Sometimes we're just overwhelmed by the situation and at a loss as to what even to begin photographing. As an editor, Michael Chaskes knows what he looks for when going through a director's footage, and he has some recommendations for shots that will come in handy:
"Signage," he says. "Anywhere that's being filmed, find at least one identifying sign and get a good 5-10 steady seconds of footage of it." This will help you to remember where all the shots are from and can be useful to show the viewer as well.

From there, he recommends getting images that show your locations in multiple ways. "If you're in a scenic location (say, a cathedral)," he goes on, "don't just take wide shots or the same pan back and forth. Get as many close-up detail shots as possible and as great a variety of angles as possible. Particularly if one is planning to add voiceover describing aspects of the location, it's important to actually get usable shots of that aspect. Also, be sure to get exterior shots of any location, even if you're primarily interested in (and shooting) the interior."

Finally, Chaskes continues, "Get footage of your cars/trains/planes/boats (and train stations, airports, docks) - that could be useful as transitional footage to move the video from one location to another."

As viewers, we're taught that some things are interesting - motion is one of them. Try shots that involve pans and zooms. Start, for example, with a closeup of a person who explains: "Here we are at the Parthenon!" Zoom out and pan to reveal the structure. You can also start wide and pan and zoom to a tight object, perhaps an architectural detail or your hotel room window. Use creative angles: try shooting from ground level or from a high vantage point, such as your hotel balcony. Use zooms sparingly; nobody wants to watch a shot that zooms in and out over and over, but a single zoom, especially as an element of a more complex shot that includes smooth tilts or pans, can be a very effective way of drawing your viewers in or discovering scale.

The Eiffel Tower is in Paris. We all know this. It's been there for years, and it'll probably be there for many years to come. What hasn't been there for years and what will only be there for fleeting minutes are you and your family. It's great to see the Eiffel Tower, but what your viewers really want to see is your reaction to it. Don't videotape a sign telling the history of the tower, and don't videotape the tour guide talking about it (except to use as reference later) - videotape your daughter telling us about the tower. What does she remember from the tour? What does she think of when she sees it? What was her impression of the elevator ride? Videotape your husband talking about how much it cost to eat at the restaurant at the top. Videotape your attempts at speaking French.

Over the years your memories will fade. That's why it's important to capture your reactions on the spot - try videotaping a nightly wrap-up of the day's events, where you talk with one another about what you did and what you liked best. If you're by yourself, put the camera on a tripod or set it on a piece of furniture and videotape your own summary.