Dozens of memory cards full of data, hundreds of gigabytes of video footage, and thousands of photos that have never been viewed. Do you also fall into vlogger-photojournalist mode on vacation and then give up on editing, processing, or selecting content? This text was created so that everyone knows how to prepare for capturing priceless moments and then quickly and conveniently turn photos and videos into valuable keepsakes.

We love collecting memories. Even if you don’t keep 20-year-old movie tickets, there are bound to be some little crumbs of yesteryear that you don’t want to get rid of. Today, we’re going to focus on digital memorabilia. We hope that after reading this article, you will be able to organize a dinner party combined with a slideshow that will not bore your guests. Just implement a few simple rules, and creating holiday reports will become much easier. We have divided this text into parts to make it easier:

  1. Useful equipment
  2. The right attitude
  3. Ideas and assumptions
  4. Best Practices
  5. Coming Home
  6. Organizing your materials
  7. Handy programs and apps

What to take on vacation besides your camera?

Before we get into streamlining the process and best practices, it’s worth leaning into the equipment question. Unless you’re an enthusiast who’s going on vacation to make a series of daily vlogs or polish your photography skills, adopt a “less is more” approach to packing. Taking along a set of lenses, a large gimbal, and a professional tripod can only add to the backache of moving around with a backpack full of different equipment. When creating this article, we assumed that you go on vacation to relax. Videos and photos are to be a souvenir, not a part of your portfolio. Of course, ambitious film and photography enthusiasts are also encouraged to read, but here it is all about comfort, efficiency, and convenience. You can learn about what it’s like to take TOO MUCH gear on vacation in this video:

What, then, is worth throwing in your carry-on along with your camera? You will certainly need a small, handy battery charger that does not take up much space and is compatible with a USB port. Why this port? Because it will allow you to use the device on the move and in places where there is no access to electrical sockets. Just equip yourself with a high-capacity power bank to provide yourself with a source of power, regardless of where your holiday adventures take you. And since we are talking about batteries…

Batteries for the most demanding

We wouldn’t be ourselves if we didn’t make a recommendation here. If you haven’t had a chance to get acquainted with our distinctive blue SupraCell replacements yet, a holiday trip could be a good excuse to do so. If you often reach for your camera in the great outdoors, you’ll know that batteries can go crazy in cold or hot weather. The Newell SupraCell will provide optimum operating comfort in a temperature range from 20 to 90ºC. Our replacement batteries can withstand a high number of charging cycles, meaning you’ll enjoy maximum capacity for a very long time. PS. Our 40-month warranty on all products is still valid!

Jak wybrać akumulator do aparatu fotograficznego i nie przepłacić?

Remember, you’re taking a trip to relax!

When we watch great travel vlogs, the need to create something similar often arises in creative heads. Setting high expectations for yourself can often end up in unnecessary frustration and discouragement. Remember, vacations are for relaxing! Photos and videos are just an extra to make you happy whenever you want to reminisce about your trip. It’s okay if you occasionally forgo taking out your camera, or put it in your bag after taking a short video to enjoy the “here and now” moment.

It’s good to have a plan (a clever one)

Even before you’re in the car, bus, train or plane, it’s a good idea to have a plan for what you want to come back from your vacation with. Let’s start with photos, as the task will be much simpler when it comes to photography.

  • Think about where you absolutely must take souvenir photos and create a “must-have” list in your head.
  • Pay attention to what times of the day your chosen locations look best.
  • Think about where you won’t need your camera so you don’t end up asking yourself this question on the spot.
  • Prepare memory cards with capacities that suit your needs.
  • If your camera offers this capability, prepare presets and assign the most frequently used functions to shortcut buttons.
  • Clean your equipment before you travel and take a microfiber cloth with you.
  • Make sure you are allowed to use the camera in the places you plan to visit.
  • Make sure you have enough batteries, a charger, and a power bank.

  • Remember that in a few years the most valuable souvenirs will be the pictures of you and your loved ones!

The above tips will also work well when shooting movies. Here, however, the task is a little more difficult. In the case of moving pictures there are more variables that should be taken into account:

  • Think about what form you want the edited video to take. Short vlogs? One long production? How about a music video?
  • If you plan to supplement your video footage with a slideshow, images shot horizontally will be a better choice when it comes to video.
  • Are you sure you need footage recorded in 4K? If so, make sure you have enough memory cards!
  • Consider whether you want to build a narrative by performing in front of the lens. Alternatively, you may want to record “off-camera” commentary or combine video with music.

Capture the moment!

If your gear and mind are ready to go, it’s time for some tips on how to take photos and videos so they can later prove to be a keepsake for years to come.

Successful vacation photos

Keep in mind that our guide was created with the mindset of “do as you please”. It’s really the optimal mindset if you care about your holiday relaxation. 😅 For the record, we stress again: DOES NOT APPLY TO ENTHUSIASTS WHO GO ON VACATION MAINLY TO TAKE PICTURES!

  • If possible, use the automatic photo-taking mode.
  • Avoid repeating the same frames and taking several pictures from the same place.
  • Use “magic hour”. Photos taken at sunrise and sunset are almost always defensible.
  • If you know there will be something to photograph, have your camera ready and at the ready!
  • Avoid shooting in full sunlight. Contrasting shadows don’t look great on faces.
  • It’s always a good idea to think about whether it’s worth photographing more sights, just for the sake of photographing. If the picture does not include you, your loved ones, or some interesting situation, you might as well search for such an image on Google.

Vacation video: what you should remember

Again, most of the rules for photography apply to video. However, we have some additional tips for video makers.

  • Try to keep your shots short.
  • Unless you plan on posting videos on Insta Stories, only shoot horizontally!
  • If you’re incorporating camera movement into your shots, make sure it’s smooth.
  • The safest option for camera movement is left-right, up-down, and front-back.
  • Avoid chaotic shots where you film everything and nothing at the same time.
  • It is better to take a few short shots than to start recording for a few minutes and hope that something will happen.
  • Vary your shots! This will make editing your footage later much easier.

Don’t put off selecting content for later!

Now it’s time for the hard part. It was great to take all those photos and record movies, but when you get back to reality is waiting for you – work, school, new series… We don’t have any research on this, but the rule is simple – the longer you delay with the selection and editing, the more likely it is that all your files will end up on your shame drive. Yes, the one that manages to stop working before you remember it in your old age (or the data storage system you know today manages to change).

Again, with photos, the task will be much easier. Here you don’t have to edit anything. Just create an extra folder on your computer and… move the photos you like best to it. Sounds simple, right? But if you don’t follow this advice about moderation, you may end up spending a long evening with thousands of files. Then it’s worth dividing your work into stages. Computer programs will help, but they are by no means essential. The point is:

  • get rid of all the unsuccessful photos,
  • select the gems that stand out from the rest,
  • re-evaluate what is left and decide which photos will go into an album or further editing.

You can safely use this method when selecting video materials. In their case, you still have the most difficult task – editing. At this stage, however, everything depends on your original assumptions and ideas. However, we have a shortcut for those who do not feel the soul of an editor…

Useful apps and programs

Yes, there are apps that will automate the process of putting your movie together, limiting your role to choosing the right frames. It’s kind of a half-measure, of course, but it can often be a better solution than forgotten files on dusty drives, right? Here are the programs you should be interested in:

If you’re in the business of just taking pictures, we won’t leave you with nothing. We also have some recommendations related to the aforementioned tools that make it easy to select photos and conveniently transfer, catalog, and tag them according to your own rankings:

We can’t help but wish you a happy vacation season! We’d love it if you remembered us during the vacations and sent a photo or video postcard. We’re on Facebooku and Instagramie, and our inbox is waiting! See you there!

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