No matter where you're traveling in the world, you'll want to take some of those memories back with you. And if you love capturing them on Instagram, you're in luck. Condé Nast Traveller India spoke to some of the best travel creators in South Asia—including Larissa D’sa, Wander with Sky’s Aakash Malhotra, Savi and Vid of Bruised Passports, Siddhartha Joshi, and Revati and Charles Victor of Different Doors—for their tips on creating travel Reels for Instagram and putting your best foot forward on the Explore page. Here is your ultimate guide to making the next viral travel Reel.
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How do you start making a travel Reel for Instagram?
Malhotra begins with a clear-cut plan when making a Reel. “When crafting a compelling travel Reel, there are five key principles to bear in mind,” he says. “Prioritize high-quality footage and unique perspectives. Weave a narrative: Keep it personal and authentic. Emotions over beauty: Capture the essence of the locale. Audio is king: Choose complementary soundtracks. And lastly, timing matters: Share high-resolution content within the optimal timeframe.”
Savi and Vid stress that the video needs to be representative of the experience you are having or want viewers to have: “Be it a place you’re traveling to or somewhere you’re dining! It needs to be impactful. If you can capture the audience within the first half, then that’s a sure-shot winner. Trending music is a no-brainer.”
For D’sa, it needs to feel authentic and real. “I have to keep it authentic, else it's not me,” she says. “Going viral should never be the reason to make a Reel. When you are truly enjoying yourself in a video, it shows. And that joy is infectious. Even though the quality of the video is of utmost importance, having fun and looking beyond trends is the key.”
Revati and Charles suggest being clear on what you are trying to communicate. “Some useful information? A beautiful view? It’s then easier to make decisions while shooting, rather than ending up with a lot of footage that you don’t really like or can use.” They also recommend being the face of your Reel. “Don’t be afraid or shy to get in front of the camera! And talk. People love listening to people and seeing their faces to be able to put a face to the voice.”
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What equipment do you use to make a travel Reel?
“When it comes to crafting cinematic Reels, my go-to gear includes the iPhone 14 Pro,” says Malhotra. However, he also relies on a versatile array of equipment to elevate his content. “I use the Sony Alpha ZV-E1 for vlogs, accompanied by a selection of lenses tailored to specific needs. The DJI Mavic 3 takes care of breathtaking aerial shots, while the DJI Avata provides wide-angle drone shots. In addition, my trusty GoPro HERO 12 swoops in to capture all the action.”
D’sa says, “95% of my Reels are shot on camera. But an iPhone camera is good enough to start.” While Savi and Vid use a full-frame camera, their phones, and a tripod to make their Reels with a multi-camera setup. Joshi also uses his iPhone camera to film most videos.
For Revati and Charles, it depends on the situation at hand. “Our trusted Sony a7R III camera is for when we need stellar footage." An iPhone camera works for easy shots; a Hollyland Lark Wireless Microphone for clear voice-overs, and to talk over distances.
Malhotra says, “If you're embarking on your journey as a travel Reel creator on Instagram, you'll be pleased to know that an iPhone is your all-in-one solution. In fact, it's the only equipment I believe you truly need.” Revati and Charles add, “The best camera is the one you already have and know how to use! It’s simple, shoots some great footage and doesn’t have a steep learning curve. There are people who’ve shot such fabulous films with just their phones!”
Savi and Vid suggest you add a portable ring light to your kit to make closeup shots look instantly better.
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Which apps or software do you use to edit videos?
“To fine-tune my masterpieces, I turn to a variety of editing tools. On my laptop, I rely on Final Cut Pro for comprehensive edits. When on the move, VN Video Editor is my choice for mobile editing, and I also harness the native Instagram Reels tab for those final touches,” says Malhotra.
Joshi also suggests the VN Video Editor app for edits on the go: “For those just starting out, simplicity is the key to success. You can accomplish most of your edits using the Instagram app itself. Remember, consistency is the linchpin of growth. Begin there, and venture into more advanced editing techniques as you go.”
For Savi and Vid, Adobe Premiere Pro takes the cake. “I enjoy playing around with fonts, grading, and colors. There are countless phone-friendly apps like InShot and Filmm that are great for beginners or for established creators to edit on the go.” D’sa uses Premiere Pro on her laptop too, but she prefers InShot for on-phone editing. “Though it might sound time-consuming, I would always recommend learning desktop-based software before one on a phone. That truly makes learning the process on the phone quicker. I personally started with Adobe Premiere on my laptop, but there is DaVinci Resolve, which is arguably the best and has a free version too.”
Revati and Charles use a MacBook Pro to edit. “It helps to have an SSD drive and a large-capacity Drobo to archive can save and access all the footage for later use. Of course, sometimes it’s as simple as shooting with your phone and editing on it, either with templates or with editing apps like VLLO. The edit must roughly be in your head before you shoot. Our 35-odd years of collective experience in shooting commercial films have etched that in our minds. Take people through a journey or discovery. Every piece of content is a story, even just info-dispensing ones! As a process, do a rough lineup, without worrying about the exact points you want to cut. If it makes sense, then begin cutting precisely. Walk away from it for a bit, and you will often return with great ideas. If you have a voice-over, having that in place with your rough cut will tell you whether you need fewer or more words. The superimposed text should be limited to just the few things you want to emphasize.”
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What’s the key to a catchy caption on Instagram?
“Try to be unique with your words, and don’t be afraid to make it emotional. That’s when you will be able to create an interesting caption that connects with your audience,” says D’sa. While Joshi says, “Treat each reel differently. Ideally, keep it short, but in some cases, you might need to add more information in the description that wasn't in the reel, or cue to a bigger story.”
Savi and Vid aren’t afraid to keep their captions bulky: “We’ve always been storytellers, so we love writing long and meaningful captions. I would say one should go with their instinct while penning captions. If you enjoy short and impactful captions, go the one-line route! But if words give you joy or you have valuable information to share, write a lengthy descriptive one.”
“Don’t forget to provide any context or background info that you couldn’t add in the reel,” say Revati and Charles. “Ask a question—it’s great to get more engagement and comments. Write in your own voice, and make sure you don’t use phrases that you’d never utter. Use hashtags and keywords for added discoverability, and put relevant information in (cost, location, timings, etc). Lastly, since it’s happened to us, please don’t copy someone else’s caption!”
Malhotra adds, “Crafting an engaging caption is an art in itself. Here's the secret: Keep it concise and relatable. Always remember, that your caption serves as the second point of engagement. This means that if someone enjoys what they see in your reel, they'll be inclined to delve deeper into your caption. So, make your caption an extension of the story your video tells.”
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What shouldn't you do when making travel videos?
“Make sure your content isn’t being uploaded in low-resolution. Remember that timing is everything. Don't post when your potential audience is catching the z's and try avoiding non-trending audios,” says Malhotra.
Savi and Vid suggest that you do not “overdo the filters and colors, as overly processed reels tend not to do well. Avoid too much text [on the video itself]. It gets tough to read and people love watching and listening more than reading. And don’t just copy trends mindlessly. If it’s you, then go for it.”
Joshi says, “Copying someone else’s style might work for a while, but you need to develop your own aesthetic. We personally feel there are no strict no's, except reels promoting irresponsible behavior that can cause societal harm, such as littering in public places, ignoring driving rules to film sensational content, or reinforcing sexist stereotypes,” say Savi and Vid.
Revati and Charles add, “Just post. Don’t wait to gold-plate it. The more you do it, the better you’ll get. Don’t worry so much about what people are going to think or how you look. You’re forgotten at the start of the next reel!”
A version of this article originally appeared in Condé Nast Traveller India.