Are you looking to enhance your travel photography skills? As a seasoned travel photographer with a decade of experience capturing stunning images from around the world, I’m excited to share some valuable tips with beginners.
While some travelers collect souvenirs, I prefer to capture memories through the lens of my camera. Travel photography has the unique ability to freeze moments in time, allowing us to relive and cherish our journeys for years to come. Furthermore, it can inspire others to explore new destinations and experiences.
Every travel destination has its own distinct character, culture, history, people, landscapes, and stories waiting to be captured through photography. By mastering the art of capturing these subjects, we can convey the essence of a place to others, giving them a glimpse into what it’s like to venture there.
I didn’t attend photography school, but through years of reading, watching tutorials, and practicing, I’ve honed my skills and now work as a professional travel photographer. I regularly license my images to tourism boards, brands, and glossy magazines.
I believe that anyone can learn to capture beautiful travel photos with dedication and effort. In this article, I’ll share my favorite beginner travel photography tips to help you improve your images on your next adventure!.
- Request Consent from Local Residents :
Capturing portraits of locals in a foreign land can be a daunting task for many photographers. The fear of language barriers, potential refusals, and offending people can cause anxiety, and it took me a couple of years to feel comfortable capturing portraits of locals. Even now, I still experience a bit of nervousness.
Over time, I have realized that the key to capturing portraits of locals is to engage with them first. Begin with a simple greeting, ask for directions, buy a souvenir, or compliment them on something. Engage in a conversation for a few minutes before requesting a photo. This way, it’s less intrusive.
It’s also crucial to ask for permission before taking close-up shots. Prior to your trip, spend 15 minutes learning how to say “may I take your portrait” or “can I capture a photograph” in the local language. This gesture shows respect, and locals usually appreciate the effort, which can lead to new friendships.
Some locals may decline your request or ask for compensation, and that’s perfectly normal. If that happens, express your gratitude, smile, and move on to someone else. The more you get rejected, the easier it becomes to ask for a photo.
2. Exploring and Researching Destinations Before Traveling:
Before embarking on a journey, it’s essential to explore and research the destination. Start by reading travel guidebooks and scouring the internet for blog posts and articles that will provide ideas for taking photographs. Talk to friends who have previously visited the location and reach out to other photographers to gain more knowledge on which images will best capture the essence of the place.
To enhance your research, Instagram, Pinterest, and Google Image Search are valuable tools. These platforms will help you identify iconic locations and create a shot list. You can also utilize postcard racks as a resource.
After identifying potential photo locations, further research is necessary. Determine the best time of day for lighting, assess the accessibility of specific vantage points, and learn about attraction opening times and periods of low tourist traffic. Additionally, check the weather forecast to ensure optimal conditions for your photography.
While wandering around aimlessly can be enjoyable, being well-prepared with prior research saves time and allows you to fully concentrate on capturing remarkable travel photographs, ultimately maximizing your time on location.
3. Utilizing the Rule of Thirds in Photography:
Understanding and Implementing the Rule of Thirds in Photography
One of the fundamental principles of photography composition is the Rule of Thirds. By breaking an image down into thirds both horizontally and vertically, you create a grid that divides the photo into different sections.
The goal is to place the most important parts of the photo on those sections to frame the image in a way that is pleasing to the eye. For example, placing a person along the left grid line rather than in the center, or keeping the horizon on the bottom third of the image.
Using the Rule of Thirds can easily be done by turning on your camera’s “grid” feature, which displays the rule of thirds grid directly on your LCD screen.
Before taking a travel photo, ask yourself, what are the key points of interest in this shot, and where should I intentionally place them on the grid? Paying attention to these details will help you create more balanced and visually pleasing compositions. However, keep in mind that like all rules, the Rule of Thirds can be broken and experimenting with different compositions can lead to unique and captivating images.
4. Bring a lightweight travel tripod with you:
In my opinion, a lightweight travel tripod is a tool that more people should consider using. By providing a stable base for your camera, you can take the time to perfect your composition and adjust settings like exposure and focus. This opens up the possibility for advanced techniques such as HDR, focus stacking, and panoramas.
Using a tripod also enables you to shoot at slower shutter speeds, perfect for capturing waterfalls, low-light scenes, and stars, without the risk of camera shake. You can maintain a low ISO for less sensor noise and utilize smaller apertures to increase depth of field.
While it’s not necessary to bring a tripod everywhere you go, it can greatly enhance the quality of your landscape, low-light, self-portrait, flowing water, and sunset/sunrise photography.
Bringing a lightweight travel tripod can greatly enhance your travel photography. It allows you to take sharper images, experiment with longer exposures, and take self-portraits or group shots with ease.
A tripod also forces you to slow down and think more about your composition, resulting in better quality images.
When selecting a travel tripod, look for one that is compact and lightweight, yet sturdy enough to support your camera. Carbon fiber is a popular material for travel tripods due to its durability and lightweight nature.
Some travel tripods also come with features like a removable center column or adjustable legs, which can help you get the perfect angle for your shot.
Don’t let the extra weight of a tripod deter you from bringing it on your travels. A good travel tripod can make a significant difference in the quality of your images and is worth the investment.
5. Try different compositions in your photography to create unique and visually interesting images.
Experimenting with photo composition can often lead to better results. Don’t just settle for the first shot you take while standing in one spot. Try different angles, like getting down low to the ground or climbing up to a higher vantage point.
Varying your distance from the subject can also create different effects. Take a wide shot to capture the scene, a mid-range shot to provide more detail, and a close-up to highlight specific features. Don’t be afraid to try out multiple ideas and perspectives.
To add depth to your photos, include elements in the foreground, mid-ground, and background. For example, if you’re shooting a mountain range, try to include a flower, river, animal, or interesting rock in the foreground to give the photo a sense of scale.
Using focal compression, which is achieved by using a zoom lens to make objects appear closer than they are, is another effective technique to create interesting compositions in travel photography.
Try out different composition techniques to add creativity and interest to your photos. Play with the position of your subjects and objects within the frame, use leading lines to guide the viewer’s eye, experiment with symmetry and asymmetry, and use negative space to create a minimalist look.
Don’t be afraid to break the “rules” of composition either – sometimes a unique perspective or unconventional placement can make for an eye-catching image.
Remember to always keep your intended message or story in mind when composing your shot. Think about what you want to communicate through your photo and adjust your composition accordingly.
By experimenting with composition, you can add depth and visual interest to your photos and take your photography skills to the next level.
6. Consider prioritizing travel photography in your itinerary.
Taking rushed snapshots while moving from one location to another will only result in dull and unremarkable photos, just like everyone else’s. To capture excellent travel photos, you must allocate dedicated “photography time” into your travel itinerary. This will require a significant commitment of your time and effort.
If you’re traveling with companions who are not interested in photography, it might be difficult to find the time to capture exceptional images. To make photography a priority, you may need to spend a few hours on your own. I often prefer traveling alone or with fellow photographers for this reason.
It’s challenging to explain to non-photographers that you need an extra 30 minutes to wait for the perfect cloud formation or lighting. Therefore, for organized tours, try to wake up early and spend some time taking photos before the tour starts.
7. The human element should not be underestimated.
Including people in photos can create a sense of vicarious living for viewers, especially if they imagine themselves as the person in the picture. This can evoke more emotions and make them feel like they are experiencing the location themselves. To achieve this, try posing the subject in a way that they are anonymous, such as not showing their face. Murad Osmann’s “follow me to” Instagram photos became popular because viewers felt like they were being led around the world by a beautiful woman.
The presence of a human element can also provide a better sense of scale in a photo. Placing the subject in the distance can help viewers comprehend the actual size of the landscape, such as how big the mountains are. Taking photos of “tiny” people in vast landscapes is an example of this.
Moreover, incorporating people in photos can help tell a story and make the images more powerful. Depending on the type of human element included, the storyline of a particular photo can be changed completely.
8. Patience Is key:
To truly capture the essence of a subject in photography, one must observe not only with their eyes but also with their heart and mind. This requires dedicating time and effort to the process. It is essential to slow down and consciously become aware of the surroundings before capturing an image.
Focusing on details is crucial. For instance, take note of the clouds’ placement, and if necessary, wait for a better position. Stay put at a photogenic location until the perfect subject comes by, or a better shot reveals itself. Patience is key, and missing out on fantastic photo opportunities is avoidable if you are patient.
A great example of this is my experience of shooting the Northern Lights in Iceland. I camped in the cold for an entire night, waiting for the magical aurora borealis to appear. I waited a few more hours to capture the brightest possible colors, resulting in the perfect shot.
Time and effort are vital in photography, and it requires a willingness to wait for hours to get the ideal shot. Professionals know this and are patient. The more patience you have, the more satisfying your travel photography will be.
9. Safeguard Your Possessions from Theft:
Cameras are compact and valuable possessions, making them a prime target for theft while traveling. I have come across several unfortunate incidents of camera theft from fellow travelers. While I have been fortunate to avoid such an incident, I take precautions to prevent it.
To minimize the loss in case of theft, it is advisable to purchase camera insurance. You might already be covered by your homeowner or rental insurance, or you can consider obtaining coverage from organizations such as the Professional Photographers of America.
When not in use, ensure that your camera gear is kept secure, such as in a hotel safe or hostel locker. It is recommended not to check-in expensive photography gear under a plane, instead always take it as carry-on luggage. Avoid flaunting your camera in high-risk areas, keep it concealed in a plain bag until ready for use.
Make sure to register your new gear with the manufacturer and save purchase receipts and serial numbers to expedite the insurance claim process. For added protection, include your name and camera serial number in the image EXIF data. In the event of camera theft, you can use online resources such as StolenCameraFinder.com to track down your stolen camera.
10. Backup Your Travel Photos:
It’s crucial to have a backup of your travel photos. Losing all of your digital memories can be devastating. Imagine losing all the photos from that once-in-a-lifetime trip. To avoid this, make sure to have multiple backups of your photos.
Consider backing up your photos to the cloud, such as Google Drive or iCloud, so you can access them from anywhere with an internet connection. External hard drives are also great for backups. You can even make multiple copies of your backups and store them in different locations, such as your home and a safe deposit box.
Don’t wait until the end of your trip to start backing up your photos. Make a habit of backing up your photos every day or every few days. This way, if something happens to your camera or memory card, you won’t lose too many photos.
Remember to also format your memory cards after backing up your photos. This will ensure that your memory cards are ready for use on your next photo shoot.
To ensure the safety of my travel photography, I have a backup workflow in place. This includes backing up RAW camera files onto an external hard drive, as well as selecting certain images for online backup and creating another online backup for my final edited images.
In some cases, when dealing with crucial projects, I even resort to mailing a small hard drive containing the images back to the United States if the internet connection is too slow to upload large RAW files or videos. For physical backup, I rely on SanDisk Extreme Portable hard drives, while DropBox serves as my choice for online cloud storage.
