What's a good length for a dive video?

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Dive Belle

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Messages
14
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Location
Florida
# of dives
100 - 199
I typically make my videos around 2:30-3:30 minutes long, but I'm wondering how long other people cut their videos? I don't want to lose the viewer for having a video run for too long, although I have some footage I think would make about a 5 minute video. Thanks!
 
Not a maker; just someone who sometimes watches some of these things. Got a question for you; since video is a medium for communication, what are you trying to communicate? Is it voyeuristic 'dive porn' - look at what I saw? Is it to teach people about a destination? Or a resort? Or tour a dive boat? Is it to help a person plan a trip?

What you've got to say, and why, has an impact on length, right?

Richard.
 
Most all of my videos are for show-and-tell for family and for me to look back on in the dead of winter and remember the dives. For those purposes, mine run kind of long (10-13 minutes) and wouldn't be good for general consumption. I would not expect the general scuba population to find them interesting. But that's not the intent. They're for me (mostly) and my daughter and her boyfriend (to watch once).

I did one video of my dives at a "famous" resort to show what the diving was really like. It was absolutely nothing like their hype and their videos. Even though it was short it was boring - because that's what the diving was like - every site the same, no fish and poor viz. I should have done better due dilligence before wasting a ton of money on this trip. If the vid helps someone to make a more informed decision, great.
 
According to analytics on Youtube the average viewing time for my diving videos is 59-61 seconds. A friend of mine checked her analytics on FB and stated the average viewing time was less than a minute. At the university the videos of Antarctica were kept short, yet many people made comments that they wanted the videos to be longer.

What I've noticed is exactly what drrich2 stated, "what is the purpose". I would add, who is your target audience. If it is the general public (Youtubers) the attention span will be very short. Those who are interested in what you are producing will sometimes take the time to view the video. Much like the posts on a forum, if it is long less people will read it.

A video that has commentary will keep peoples attention (somewhat) more than one with just music. A combination of both is rather nice. Have fun producing.
 
I sometimes will make 2 versions. A preview and full length. For example, 1 minute preview vid for a full length video under 5 minutes. Another option is to break up the video into parts. I typically do this when I have a lot quality footage and more than 1 soundtrack in mind.

You could also watch others videos and decide what is your own comfortable length for viewing. You might be surprised on the attention span difference when you are watching someone else's video vs. your own.
 
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Scuba porn should be kept short since the average attention span will climax at or about 2 minutes. :rofl3:

If it is instructional video then make it to the point without too much rambling and I think you'll keep everyones attention till the instruction is completed. :lurk:

If it's pretty girls diving in bikinis then you can make it as long as you like, I'll watch it all day long at the office. :popcorn:
 
scene length or video length?

Each scene should be less than 30ish seconds (maybe much less?) The total duration of the video can be up to 45ish minutes in length.

We just completed a cruise vacation that included a video presentation of the trip. The video was 45 minutes long but each video scene was around 15 to 25 seconds long. the filmer also mixed in lots of stills (5 - 10 seconds each?).

I was entertained and feel i could have lasted another 15 minutes of content.
 
Hey! Thanks! For the most part, my videos are just to share what I saw on a dive. Sometimes I include some promotional content (if it's for the dive shop I work at) or some informational content (IE, this is where we went, this is the species you are looking at). Specifically, I posted this question in regards to a video that only shows clips from a dive at the Blue Heron Bridge. I've made a couple other short videos form the same dive, and I guess I'm wondering if I should keep making short videos even if from the same dive. (example:
)

Personally, I won't sit through a five minute long video except in special circumstances. I want a concise but intriguing video, as a viewer, but sometimes I wonder if what I find intriguing is enough to keep others captivated.

Total n00b to video/photography/editing/production. Thanks for the responses!
 
scene length or video length?

Each scene should be less than 30ish seconds (maybe much less?) The total duration of the video can be up to 45ish minutes in length.

We just completed a cruise vacation that included a video presentation of the trip. The video was 45 minutes long but each video scene was around 15 to 25 seconds long. the filmer also mixed in lots of stills (5 - 10 seconds each?).

I was entertained and feel i could have lasted another 15 minutes of content.
My scenes are usually less than 15 seconds each, for videos that are 3:30 or less. I'm not making 45 minute videos lol I'd ruin that in a heart beat!
 
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