logistics.

Here is a handy technique to make sure you have variety between your shots (Source: YouTube | Jeven Dovey)

4. Shot Ideas & Travel Video Shooting Tips

Beyond the gear, I spend focused time thinking through how I want to shoot — and what I hope to capture. This includes location research, visual inspiration gathering and sketching out loose frameworks I can fall back on.

Some of the core methods I use:

The 9-shot rule: establishing shots, wide/medium/close variations and one “wildcard” angle (eg: YouTube | Jeven Dovey)
The 70/30 principle: adjust angle by 30° or change scaling by 70% to avoid repetition and jump cuts (eg: YouTube | KaiCreative)
Insta360 x5: capturing immersive footage from multiple angles with reframing options in post
Creative selfie stick use: extended 3-meter pole shots for cinematic reframing and motion (eg: YouTube | Insta360 with Brandon Li)

I also create shot idea lists in advance — not as a rigid script, but as a creative safety net. In the field, when fatigue or overwhelm hits, that list can become a grounding reference point.

A close-up shot of an overexposed photo on a camera screen, with bright sunlight in the background.

On a recent early morning shoot, many of my photos came out overexposed. Here is one of the more interesting ones.

5. Learn To Adapt

Even with the right gear, real-world conditions demand quick thinking.

During a recent morning shoot in Lake Tahoe, the early sunlight made it hard to see my camera settings. So I adjusted by feel — cycling through options, bracketing exposure, and taking multiple shots with varied settings to make sure I’d come away with something usable.

Right now I’m focused on:

Getting more fluent with exposure and ISO control on the Canon D60
Learning how to frame effectively in Me Mode on the Insta360
Training my eyes and fingers to respond faster in changing conditions

Each shoot helps to dial it in faster and build more intuitive control in the field.

A person reviewing their footage on a laptop after a trip, surrounded by gear.

One of the best parts about traveling is the lasting memories they can leave. Reviewing footage becomes part of the journey.

6. Returning with Intention

The best trips aren’t just memorable — they’re generative. I want to come back with more than footage. I want to return with clarity, creative energy and a renewed sense of purpose. That means protecting the experience before and during the trip — staying present, staying aware and letting the moments resonate, with the camera and gear serving and supporting rather than dominating.

Preparation, when done right, isn’t just about avoiding problems. It’s about creating the conditions for great things to happen — visually, emotionally and creatively.

A pier on Lake Tahoe extending into the distance with the sky reflecting on the surface of the lake

The work you do before you leave is just as important as the shots you take when you’re there.

Conclusion

Travel shoots aren’t just about where you go — they’re about how you show up. The work you do before you leave is just as important as the shots you take when you’re there. It’s your mindset, your system and your ability to stay flexible that unlock the real creative moments.

Whether you’re prepping for a client shoot, a personal project or a once-in-a-lifetime adventure, I hope this gives you a lens on how to build a process that works — not just once, but every time.

WANT TO LEVEL UP?

If you’re planning a shoot and want expert support — from ideation to post-production — we are available to help with select consulting and creative projects. Contact us today!

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For more insights on creative travel and video production, you may enjoy some other recent articles from our blog, including:

DaVinci Resolve: Free Professional-Grade Video & Motion Editing (July 23, 2025)
From Vacation to Video: A Creative Journey in Media Production (July 17, 2025)
Exploring XnViewMP: The Free Image Manager Every Creative Should Know (June 19, 2025)

Blog Index

BLOG

Get Ready, Get Set

Planning & Preparation for Travel Shoots

Introduction

1. Preparing for a Creative Travel Shoot

2. Gear, Budgets & Boundaries

“By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.”

— Benjamin Franklin