Time-Lapse Gone Wrong? Here are 7 Mistakes to Avoid

The idea behind creating a time-lapse video of a construction project or event is rather simple: you put up a camera, hit start, and it goes, right? Not quite.

Most time-lapse projects go wrong because of tiny mistakes that balloon into huge problems. Lost footage. Broken equipment. Gaps in the story. These errors don't just waste your time—they can cost you thousands. Want to avoid those headaches? Here are the 7 biggest mistakes people make with long-term time-lapse projects—and the exact fixes to avoid them.

1. No Plan, No Success

• Problem: You arbitrarily select a camera position, crossing your fingers. Halfway through, you find the view is obstructed by cranes, walls, or trees.
• The Cost: Weeks or months of footage are wasted. Your video doesn't tell the full story.
• The Fix: Take an hour to scout the site and ideally review the plans; choose an angle that will provide a fairly clear, consistent view through every phase of the project. Spend some time testing out setups to avoid surprises.

2. Cheap Cameras Cost You More

• The Problem: Low-end cameras cannot withstand months of work; they freeze, break, or produce low quality photos that disappoint clients.
• Cost: You’ll disappoint your stakeholders and miss the chance to capture the project.
• Solution: Deploy reliable equipment designed for long projects, such as a GoPro with an UpBlink controller. This setup gives you crystal-clear 4K footage and doesn't quit.
  
  

3. Power Problems Shut You Down

• Problem: Your camera's battery dies, or its power source is affected by bad weather.
• The Cost: Gaps in your footage mean you lose critical parts of the project.
• Solution: Use solar panels or long-life batteries suitable for outdoor projects. Be prepared for power losses so that your camera keeps running regardless of everything.

4. The Weather Always Wins

• The Problem: Rain, snow, or extreme temperatures damage your camera—or stop it from working altogether.
• The Cost: Lost footage. Damaged equipment..
• The Fix: Invest in a water-resistant case to protect your camera from harsh conditions.

5. Wrong Frame Rate, Wrong Results

• Problem: Your camera takes too many pictures or too few, which leads to either running out of storage or making the video look jerky.
• The Cost: Hours spent fixing mistakes in editing—or footage that just doesn't work.
• The Fix: For longer-term projects, such as construction, your camera should be set to capture one photo every 10-30 minutes; this will keep your video smooth without wasting space. Use our Time Lapse Calculator to help you prepare your time lapse project.

6. No Remote Monitoring? Big Risk

• The Problem: Your camera moves, your battery dies, or something breaks—and you never know it until later.
• The Cost: Weeks of bad footage before you catch the problem.
• The Fix: Use tools like CloudX to check your camera from anywhere. Have your photos uploaded automatically to be sure your time lapse project runs smoothly.

7. Storage Limits End Your Project Early

• Problem: Your camera runs out of storage, and the footage stops recording.
• Cost: You lose the best moments, and your video falls short of expectations.
• Solution: Choose a setting like, deleting the image off the SD card after a successful upload of photos to the cloud—you will never run out of space again.

The Bottom Line