Happy 2024 Local Guides!
New year, new me. As a resolution for 2024, a handful of Local Guides have shared their focus on uploading more videos onto Google Maps. As such, I am delving into another category on Maps where you can capture videos: Nature and Parks.
Nature and Parks is one of the first categories of places on Maps that I focused on filming. It provided a great entryway to get into the flow of adding more video content. For one, it has a lower “barrier” to entry. Sometimes it can feel awkward to film in public places, so it can be nice to get used to filming in a more open and less crowded space. You can build up your confidence from there.
So what can you film at Nature and Parks locations?
I created a tutorial video that goes over ideas of what elements you can capture with video at Nature spots. I’ve included real-life example clips that I have added to Google Maps. I hope these ideas help and inspire you in adding videos to Nature spots on Google Maps.
Below, I provide a text summary of the tutorial video:
Here are 5 ideas of what you can include in your Google Maps videos of Nature and Parks:
1. Trailhead Area
Video can be used to showcase the trailhead area as well as nearby amenities such as trailheads and restrooms. When filming, you can show the trailhead sign, the view from the trailhead, and other amenities nearby. You can also highlight accessibility features such as when panning around the trailhead area/parking lot- you can film any ramps, railing, handicap parking, and more. Additionally you can film the visitor center, if there is one.
2. Bird’s-eye View
With a video shot from a bird’s eye view, you help the viewer better visualize the height of the trail. A bird’s-eye view can also provide that aerial overview of the nature park.
To film that, you will want to position yourself at a higher point in the park. For example, in a mountainous trail, I typically try to walk up closer to the summit (I find even halfway up, I’m able to get a pretty good bird’s-eye POV.)
3. Trail Accessibility
Potential visitors to a park may want to know if the trails are beginner friendly or accessible to walk on. You can capture the scenery along with what the trail looks like to get two birds with one stone. For example, you can show through your video if the trail is steep, flat, rocky, etc.
4. Movement/ Sound
Videos allow you to capture movement/ sound in a nature park. Nature sounds are relaxing, and a photo would be unable to let others hear those sounds. You would also be unable to capture movement with photos.
5. Landmarks
You can use video to capture any major landmarks in the park. Videos allow for a more 3D, immersive feeling and you can showcase multiple angles of a landmark- which can also aid in visualizing size. For example, when filming from the ground up- it can allow a better height perspective of a landmark in a park.