How-to · 2 min read
How to shoot a time-lapse
How long to shoot, how to prepare, what to do while shooting and how to avoid ruined frames — practical time-lapse tips from real shoots in Bangkok.
Time-lapse photography is very rewarding — assuming you get something to brag about at the end of the day. If you're wondering how to start, here are the dos and don'ts I've learned.
Before you start shooting
- Use a steady tripod.
- Bring a fully charged battery, and a spare if you can.
- Make sure you have plenty of memory card space.
- Pick a location where you can shoot continuously for at least 1–2 hours.
- Check the weather.
- Confirm that tripods are allowed — especially at restaurants and rooftop bars.
- Arrive at least 15 minutes early. This matters most for sunrise and sunset time-lapses.
How long do you need to shoot?
It's a simple calculation. Say you want a 30-second video at 24 frames per second, shooting one frame every 5 seconds:
- 30 seconds × 24 fps = 720 frames
- 720 frames × 5 seconds = 3,600 seconds = 1 hour of shooting
In reality you need more time than that: setting up, test shots, and longer shutter speeds after sunset (which stretch the interval between frames).
While you're shooting
- Shoot in manual mode.
- Take a test shot to check composition and exposure.
- Turn off image review to save battery.
- Switch to manual focus so the camera doesn't refocus between frames.
- Adjust exposure as the light changes. My order: ISO first, then shutter speed.
- Cover the eyepiece to stop light leaking in.
- Pause and check your frames every 5–10 minutes.
- Guard your tripod — if someone bumps it, your composition changes mid-sequence.
After the shoot
- Delete over- or under-exposed frames you can't recover.
- Watch for birds. In the finished video they show up as random black specks flickering across the frames — it looks ugly (at least to me).
- Edit the frames so exposure and colour are even across the sequence.
- Assemble the video in the software of your choice.
Want a great place to practise? Try the rooftop at CHAR Bangkok.
