You Won’t Believe What Things You Can Do with a GoPro

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I received my GoPro HERO 12 Black as a birthday gift. At that moment, I was both excited and confused. I simply didn’t know what things to do with a GoPro. Initially, I recorded my park walks. However, I knew I wasn’t taking full advantage of this tiny camera. So, I started researching for GoPro video ideas, and discovered that it could be used to record biking, kayaking, surfing, time-lapse sunsets, and more.

Next weekend, I mounted it on my bike and rode down a rocky trail. The footage was incredible, resembling an action film. Since then, I’ve been experimenting with mounts, filming in slow motion, and even capturing my dog’s point of view at the beach.

To help other beginners like me, I gathered some of the best GoPro ideas to try. I also asked the FixThePhoto team to share their own tips and tricks. We went further and tested the GoPro HERO 12 in a variety of conditions to make sure every idea on this list is practical and fun to try.

1. Skiing & Snowboarding

things to do with a gopro skiing and snowboarding

If you love skiing or snowboarding, a GoPro camera will definitely come in handy. It records your adventures straight from your perspective, so every turn and jump looks even more epic. Just strap it to your helmet, and you’ll get steady, professional-looking footage. Racing down the mountain is undeniably one of the best GoPro uses.

Mount your GoPro on your chest or helmet, and you can focus on the ride while it films everything for you. The camera is built tough, so it can handle icy slopes, heavy snow, and even a few tumbles.

Pro tip: Record in slow motion to turn ordinary tricks into movie-like moments.

2. Scuba Diving & Snorkeling

things to do with a gopro scuba diving and snorkeling

Underwater filming is another variant of GoPro camera uses. Strap on your scuba gear or snorkeling mask, and you can film vibrant coral, curious fish, and the beauty of the ocean depths. With the waterproof housing, a camera works down to up to 196 feet.

Even for shallow snorkeling, the GoPro alone does the job. Thanks to the wide-angle lens, you can capture the full underwater scene.

Pro tip: To get the clearest footage, move slowly, stay close, and keep the camera steady around marine life.

3. White Water Rafting

things to do with a gopro white water rafting

What can you do with a GoPro? Try rafting. Mount it on your helmet or paddle to capture wild rapids and every twist of the river. The camera is tough and waterproof, so water splashes won’t damage it or stop it from recording. Thanks to a pro-grade built-in stabilization, you will get sharp footage even in choppy water.

Pro tip: Secure your GoPro at the front of the raft to show the whole team in action.

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Edit Your GoPro Videos Faster with Premiere Pro

When it comes to editing GoPro footage, Premiere Pro is a terrific program. It manages 4K and 5.3K videos with no problem, stabilizes your action shots, fixes the fisheye effects, and makes colors vibrant. Moreover, there are modern tools to trim, speed up or slow down clips, add smooth transitions, and sync your soundtrack.

4. Zip-Lining

things to do with a gopro zip-lining

Zip-lining becomes even more unforgettable with a GoPro. Just mount a camera on your helmet or chest, and record smooth first-person footage that shows the rush of soaring through the trees. Thanks to the wide-angle lens, you can capture the stunning scenery around you.

Since it’s small and lightweight, the GoPro won’t bother you or interfere with safety gear. Later, when you watch the clips, you will feel like you are back on the line.

Pro tip: Record at a high frame rate if you want amazing slow-motion moments mid-ride.

5. Watersports

things to do with a gopro watersports

Watersports provide limitless uses for GoPro cameras. You can choose surfing, kayaking, wakeboarding, jet skiing, and more. You need to attach a GoPro to your gear, and you’ll capture an action-packed perspective that puts viewers in the middle of the adventure.

Don’t worry about damage. A waterproof case protects it from splashes, dunking, and unexpected crashes. If you use a higher frame rate, you’ll catch every fast move with amazing clarity.

Pro tip: Always use a floating hand grip accessory. It’ll save your GoPro if it falls into the water.

6. Beach Days

things to do with a gopro beach days

What to use GoPro for? In fact, it is perfect equipment to capture everyday beach outings. You can record the fun of friends playing volleyball, kids laughing in the sand, or the calm of a sunny afternoon. With its sturdy design, it shrugs off drops, grains of sand, and splashes from the waves.

Feel free to play with slow-motion shots of crashing waves or use the wide-angle lens to show off the whole shoreline.

Pro tip: Bring along a small tripod or the GoPro Shorty to take group selfies and panoramic shots.

7. Concerts and Live Performances

things to do with a gopro concerts and live performances

Another sample of GoPro uses is to record concerts or live events. With a wide-angle lens, you don’t miss a moment, while vibration control keeps the picture steady. Thanks to its compact size, you can film without blocking the view for others.

With different mounts, you can capture the show from where you sit or even from higher angles for a fresh perspective.

Pro tip: Increase the ISO setting to get brighter, clearer video in dark concert lighting.

8. Drone Footage

things to do with a gopro drone footage

Mount a GoPro on a drone to get amazing shooting possibilities for your videos. This is one of the best GoPro tips if you want to capture sweeping landscapes, fast-paced sports, or travel adventures from the sky. The footage will be stabilized, so you can see all the details clearly. Because GoPros are lightweight, they won’t overload your drone, keeping flights safe.

Pro tip: Add slow-motion or hyperlapse effects while flying to make your videos pop with energy.

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Want Your Drone Videos to Look Top-Notch?

FixThePhoto experts can help. They’ll fix colors, smooth out shaky shots, balance light and shadows, improve brightness, add cool effects, and give your footage a professional finish.

9. Pet Adventures

things to do with a gopro pet adventures

Ever wondered what your pet sees? Mount a GoPro on their harness and find out. Watch them explore the park, splash in puddles, or chase a ball from a totally new perspective.

The camera’s durable design makes it perfect for such GoPro ideas. It can handle mud, water, and rough play without breaking.

Pro tip: Use wide-angle mode to capture everything happening around your pet.

10. Cooking and Food Videos

things to do with a gopro cooking
Show your cooking prowess. Place a GoPro overhead or on the counter to capture every move while you cook. This is one of the cool GoPro ideas for anyone creating food content. The compact GoPro won’t crowd your workspace, and its wide-angle lens shows everything happening at once.

Pro tip: Use GoPro time-lapse settings to turn lengthy cooking into quick, exciting clips.

11. Paragliding and Skydiving

things to do with a gopro paragliding and skydiving

Experience the rush of flight with a GoPro! Attach it to your helmet or chest to film paragliding, skydiving, or any aerial adventure. These cameras work perfectly when you need to capture high-altitude views.

The GoPro is light, so it won’t interfere with your safety gear. Besides, the built-in stabilization keeps footage smooth, even in gusty wind or fast movements.

Pro tip: Use wide-angle lenses and higher frame rates to film sweeping skies, amazing landscapes, and daring aerial moves.

12. Time-Lapse Projects

things to do with a gopro time-lapse projects
Time-lapse is a must-try feature on a GoPro. Capture the beauty of a sunset, the buzz of city life, or a building taking shape over time. With additional batteries or a power setup, your GoPro can work for hours. This technique is best suited for creative projects or storytelling.

Pro tip: Always use a tripod or secure mount to keep your footage sharp and detailed.

13. Vlogging and Daily Life

things to do with a gopro vlogging and daily life

If you’re into vlogging, a GoPro is a fantastic choice. Such cameras are lightweight, steady, and rely on wide-angle lenses to capture everything around you.

You can use it for documenting your travels, filming daily routines at home, etc. Besides, add simple accessories like a grip or mini tripod to make filming easier.

Pro tip: When hands are full, control it with your voice or the GoPro app.

14. Motorcycling & Off-Roading

things to do with a gopro motorcycling and off-roading

If you love hitting the road on a bike or exploring off-road trails, you probably know what to do with GoPro. Use helmet, chest, or handlebar mounts, and record the ride exactly as you see it. Built to handle bumps, dust, and even rain, a GoPro delivers smooth, high-quality footage every time.

Pro tip: For better sound, switch on the wind noise reduction feature so your videos aren’t drowned out by rushing air.

15. Sightseeing & Travel

things to do with a gopro sightseeing and travel

One of the best uses for GoPro is recording traveling adventures. The camera is portable and simple to use, so you can conveniently capture iconic landmarks and colorful street life. Thanks to its wide lens, your photos and videos will demonstrate the full beauty of any cityscape. Take advantage of a tripod or selfie stick for more flexibility on the go.

Pro tip: Use the time-lapse feature to create dynamic videos of bustling crowds and city life.

GoPro Features Many Users Don’t Know About

things to do with a gopro quickcapture

With QuikCapture, you don’t need to waste time turning on your GoPro before recording. A single press of the shutter instantly powers it up and starts filming, while holding the button begins a time-lapse. It’s designed for quick reactions, so you’re always ready for surprise moments.

Turn on QuikCapture during hikes, bike rides, or any outdoor trips to capture exciting shots in seconds.

things to do with a gopro highlight tags

HiLight Tags make editing much easier. While filming, press the mode button or use a voice command, and your GoPro will place a tag in the clip. Later, these tags act as bookmarks so you can quickly find the most exciting shots.

Activate HiLight Tags during activities like mountain biking, concerts, or road trips to save time searching through long videos.

things to do with a gopro horizon lock

Horizon Lock is a real find for stable videos. Paired with the Max Lens Mod, it ensures the horizon line stays perfectly level, even during spins, tilts, or bumpy rides. Your clips look smooth and professional without extra editing.

Use it for sports and adventures where the camera may spin unexpectedly, such as surfing or snowboarding.
things to do with a gopro hindsight

HindSight continuously saves the 30 seconds leading up to when you press record. That means even if you start late, the important part is already captured.

Use HindSight when filming unpredictable scenes, such as sports or wildlife, to make sure you never miss the best shots.
things to do with a gopro orientation lock

Orientation Lock stops your GoPro from switching between vertical and horizontal views while you’re filming. Thus, you receive platform-ready content for TikTok, Reels, or YouTube.

Enable vertical lock in advance if you’re shooting portrait videos to avoid unexpected changes during recording.

things to do with a gopro hypersmooth boost

HyperSmooth Boost is GoPro’s top stabilization setting. Your videos will look stable and professional, no matter how bumpy the ride.

Perfect for running trails, mountain biking, or recording playful pets without worrying about shaky results.

things to do with a gopro timewarp

With TimeWarp and Real Speed Switching, your GoPro makes fast-motion hyperlapse videos that you can slow down instantly. A quick tap or button press shifts the video into real-time. Therefore, you can capture key details without stopping the flow.

It is terrific for vlogging, as you can show real-time moments at attractions, then return to high-speed footage for the rest of your adventure.

things to do with a gopro exposure lock

With Exposure Lock, your GoPro won’t constantly adjust to changing light. Instead, it locks onto the subject you choose, keeping them properly lit while avoiding overexposed or underexposed shots.

Great for shooting in bright environments like beaches or snowy mountains.

things to do with a gopro capture presets

Capture Presets make filming easier by letting you save up to ten custom setups. Swap between slow-motion, nighttime, or underwater modes in a flash.

Set up presets for your favorite activities so you don’t have to tweak each setting every time.
things to do with a gopro ultra-fisheye mode

The Ultra-Fisheye Mode with the Max Lens Mod gives you a super-wide 155° view, even if you don’t turn on the dedicated mode. This way, your videos will acquire a cool, old-fashioned distortion.

It is great for skateboarding, surfing, or music videos.

FREE Bonus Tools

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Transform your GoPro footage with these bundles quickly. Using them, you can fix colors, enhance contrast, and embellish your videos with cinematic touches. Such free tools work best for action shots. You can achieve pro-grade results without tedious editing.

Tati Taylor

Reviews Writer

Tati Taylor is a photographer and pro tech expert of the FixThePhoto European team. After earning a degree in Visual Arts and Photography from the University of Texas, she specialized in digital manipulation when met the FixThePhoto service. She promotes only budget-friendly gear and always includes at least one item in every article that's affordable for any user.

Read Tati's full bio

Vadym Antypenko

Tech Gear Specialist

Vadym has been with FixThePhoto since 2017, where he works closely with the team to try out different trends, apps, and tools, providing honest reviews and practical insights. Whether he checks TikTok editing apps or explores the trendy effect, Vadym helps creators understand what works best and how to get spectacular results. He is about crafting diy lighting setups, props, backgrounds from scratch showing amateurs that you don’t have to be rich to start this career.

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