>>most of the video was shots of the shows we were at.

Ok. So that's your story .. that's what you shot .. Just take it in the order you shot it .. that's the story you are telling ... It's really simple. What you shot is the story ! .. Just take it in order using only the very best stuff .. if there are gaps, find a way to smooth it over -- maybe with "voice over" by your daughter .. If it plays too long and is boring .. find a way to speed it up .. move it along .. cut it down .. maybe bridge it with an "on camera" interview you shoot in post-production .. Or do a voice over in post-production that cuts into the piece as if it was "live" sound at the time .. Be creative -- but keep focused on the story you actually shot --. Just use the best stuff -- and show what happened.

Of course, most important .. You are head of the studio .. do it your way.

Just another point

1.if you did not shoot to a story board you can’t script before you edit. The script will then follow the edit sequence. the voice over will sequence and time to the edit and script .....you can’t go back and shoot stuff you don’t have.

You make a good point Rory .. But 99% of Home Video is shot on the fly -- no planning. But your point is well taken -- a little planning would go a long way and you can't go back and get shots you wished you had later.

On the other side of this issue is that you are on vacation. How much time and effort do you want to devote to the video? Taking it all too seriously and trying to make a masterpiece just doesn't sync up with having a really good time for most people -- especially hauling a tripod around..

There are some solutions to bridge the gaps. I wouldn't call it planning, but I generally do "on camera" comments AT THE TIME. This helps. What's interesting is that later - at home - I usually find out, through internet research, far more about where I've been and what I've seen than when I am there. The whole process is fun for me and enriching. If someone else likes the video -- great -- but I really do it because I like doing it !!

Here's an example that turned out scripted but after the fact:

Very nice and informative vid xberk! Actually kept my interest all the way thru. There were a couple of really nice shots in there especially of the Nobel Blue Hall.

Galways Irish Pub caught my attention, a nice cold black and tan in the middle of Stockholm.

This documentary narrative is definitely something I'd like to try on one of my next video projects.

Is there a reference to baseline industry formula as to how long to narrate before cutting to scenes and what type of clips to use and when?

>> Is there a reference to baseline industry formula as to how long to narrate before cutting to scenes and what type of clips to use and when?

Baseline industry formula? What types of clips to use and when? Hmmmmm ...... never heard of it .. but I haven't heard of everything ..

I'm sure some one -- some place in the history of film devised such a thing .. But they likely shot him without time to pray ... No ... I don't mean to be flip -- it was an honest question .. but really -- in my view, there is no such thing -- nor should there be such a thing .. naturally, we all borrow and conform somewhat to those film makers who have gone before us -- we don't re-invent the whole thing .. just give it our own feel -- style ..

Glad you liked the Trip Video .. I have tremendous fun doing them ..

Byron - I don't remember which video it was, but there were a series of three windows flew in one after another and then all three stayed on the screen.

Rory - xberk is spot on....the video was taken because I could, not because I knew how I was going to use it. I also think my family would have revolted on me if I scripted things out. They were pretty good sports as I was whipping between my video camera and DSLR, and then constantly changing lenses on my DSLR.

You guys are saying what I am saying… as xberk put it “after the fact”

In practical terms the video you have is put together first to make a story not necessary in chronological order but to some sort of storyline then is scripted afterward to suit the video edit.
Most EPK’s are handled that way so the cameraman out of experience will look for those interesting cutaways because he knows they will be fillers in edit.
Prepare, teach yourself to mentally put the clip together in your mind while filming. Look for the extreme close up and those little things that give input to the scene after all an image is worth more than a thousand words.

In practical terms the ship image would have been my opener and the princess cruises sign image the next, those two images without any words tells me what where and when.