5 Tips for Improving Your Travel Photography

Photography can be an expensive hobby. It’s not uncommon for photographers to spend thousands of dollars on lenses, cameras, and other equipment. But there are ways to take creative, special photos while traveling, regardless of your equipment.

Read on for some tips on how to improve your travel photography and capture the best memories from your adventures.

tips for travel photography

Photo by Andre Furtado from Pexels

  •  Be Prepared

Make sure you have the right equipment for your trip. For example, if you’re going on a tropical vacation and plan to take a lot of photos on the beach, you might even want a waterproof camera. That’s not always necessary, of course, but at the beach, be sure to use a protective lens filter, in case some sand gets kicked up or blown onto your lens.

It’s also essential to be prepared for different types of weather conditions as well as terrain, especially if you’re going to a particulary rugged place. You can check out Prepared Bee for some preparation supplies for those more extreme conditions. 

  • Only Take the Essentials

While taking the right photography equipment is a vital step, other items should be kept to a  minimum. After all, it becomes very difficult to move yourself to the best locations for the perfect shot when you’re carrying multiple bags with you. Wearing an appropriate outfit that can last for the whole shoot is also advised.

If your photography shoot is only one of many activities that you’ll complete on the day, you should plan for this too. When visiting London, every camera enthusiast will want to capture the beauty of the city. However, you’ll also want to enjoy a host of other activities. Luggage storage in Victoria Station will allow you to keep items not needed for the shoot safely stored. And once you’ve finished shooting, you can keep your camera equipment securely stored while you head back out into the city. It’s a particularly useful asset for preventing weather damage to our camera or lenses.

  • Wake Up Early (or Stay Late)

Being an early riser is one of the easiest ways to take better photos when traveling because there might be a lot of people out and about during the day, especially if it’s a particularly touristy or populated area. Crowds of people can result in some distracting elements in your photos (unless that’s what you are eager to capture!)

So wake up early before everyone else does so that you can enjoy those beautiful sunrise views, without any intruders. Alternatively, stay later, and shoot just before sunset, to get some beautiful golden hour photos.

  •  Use Different Perspectives

One of the easiest ways to take better travel photos is by simply changing your perspective. For example, if you’re taking a photo from ground level, try standing on something or getting above or below the subject, so that you can get an interesting change in angle, and clear out any clutter around what you’re trying to capture.

Take shots from various distances. Step back, and your subjects become much smaller to the eye.  Get closer to your subject, and the background will go more out of focus. Sometimes, even moving over just a few feet will eliminate distracting elements from your photos and provide a much better perspective.

Candid photography is another way to get a unique perspective.  Unposed photographs of people can be the most genuine and authentic while traveling, or any time.  Different countries have different laws about this, though, so research the laws of the area ahead of time. 

  • Do the Research

Sometimes the most incredible shots involve getting into lesser known areas or buildings. But if you don’t know where to go, it might be very difficult (or impossible) to find those secret spots. So take time before your trip, and do some research, so that when you get there you’ll already have an idea of where to go for those special shots. Search for reviews online from other photographers who have knowledge about the best views and vantage points, so you don’t miss out on any of those hidden gems.

Hopefully, following these simple tips will help you improve your travel photography and take professional-looking images, even with budget equipment or just a phone.  Happy travels!

This post was contributed, and it was made possible by the support of our readers. 

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4 Comments

  1. And the true step #1.. actually travel. ha! I miss it so much. Coming up on two years. I used to have so much stress choosing just one lens to travel with. Or to rent. Ah, I miss it and can't wait to do it again.

    1. Haha, yes, step #1 should be to actually travel!! I'm hoping to get the chance to take at least a small trip within the next few months. I know what you mean about the lens issue!

  2. I would eventually like to get into nature photography. Saving up to invest in a good camera. Currently, I use my cell phone for everything.

    Alexandra
    OnRockwoodLane.com
    EyeLoveKnots.com

    1. Nature photography is amazing. The saying goes, "The best camera is the one you have with you," so shoot away with thet cell phone! 🙂

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