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20 Aug 2015

GoPro Essentials for Beginners


My GoPro is my favourite camera that I own by far. It's definitely the world's most versatile camera. It's lightweight, compact and durable for any situation. Over time i've learned how to create pretty decent videos, in my opinion, and I really love using it whenever I do something that I'd consider exciting, and warrants using the action camera. Here are some of the accessories I use to capture my videos!

When I first got it I was so excited to start using it. I saw the videos people were creating with them, and just expected them to be good, but if you happen to get one and finally start using it, you'll soon realize this isn't the case at all!

GoPro: Professional Guide to Filmmaking

This official guidebook to creating GoPro videos is really amazing! It really teaches you different techniques in capturing your videos, and creating content. It also teaches you the way the official GoPro YouTube channel creates their videos. The book is $40, but I think it's totally worth it. I loved reading about the history of the company, along with better techniques in creating awesome videos. The camera itself is an investment, so in my opinion you should buy the book in order to use this investment to the best of your abilities. You can pick up the book at local bookstore, or you can even buy it in the iBooks store.

GoPole Bobber or Evo

The GoPole Bobber was my first accessory purchase for my GoPro. It's a really great handheld pole that stabilizes your videos more, and what's even more awesome is that it floats in water. The pole is yellow, with a rubberized grip surrounding it. The yellow allows it to stand out in water if you happen to let go of it. I really love how handy is it, and even comes with a wrist strap, and a carabiner, which is personally the thing I would rather use. The Bobber is also a great price, which you can get at their website here! You can also go for the Evo which basically floats as well, and extends which links to my next essential...

GoPole or Extending Handle

Honestly, if the Evo were on sale when I bought the Bobber I would have boughten that instead, but it wasn't so I had to get a separate extending handle. Luckily, my friend got it for me for Christmas so that was awesome. An extending pole is an essential to get certain shots that maybe harder to get, but be aware that your video can become shakier if you extend the pole, and move it around too much. I like to use the extending handle when I'm trying  to film through something like a fence, or I'm trying to get a higher view of something.

GoPro Mounts and Extra Screws

I think have a few mounts and screws near by can be really helpful. I've had mounts the moment I got my GoPro, because I got some kind of deal so they gave me some flat and curved mounts, along with something for a bike helmet, and I didn't use any of it until a year later basically when I finally decided to place it on a new helmet that I bought. Having extra screws can also be handy whenever you lose one, or you need extras for mounts such as the 3 arm extension mount.

External Battery Pack or Charging Cubes

GoPro's are awesome, but their batteries aren't. I'd recommend either buying an extra battery or just going for an external battery charger, because you'd be surprised how quickly your GoPro can die, and it's not fun to be out of battery! If you don't have an external charger then some extra charging cubes work just as well. Just find a plug somewhere to charge your camera!

So there you have it! If you're considering purchasing one or have already bought one then these are the essentials I strongly recommend. I'm not amazing at filmmaking, but my videos have gotten significantly better with these tips. Check out some of the videos on my YouTube channel.



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