A journey of a thousand miles begins with one step. – Lao Tzu

When it comes to learning a new craft, it typically all begins with a slight interest. Perhaps you watched an awesome travel vlog or simply a funny comedy skit that used an interesting style of videography to enhance your overall viewing experience. In my case, it all started with a new camera.

I had always been interested in photography and videography; however, I was simply “interested” for a long time. I failed to take the first step to begin learning a new hobby.

In early 2014, prior to going on a family trip to Tennessee, I received a GoPro Hero 3+ Silver Edition. For me, this camera truly symbolizes the beginning of my journey with videography.

With this camera, I began to experiment with videography, regardless of how simple my first videos were. Inspired by the unique travel videos posted all around the internet, I took a short video of myself going down an alpine slide in Tennessee, added a song to the background, and attached a random filter.

Simply using the free video editing software iMovie from Apple, I was able to create my very first “video edit”. Although the video isn’t my best, it serves as the very first step that I took on my journey to learning the art of videography.

Although it might look slightly complicated, above is a screenshot of what iMovie’s workspace looks like while creating a video.

Everyone’s personal journey with videography starts differently than others. Although this stands true, below are a few of my personal tips that can help anyone master the art of videography.

My Tips for Getting Started:

• Keep it simple: Although in today’s media-driven world numerous editing softwares that exist, if you’re just starting out, don’t concern yourself with spending a large sum of money on a well-known editing software. Simply stick to the basics. For the vast majority of my videography career, I have used iMovie to create all of my videos. The software is truly user-friendly and is very easy to learn.
• Record everything: When it comes to creating the perfect video, you never know what will make or break your video. Having your camera ready to go and charged for any adventure you take is one of the most important aspects of being a videographer is being ready for anything. Don’t miss a great video opportunity because you didn’t have your camera on!
• Tell a story: If you want to truly gain a following through your content, it is crucial that you tell a story through your videography. Whether it be a family trip or a wild adventure with friends, if you can get your audience engaged through your videography, you can become successful.

I hope all of the information above will help you on your personal journey with videography. If you have any additional questions or comments, let me know in the comments below!