Who wouldn’t like three simple tips for improving their travel photography? As frequent travelers, we take a lot of pictures wherever we go–who doesn’t? We figure we can always use a few simple travel photography tips to up our game. While we don’t all aspire to becoming professional travel photographers, everyone wants great pictures from their travels. One of our family members is an excellent photographer. So, she agreed to provide us these simple tips for better travel photography.
Here’s what she had to say:
Tip #1: Get the Right Camera for Good Travel Photography
Obviously, cell phone travel photography is improving all the time and is quick and easy. However, buying a DSLR (and later a mirrorless) camera and several lenses – is an investment that has been well worth it! If you want to make all your friends jealous on Instagram, here are some tips for making travel with your camera safe and effective while still capturing the best images possible. Pick the right lenses.
For many people, their first DSLR/mirrorless camera comes in a package with a lens. These combos are truly a great way to get into the hobby, but the lenses are often limiting. You’ll want to pick up at least two other lenses, a wide-angle and a telephoto. Wide-angle lenses let you take perfect group photos and the kind of landscape pictures you see in magazines. A telephoto is the way to get those picture-perfect portraits and capture details, like animals, at a distance.
Whether portraits or dynamic, but distant, scenes, a wide angle lens can accomplish both.
Tip #2: Take the Right Gear
The key for a traveler is to not overpack. Cameras and their gear are heavy. Professional photographers bring hundreds of pounds of gear with them to photo shoots, you don’t need all that gear so don’t drag yourself down. Here are a couple common items that you’ll want to leave at home.
The tripod. Because of the time it takes to set up a tripod, make sure that it’s secure and stable, and get the timer or remote trigger right, it just isn’t worth it to lug the tripod.
The truth is that there’s almost always some helpful person nearby who will offer to take the photo for you – I do this all the time for folks. Also, if you aren’t on smooth surfaces, making sure that your camera won’t fall over with a light breeze is harder than it might seem.
You also shouldn’t bother carrying extra lights (called flashes). Most places you’ll need a flash are indoors, like museums or other historic sites, and those places don’t allow flash photography. Further, if you know that you will want a flash for portraits or group photos on the trip, just hire a professional photographer. You’ll want to be in those pictures and let the organizing of them fall on someone else. Believe me, it really is better that way.
Both of these pictures were taken with a telephoto lens
Tip #3: Beware Thieves
One strong reminder about travel photography: Be careful. Yes, I we just told you above that it’s ok to hand the camera to a stranger to take a photo. However, do so with some consideration. The fear of having your camera stolen isn’t unwarranted, they can be an easy swipe for a pickpocket if left unattended. Here’s some things to help protect yourself.
If someone is in a group of tourists and offers to take your photo, they’re probably not going to steal the camera. They’re a traveler like you and have no interest in trying to sell stolen goods. The same goes for employees of the location you’re at or tour guides.
Keep your gear close to yourself. Carry your camera in a backpack with locking zippers or one that has the storage pocket on the inside, against your back, and always keep the pack with you.
We hope you enjoyed these travel photography tips.
Looking for other travel tips? Here’s our favorite.
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The last four photos are all from our last trip to Greece. That’s Nichole in the portrait. Click here for more on Greece.
