@AZ_2021 I certainly never saw this scenario coming. Video is definitely not my thing, but I guess I’ll have to adjust with the changing times. Now I’ll have to make an extra special to find a suitable subject to test my video skills on.
2 Likes
@TravellerG This is a really surprising demand for Videos to be taken in Portrait, after all the guidance for our Photos to be taken in Landscape. I wonder what @AdamGT says to all this.
3 Likes
Hi, LG friend, @tony_b
“… after all the guidance for our Photos to be taken in Landscape…”
Even today, my hand rotates to Landscape while thinking of any video. But, since I heard about the “VERTICAL VIDEOS” as tomorrow’s… Trying to practice…
Of course, we would love to hear the view of our dear Moderator friend @AdamGT …
Regards
3 Likes
“… I’ll have to make an extra special to find a suitable subject to test my video skills on. …”
I don’t think so… After all we have the photographic skills… Just the orientation will not be a very big deal…
This what I had experienced…
Thanks for your valuable companionship… Dear @tony_b
2 Likes
You will recall that I posted questions on video to Google Maps Product Manager, Masa here and regarding orientation, his reply was “Vertical (portrait) videos are preferred since a majority of Maps users are on mobile devices. We can handle horizontal (landscape) videos as well, but vertical videos look larger and are more immersive.” I’m still in two minds about this and in the back of my head I even wonder what the impact on these issues will be of technological advancements as in foldable smartphones like the Motorola Razr+ and Motorola Razr, and of course the Google Pixel Fold.
4 Likes
Nice share @Rednewt74
Love your detailed response. I didn’t know that your hobby is shooting video- how cool! Same here, I’m no pro either but it is nice how video is something that brings us some fun.
You are amazing, going above and beyond and making sure to edit the content.
Just watched your videos. I’m blown away by the quality and clarity of them. You truly put effort into it, and it shows. 
3 Likes
Interesting points @AdamGT for the compatibility with the new devices.
Thank you for sharing as well @TravellerG . You are always so helpful in the comments.
3 Likes
@AZ_2021 ,
Thank you for the positive feedback.
I’ll add more tomorrow, just wanted you to know I saw this.
2 Likes
You are most welcome, my dear friend @AZ_2021 .
1 Like
Awesome @Rednewt74
I love the end result, but have absolutely no idea how I’d accomplish anything like that.
1 Like
@tony_b ,
It’s actually a lot easier than it looks. If you’re really interested in looking into it, I highly recommend CapCut. I’m not crazy about the fact that it’s a tick tock product, but it is very easy to use. You can trim and stabilize video, you can do the Ken Burns effect where you zoom in or pan on the still photo, adjust color and brightness and add transitions between the photos or clips.
The processing is fast and you can choose to upload the finished video in HD to Google photos. Unfortunately most of the tutorials are done by tiktokers and are not really that useful. I suppose if people are interested I could try and make a tutorial designed for local guides. What do you think?
@AZ_2021 , what do you think of photo montage in terms of adding value. I think It achieves the same goal of as panning around the in a video.
2 Likes
Thank you for sharing the tips @Rednewt74
Love to see how you actively discuss those ideas with other Guides as well.
I haven’t tried photo montage yet for videos. I like a short and sweet video better… but let’s see what other Guides think.
1 Like
@AZ_2021 ,
Yesterday I posted the video of the Blueberry Haus that I used to make the split screen comparision in my post on stabilization. In his Series on Storefront photography, @MortenCopenhagen , discusses the issue of Google Maps cropping images to square thumbnails which does not work well with portrait (vertical) images, and therefore advises against using that aspect for storefront images (and I believe in general).
With focus on going to Vertical format videos, the same problem exists. You are going to need the first frame of the video to have the important part of the image centered top to bottom. Otherwise things will look like this.
Just something else to keep in mind. The Capcut app I have been referring to allows you to choose a thumbnail. I haven’t tested to see if Maps will use if to make its thumbnail.
3 Likes
Thanks again @Rednewt74 . I’m doing a few basic video experiments first before I start to dig in so deep. I already got one surprise from my poor effort on Saturday - a video and a photo of the same subject. The video won with 140 views as of today, with only 38 for the photo so far. Looking convincing already.
2 Likes
@tony_b ,
I am trying to shoot video every time I do a new POI. But the vertical format just seems so boring to me. There have to be good places to use it, but for storefronts I think it is pointless- which isn’t to say I’m not doing it.
2 Likes
I just checked and in Capcut if you choose a thumbnail, Google Maps does do its crop from that image.
1 Like
Nice findings @Rednewt74
I never knew that if you use Capcut, it can allow you to choose the cover. Thank you for sharing your test results and shedding light how a random still (especially with portrait formatting) may not correctly show a correct or full representation of the location.
2 Likes
Wow, love how you compared the video vs photos- and interesting to see how the numbers back up that videos seem to gain more views. @tony_b
1 Like
@AZ_2021 ,
Unlike YouTube I don’t think it’s a random still but it’s the first frame of your video. And as to the thumbnail you can actually choose a photo to use for it, although I think it, would have to be in your video as well haven’t checked that part., you can shorten the playtime to just half a second or stick it at the end and shorten it.
1 Like
The evidence isn’t conclusive yet, but that video and photo continue to get more views. Today (Friday), the numbers are approximately double what they were three days ago (Tuesday), with the video still in the lead. I need to find another opportunity to repeat this test at another POI.
1 Like