10 tips for travel photography

10 tips for travel photography

Take your travel photos to the next level

Want to improve your travel photos? Going on holiday soon and want to be sure of great shots? What should you keep in mind when preparing, while travelling and after your trip? We’ve got some ideas, tips and tricks for you.

Preparation

1. Research

Good preparation is half the battle. Do your research before you travel. Where are you going? What will the weather be like? What do you want to photograph? How do you get there, and how do you take a photo that not everyone else has? You can learn a lot about your destination online in advance. Once you arrive, you’ll know exactly where to go to get that perfect shot.

2. Gear

Think carefully about what you bring, because you have to carry everything with you, and besides the weight there’s always a chance something happens to it. Good travel insurance is therefore a smart move, so you can head out with peace of mind. You could bring lightweight all-round zoom and prime lenses. Take a look at our Must-haves page for the best gear to take on your travels.

3. Hand luggage

We don’t recommend putting your gear in the hold. Even if you use a hard case, luggage is always thrown around when the hold is loaded and unloaded. So book extra hand luggage and keep your camera gear with you. Bear in mind that some airlines limit the number of trolleys allowed on board, in which case your bag may still have to go in the hold. Always read the guidelines of the airline in question carefully beforehand. On our Must-haves page we’ve lined up a number of suitable cases for you.

4. Accessories

Of course, don’t forget essentials such as spare batteries, a charger, extra memory cards and possibly a travel adapter. It would be frustrating to fill up your memory card with no spare on hand, especially if you happen to be in the middle of nowhere. By thinking in advance about the kind of photos you want to take, you can choose and pack the right accessories. Think of a travel tripod or an ND filter to beautifully capture that waterfall in the jungle. Want to read more about suitable travel accessories? Check out the Must-haves page here.

During your trip

5. Challenge yourself

Shoot the scene differently from what you’re used to. Don’t just capture the standard tourist attractions. Go that little bit further: climb a bit higher up the hill or rent a boat and take photos from the water for the perfect angle. If you have the time, play with the composition or the angle you shoot from. That way you can photograph the same thing as the other tourists, yet with a different result. Read more tips on taking original travel photos here.

6. Avoid the tourists

Visit your destination early in the day to avoid bystanders, or use Photoshop to remove tourists from your photos. Take several photos (depending on how busy it is) from a tripod, 5-10 seconds apart. In Photoshop, go to File > Scripts > Statistics. Click ‘Median’ and select the photos. Photoshop will now automatically remove the differences between the photos and fill them in with information from the other shots.

7. Vary your shots

Challenge yourself to shoot different kinds of images. For example, alternate your landscape photos with detail shots, food photos, or even step into the landscape yourself. This gives you a more complete record of your trip, which is great when you share the photos with others.

8. Comfortable strap/bag

You’ll be walking around with your camera all day, so it’s smart to look into carrying solutions in advance. There’s a wide choice of comfortable backpacks, sling straps and hip belts. The right carrying solution helps prevent neck and back problems. Check out our Top 10 Bags and Cases for extra carrying comfort.

After your trip

9. Make backups

Always make sure you store your precious travel photos safely. External hard drives make this easy. Nowadays there are even hard drives with Wi-Fi so you can save your files straight from your smartphone or camera! And of course, don’t forget to back up your hard drive too.

10. Print your photos

It would be a shame if all those photos disappeared on a hard drive or in your Instagram feed. Create an online or printed album or have prints made, so you can relive your trip and show your family and friends all those great travel moments. Visit our photo service for beautiful printing options.