Please. Selfie sticks were sooo 2015. We are entering an era of something new, something more fabulous, something way more genuine and real. Entering 2018 we are going to see a huge rise in the use of 360 photos and videos and what’s more, it will change the way you experience your travel! You’re going to want to take a 360-degree camera with you on your next vacation, and here’s why.

Well, for one thing, DSLR cameras are bulky. No surprise here, these cameras take up a lot of valuable space, which is a big deal when it comes to packing for your travels. Lenses, tripods, microphones, charger, extra battery pack, DSLR cameras come with a lot of accessories and are pretty high maintenance.

Let’s face it, I was super stoked when I got my DSLR camera as a gift from my family. They knew that photography was a hobby of mine and they wanted to encourage it. So what was the problem? Well, DSLR cameras aren’t that easy to figure out. Sure you could go in automatic mode, point and click, but if that was the idea, I could have easily used my smartphone the same way. So, I signed up for photography lessons so I could figure out what all the buttons, settings, and modes are for. If you just want a camera to capture the moments during your trip, is it really necessary to become an “expert” photographer first? Can you say the same for 360 cameras? Not really.

The Simplicity of a 360 Camera

Don’t get me wrong, I absolutely love my DSLR camera. My sore neck, shoulders, and back, on the other hand, weren’t too happy about me carrying it around my travels across Europe. Sure, smartphones can do the trick, but what if you’re looking for something more? Enter 360-degree cameras.

They are wireless, they are easy to use, and they are tiny! You can easily store it and carry it around without the extra weight. They are generally hassle-free, and you can use them without any extra accessories or gear. OK, do I think that it’s the absolute replacement for all photography? Not yet, no, but it certainly is a great option to consider.

Using them is really not as difficult as you’d expect. Most 360 cameras are pretty straightforward, featuring only one or two buttons! Setting them up is simple enough, and you can do it in a way that doesn’t necessarily turn heads, because again, they’re small and easy to miss.

Oh yeah, and you can start sharing your footage with friends on Facebook, on YouTube, Flickr and what’s more,  you can start streaming 360 goodness live! There are several platforms where you can put up your own content, share and even embed them into your own blogs or websites, so this might be the biggest trend to hit travel blogs in our very near future.

360 Experience for You and Your Viewers

What, you might ask, makes 360 photos so much better than the traditional photos that we’re used to? Well, what you end up capturing is something much more real, raw and genuine. While with my DSLR, or even my smartphone I might focus on composition and lighting and what I want the focus of my photo to be, 360 photography helps me to show reality, what I saw, exactly as I saw it.

Traditional photos also have their limitations. Imagine yourself hiking in a forest with trees so high, they take your breath away… even a normal panorama wouldn’t be able to capture that scene in all of its glory. Of course, when you look at the final results, it’s not so much looking as it is experiencing, and that makes all the difference in the world.  

And then comes the fun part, sharing! The world of Virtual Reality is still new and uncharted, which means it still has it’s wow factor. Your friends can check it out online, or they can wear a VR headset, like the Samsung Gear VR or something more humble like the Google Cardboard. Either way, the experience is incomparable. It’s the next best thing to being there.

But wait, the best is in the process of capturing! Let’s face it, we’re all guilty of going to those odd, quirky, hard-to-reach places just for that inspiring and original Instagram photo. Well, 360 photography has a very similar effect on your travel and photography habits. You will soon find yourself heading out to more adventurous, open, panoramic friendly spaces, adding a little bit of spice to your overall travel experience on the way. While you’re out there trying to capture the craziest travel experience possible in a 360-degree video, you’re out there having the craziest travel experience. What’s not to love?

We at 360Stories take 360 photography and video capturing seriously. We think it’s the best way to share stories and experiences with a large community of people. Check back with us again soon and check out our suggested 360 camera list so that you can start getting in on the action!