Fellow Travel Video Blogger with Kelley Ferro of www.Tripfilms.com

This weeks interview with a fellow travel video blogger is with the lovely Kelley Ferro from Tripfilms.com . I first met Kelley this past June in Vancouver and have since met up with her again in New York, Puerto Rico and London and that was never once planned. It’s nice to meet someone else like myself that goes on a lot of sporadic trips around the world. However Kelley has one up on me because she has a pretty awesome job and which she traveled to most of those places for, where often I was there on my own dime. Keep reading to learn more about Kelley and click HERE for interviews with more Travel Video Bloggers.

Photo by: Jordan Hollander

Who: Kelley Ferro

What: www.Tripfilms.com Twitter: @KelleyFerro

Facebook: Facebook.com/Tripfilms

TripFilms: www.tripfilms.com/users/Kelley

You should watch: NYC Trip Tips: The Apple Store One of Kelley’s first Tripfilms videos from 2008!

1.       Can you tell us a bit about yourself and your job at Tripfilms. 

I am the manager at Tripfilms, so the core of my work is in facilitating all our Tripfilms original productions, marketing, distribution and new promotional campaigns. My focus  really changes from week to week as one week I’ll be working with designers to prep for our annual Trippy Awards, another I’ll be licensing videos to television networks and another ill be coordinating a full scale travel show production with a tourism board. I’m often on the phone giving feedback and encouragement to new vloggers just getting in the field, and today I strategized how Tripfilms would help a long time vlogger team to publicize their feature length travel documentary. I’m basically a champion for travel video from all angles!

The other side to my job is hosting and filming several shows on Tripfilms, the most recent being Get Lost & Go Local, Top Boutique Hotels & A New York Minute. This is what I find to really excite me and I’ve learned so much from working in the field for the last four years.

As for me– I love biking, tennis, languages, sarcasm and being within a mile of the ocean. Though I spent 18 years in Vermont- many, many miles from the ocean. I’m equally comfortable in a hostel bunk bed and 1500 thread count luxe king. I think each day is a chance to learn, explore, love and seize the day.

2. Was it your job that got you motivated to start traveling? 

The first trip I can remember was to the Bahamas, when I was three. Images from that trip have never left me and ever since then, travel has been just a part of me. I loved learning about the world first hand and once you feel that spark light up, nothing else can stop it from burning. I never questioned that my job would involve travel and I’m so lucky to have found an ideal fit for me at Tripfilms.

3. Did you have any previous video experience before Tripfilms?

I had minimal video experience–I started a travel website as my senior project at Tufts University where I filmed and edited short videos on top things to do for college kids in the Boston area. I acted in student films and I played around with taking video on trips, but it was sparse.

4. Aside from yourself, do you have any favourite people that make travel videos? Anyone that has inspired you or whom you just enjoy good content from?

I would never say that I’m my favorite! I actually find it tough to watch myself so I much prefer watching others. I’m truly inspired every day when I watch the latest uploads on Tripfilms and the quality is skyrocketing! I’m constantly amazed by the stories that our filmmakers share–most recently, I’m loving the work from Duzer, AdventureSauce, DimeTraveler, TravelingJules, Gone with the Wynns… there’s just too many to name! It’s like picking children- I love the whole brood equally for different reasons.

5. What has been your favourite travel video that you have made to date?
Gosh, each one has a story. I loved the video about coffee that I made while on assignment in Puerto Rico (with you Cailin!). That video required a lot of blood, sweat and tears–getting lost solo in a post-hurricane countryside with no way to contact anyone and minimal Spanish:

My assignment for the Austrian Tourism Board was also a blast and I think my favorite video from that 9 day whirlwind was this one:

I want to go everywhere but I’m really dying for a 3 month stint traveling around Southeast Asia.

7. Do you have any tips for other people who are wanting to start making travel videos?

Just go and do it. Don’t be intimidated by all the professional stuff out there. Your story is just as valuable and the quality will come with practice.  I can’t tell you how many people tell me they are going to make videos, or are even commissioned by us that don’t end up making anything. Sometimes the first hurdle is just pressing start.

8. What equipment do you use? Camera? Editing program? Type of computer?
I use a Sony HandyCam (upgrading), Sennhauser Wireless mics, GoPro HD Hero 2, Final Cut Express (upgrading) and am plotting to purchase an HDSLR very soon. Computer? Mac all the way baby.

9. Vimeo or Youtube? (aside from Tripfilms of course haha)
Vimeo just has stunning picture quality and I just don’t love all the extraneous clutter of YouTube. They both serve purposes though. For community, sharing, assignments opportunities and support, no where else but Tripfilms.

(Ps. We are using Vimeo as a model for our new Tripfilms player! Debut T-1 month!)

10. Do you have any suggestions for other people to best promote their videos?

You have to be your own biggest fan. Videos get watched if you share them with your friends, family, followers–so don’t be shy about sharing. There’s certainly a limit to that but sharing via Facebook, Twitter, emails, blogs and more are all important.
The quickest way to exposure is creating something from the heart, that you believe in and that teaches or inspires or amazes. These are the facets that make videos go viral and the sharing takes a life of it’s own.

11.  How long do you suggest a video should be 2min? 10min? A good length to keep people watching but not bore them?

For the online viewer, even one minute videos are valuable. But to develop more of a story, 2-4 minutes might be necessary. If you have a 10+ minute video, perhaps break it up into segments. Online viewers want to seek out exactly what they want and they are used to getting that information quickly.

11.  How much advanced planning do you put into your videos?

As much as I possibly can. I try to have a really good idea of what the video will look like before I even start shooting. I also try to be as versed as I can on the subject, place, person so I can talk freely as I think scripted videos sound…scripted.

12. Music is often a difficult thing to find for videos, do you have any sites that you recommend for people to get free music from?

The best situation is if you have a musician friend or a small band/group/composer looking for some publicity. Otherwise, you can sample under 30 seconds on non-licensed websites. Ping me and I’ll send you a list!

13. Do you edit from the road often? Do you find it easy to edit on the road?

I want to get better at this but as of now, I rarely edit from the road. My film trips are anywhere from 4 to 10 days, and usually there is not even sufficient time to film as much as we need too, let alone edit.

14. Do you see a future past tripfilms? Do you think travel videos will always be something you do?

Travel video is my passion and I hope to be able to continue to produce and host video on an even bigger scale. I plan on traveling until my body doesn’t let me, and even then I’ll find a way, so the videos will continue!

15. Do you have any horror stories from the road where an interview or something you wanted to film didn’t work as planned?

I think the “horror” stories usually end up being opportunities to create something even better. I’ve been told not to film, had people clam up on camera, lost/forgot chargers, had to purchase new camera (and then return it! shhh…) for a story–things always go wrong. You just have to do as much advance planning, triple checking and in the end, be ready to improvise on the fly. Don’t be afraid to ask for help. Or to throw away all your plans :)

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