Pick and Prep Your Spot
- Find a cool location. Look for things that pop—rocks, flowers, streams, birds.
- Check the light. Early morning or late afternoon (“golden hour”) gives the prettiest colors.
- Check the weather. Aim for clear, calm days so wind and rain don’t mess up your video.
- Ask permission. If it’s a park or protected area, make sure you’re allowed to film there.
Gather Your Gear
- 360° camera (e.g., Insta360, Ricoh Theta, GoPro MAX)
- Tripod or monopod so your shot stays rock-steady
- Extra batteries & memory cards (360° video eats both fast!)
- Optional extras:
- A small microphone with a wind cover for clearer sound
- ND filters (think sunglasses for your camera lens) if you want slow-motion or really bright skies
Set Up Your Shot
- Mount it level. Make sure your camera sits flat on the tripod.
- Max out resolution. Pick the highest setting (often called 5.7K or 6K).
- Lock your white balance. Avoid “Auto” mode so colors won’t suddenly shift.
- Go manual on exposure (sometimes labeled “Pro” mode) to keep brightness steady.
Film Like a Pro (But Easy)
- Move slowly. Walk under 1 ft/sec or pan super-smoothly. Fast moves look shaky in 360°.
- Record ambient sound. Before you start hiking, film 10–15 sec without moving—this “room tone” helps later when you edit.
Get Your Footage to Your Computer
- Plug your camera into your computer (or use its Wi-Fi app).
- Create a folder, e.g.:
CopyMy360Hike/ Day1/ Day2/ Exports/
- Copy your video files into “Day1,” “Day2,” etc.
(Optional) Make Smaller Files
If your computer slows down, you can convert big videos into lower-resolution “proxies” in your editing app—then swap back to the originals before you export.
Edit & Stitch (If Needed)
- Stitch raw files with your camera’s free app (e.g., Insta360 Studio) so they look seamless.
- Import into any video editor you know (iMovie, DaVinci Resolve, Premiere Pro with 360° plug-in).
- Cut out mistakes and put clips in order
- Adjust color & sound: tweak brightness, balance your ambient audio, and remove wind noise if you can.
Add Titles & Overlays
- Use your editor’s 360° tools so text “sticks” in place.
- Keep words short and put them against the sky or a flat background.
Export for YouTube
- Format: MP4 (H.264 or H.265)
- Resolution: Match your original (e.g., 5760 × 2880 for 5.7K)
- Frame rate: Same as you shot (24, 30, or 60 fps)
- Quality: Choose the highest bitrate your editor offers
- 360° Metadata: Turn on any “This is VR/360 video” option in your export settings.
Upload & Share
- Sign in to YouTube and click Create ▶ Upload videos.
- Select your exported file.
- Title it with “360°” (for example: “Sunset Trail 360° Hike”).
- Description: Add the place, date, and any fun facts.
- Under Video elements, make sure YouTube knows it’s 360°—choose “Monoscopic” unless you’ve shot in 3D.
- Pick or upload a thumbnail (a still image that shows off your scene).
- Set visibility (Public, Unlisted, or schedule a publish time).
- Publish, then test it on your phone or in a VR viewer to make sure it works!