Tap, tap, tap, is this thing on?!

On January 25th GoPro owners began live streaming directly from their cameras through the Periscope app to their followers. At Winter X Games, GoPro’s athletes, advocates and media teams took Periscope + GoPro for a spin around Buttermilk mountain and shared immersive behind-the-scenes live streams of the event. These content creators captured compelling GoPro footage and picked up a few tricks along the way.

Here are the top tips from the pros to help you get the most from your Periscope x GoPro experience:

Imagine shredding down a mountain when suddenly, you’re Periscoping the inside of your pocket instead of the run. Locking your phone prevents the screen from bumping against it’s surroundings and accidentally “double tapping” to switch the camera from your GoPro to your phone’s camera. But be sure to swipe your on-screen Periscope lock, if you use the phone’s lock button, you’ll end your stream. Seems simple, but missing this easy step can ruin your entire scope.

Changing your camera settings can drastically change how your GoPro broadcasts. Switching the settings on your GoPro to 1440p60 or 1440p30 will give you the tallest frame which means you’ll get most bang for your buck. Check out the image of the snowboarder at the top of the mountain. In 1080p, we can still see our subject, but we miss so much of the landscape. If we expand to 1440p, we include the stunning mountain backdrop which. You’ll want to include as much of the frame as possible while you’re scoping so that your audience won’t miss a thing. If your Periscoping from a dark space, increase the ISO to 3200 or 6400 to allow in more light. Also, don’t forget to utilize medium and narrow FOVs to “zoom” in on the subject to create more interesting angles.

Once you’ve set your camera to 1440p60 or 1440p30, you can record from your GoPro while simultaneously broadcasting. Since Periscopes are ephemeral and will only be accessible for 24 hours, recording your broadcasts gives you the opportunity to save them for next week’s #TBT.

If you aren’t broadcasting from a harsh environment (think blizzard, windy mountain, etc.), put your camera in the The Frame, this will give you the best audio. If the conditions won’t allow for The Frame, you can also use the Skeleton Backdoor to still capture great audio or add a foam Wind Slayer while keeping your camera protected.

When you start your Periscope, the broadcast will automatically be shared with your followers. Additionally, share your broadcast on Twitter, but remember that “LIVE on #Periscope” in addition to your broadcast’s title will also auto populate in your tweet. In your title, @mention and tag users to amplify your reach on Twitter, but keep that character count below 140! Don’t forget to call out that you are using @GoPro so that we can join in on the fun.

Now that your audience has made their way to your live stream, you want to keep them there. Periscope is a great way to have a two-way conversation with your audience, in real-time. Check out the comment section, ask your audience questions and answer theirs.

Your broadcast is finished, you’ve signed off and said goodbye to your viewers, but now you have to turn off your live stream. Avoid an awkward moment of fumbling with your camera and your phone by turning the camera away from yourself. Choose a landscape or relevant setting to focus on while you gracefully turn off your stream.

Feel like you’re more of a Periscope viewer than a broadcaster? Here’s a pro-tip for you, too: Periscope has couch mode so you can tune in via your web browser 24 hours so you never miss a beat: https://www.periscope.tv/couchmode

Periscoping from your GoPro is easy, fun and provides a unique viewing experience for your followers. Live streaming is not without it’s unforeseeable challenges, but by applying these simple tricks you’ll keep your followers engaged with compelling content and have a successful Periscope every time.