24 Helpful Travel Photo Tips

I am by no means a professional photographer and am still learning every day, but in no real particular order, these are the travel photo tips that I’ve picked up over the years.

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Travel Photo Tips

The following travel photo tips are in no particular order and if you save this blog, check back regularly to see if I’ve added more travel photo tips for you to use.

Photos of You

Now I may be in the minority in photography, travel photography especially, but I don’t like taking a photo of myself. I know this isn’t for everyone, and people are now getting very creative with the way they are portrayed in a picture. It’s not just standing in front of a building taking the “I’ve been here” shot anymore.

I’ve read most solo travellers take these shots by either using a tripod with the camera on a timer or finding a trusting person to take the shot for you.

Personal Taste

Remember what you think is a great shot others may not appreciate. Not everyone has the same taste, and similarly, you may not like what someone else has taken.

Trust yourself and try to keep to your style, not someone else’s. Your work will be recognised at some point, and if you stay true to yourself, it shows in your photos.

Keep an Eye on Social Media

Instagram is a great place to start with getting ideas of what to take and where. Hashtags are crucial in getting your work seen, and if you get featured, even better.

Photographers copy from each other all the time, so don’t be afraid to get ideas from others. It’s all about practice, and the more shots you take, the better you will be, and you can view your progress on your Instagram feed.

Understand How Your Camera Works

Another great tool in photography is all the tutorials on YouTube. You can learn so much about your camera, including how aperture and shutter speed affect photos as well as composition.

Find photographers that you like and follow them. Most give regular posts on how to, which I find an invaluable reference.

Get Out of Auto

Learn how to use your camera, especially if you have a DSLR camera. You should have more control over how your photos turn out.

You can start with aperture priority, playing around with depth of field to get creative shots.

If you are able, always shoot in RAW. This gives you more control in processing as all the image data is recorded and not compressed, as in the case of JPEG. You should see a difference in the result.

Practice

This one is pretty self-explanatory.

The more shots you take, the better you should get. Take multiple shots from different perspectives to give you more to work with. You might get that unique shot that no one else has.

Through practice, you will also get an idea of a photo even before you put your eye up to the viewfinder. Look for these moments as you walk along.

Invest in a Tripod

Depending on how much it will be used, a tripod is still useful to have with you. I’ve started taking dawn shots, especially in cities and a tripod is essential.

You’ll be working with low light, and just holding the camera isn’t enough to get that focus as sharp as possible.

The best times of the day are sunrise and sunset, and by using a tripod and even putting the camera on a timer, you’ll be more likely to get a sharp shot that you’ll be happy with.

Filters

There are many different types of filters to add effects to your photos or protect your camera lens.

UV/Clear or Haze filters are there to protect the lens and should have no impact on the photo. They are put on to protect the lens from scratches, dirt or dust.

A Polarising Filter will cut out polarising light and enhance photos by reducing reflections.

Graduated Neutral Density (GND) Filters can be used when you have a bright sky, but the landscape or foreground isn’t as bright or looks flat. It should even out the tone of the photo. These also come in Reverse action.

For special effects, you can get a star, bokeh, softening/diffusion, infrared or close-up for macro photography.

The only one that I use is an ND filter or Neutral Density. You can get them with different f/stops, which allows you to capture motion differently, like in a waterfall, river or clouds.

I have an ND filter of 10 which means if I have the camera settings on f22, the filter adds a further 10 stops allowing less light into the lens. I can, therefore, keep the shutter open for longer to get the effect I desire.

All these filters are easy to apply and use, but once again, only through practice and trial and error can you get the photo you’re happy with.

There are plenty of free phone apps that help you know how long the shutter should be open. I use the Long Exposure Calculator from the Apple App Store.

Batteries

If you can afford it, always carry a spare battery. If you can’t, keep an eye on how much battery life you have left. You don’t want to be ready to take photos you’ve always wanted only to find your battery has run down.

You don’t always get a second chance at getting your favourite photos, and it can be costly to go back to an attraction to get more photos.

Camera Care

If you want your photos to come out well, you have to take care of your gear.

Make sure your camera is kept clean, especially that the lens is free from anything that might spoil your shot.

If you change your lens, do it as quickly as possible, and nothing can get to the back of the camera, such as dust and dirt.

There is nothing worse than having to erase multiple bits of dust and dirt that may ruin an otherwise perfect shot.

Rules are Meant to be Broken

The Rule of Thirds is an excellent example of this. Most of the time, the subject or focal point looks best at one of the third points in the photo.

I say most of the time because every now and then, you may find through leading lines or symmetry, the shot can look best when not off to one side.

If it looks good and is well-balanced, take it. As soon as you press the shutter, it should feel good to you, and if it doesn’t turn out as you’d like, crop it or discard it. This is where taking multiple shots at different compositions comes in handy.

Another example of breaking a rule is shooting with the sun behind you. Sometimes you find the sun can be part of the photo adding to the story.

Framing Photos

Some of my favourite photos are framed one way or another. It may be the way leaves are off a tree or looking through a window.

This also comes into another point at looking around. You never know what you might come up with if you think outside the square.

Patience

Patience is big, especially when taking photos of wildlife or waiting for the right weather conditions.

Animals, whether in a zoo or the wild, will do what they want when they want to. You will either have to wait for a good shot or take a quick opportunity when it arises.

Of course, you can’t control the weather, but you can learn to work with it. Just because it’s raining doesn’t mean you can’t get a great shot. It’s all about the light and knowing not only your gear but the area you’re photographing.

Look Around

Don’t just stand with everyone else taking the same photo. If you walk around and look at what you want to photograph from another angle, you may end up with a photo you’re more than happy with.

This point also goes back to research, seeing what others post and adding your style.

Taking Photos of Wildlife

Try to get animals as close to eye level as possible.

If you have looked at photos of animals or people, you would know that taking a shot from above or below is not a good or flattering shot.

Animal shots, as well as people, I feel, require you to see their eyes. You don’t necessarily have to see both but seeing their eye-line seems to look better.

Local Cultures

From locals in colourful clothing going about their everyday lives to buildings hundreds of years old, still standing and in use today.

Just remember, to be respectful of others and ask their permission before taking their photo.

Tell a Story

Just because a photo is a moment in time doesn’t mean it can’t convey a story.

From your vantage point, you can take a shot or show the emotions someone or something is exhibiting. You are the storyteller of your shot.

Research

Go the day before or early on the day to check out the vantage point

This can be important, especially if you want to acheive a specific shot.

What’s the weather like? Are there crowds? The best time of the day? Different times of day or season? These are just examples of what you should be looking out for.

Sometimes, of course, a photo just presents itself to you but looking on social media for the area you are in for ideas on where to shoot is a good place to start.

After Taking the Photo

At the end of the day, set aside time for post-processing. Choose a good photo editing software that you are comfortable with.

I use Luminar, but there is also Lightroom or Photoshop. Be critical.

You can only improve the image so far, so you should already have a sharp, well-exposed photo.

If you wish to try Luminar Neo, then you can click on the link here. It costs nothing extra for you, but I get a small commission.

Once the photos are processed, save them to a hard drive. There are plenty of small ones to use when travelling, and you don’t want to have thousands of photos on your memory card at the end of your trip.

Name and sort them so you can easily find them when you need to.

Once the photos are backed up, delete your memory card so you start over. Once again, you don’t want to be going through hundreds of photos to find the one you are after.

Share your best photos as soon as possible. Instagram, Flickr and other photography sites like Twenty20 and Viewbug are excellent sources for building your following.

Expose for the Highlights

When you take photos of a bright sky but a dark foreground, you should be exposing to the sky or the brightest point.

In photo editing, the details in shadows are brought back much more easily than the details in highlights.

The bright sky on the left-hand photo means the foreground was underexposed. On the right, Luminar has brought out the details in the shadows while lowering the highlights.

How to Carry Your Gear

Find a bag that’s comfortable for you. Remember, you may be carrying this all day walking around.

I like to travel as light as possible. I have a tripod and my camera with just the kit lens that came with it.

I don’t have a special camera bag, although if you have a lot of gear, you might consider it.

I do a lot of walking and like a backpack to be as comfortable as possible. It’s all about what is comfortable for you.

Make Sure You Have Travel Insurance

Accidents happen, and if that accident happens to your camera, you won’t be happy.

With the backup of excellent travel insurance behind you, it doesn’t have to be long before you’re taking photos again.

Trust Your Gut

Above all else, trust your gut. If you’re like me, you’ll know instinctively when you’ve taken a great photo. Unfortunately, it doesn’t happen that often. There is only so much you can see on the back of the camera, so if in doubt, take a couple more shots. All it costs is peace of mind that you should have at least one good shot.

Take Time to Smell the Flowers

It’s also true of photography that we should slow down, look around and be mindful. It’s great getting home and showing friends and family a shot, but if you don’t pay much attention to the surroundings to remember what else is going on, it will get quiet quickly.

Walk around first and see everything. Maybe there is something you can’t capture but can tell the story of when you look at the shot.

Nature is not in as big a rush as you are.

I hope these travel photo tips will help you take better photos. Remember, less is more in photography, and all you need is one good shot.

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Links

If you’d like to read more of my blogs on Australia, you can find them on the following links; Queensland, South Australia, New South Wales, Victoria, Camping and Silo Art, or if you’re after New Zealand, the United Kingdom or Photography, you can click on their links.

Travel Resources

• Flights, Accommodation & Car Hire – You can search for the cheapest flights and accommodation using Booking.com, Skyscanner, Hopper and WayAway, which has 5% cashback.
• Car Hire – Take to the open road with great deals from EconomyBookings.com, RentalCars.com and DiscoverCars.
• Train & Bus Tickets UK & Europe – Use Trainline to plan and book your rail and train travel in the UK and Europe.
• Travel Insurance – is your number one thing to pack when you’re travelling. Cover-More Australia, Cover-More New Zealand, EKTA, Travel Insurance Master and Insubuy are invaluable in keeping you insured during your travels.
• Attractions – buy before you leave home with these great sites, Big Bus Tour, Get Your Guide, GoCity and Viator.
• House Sitting – is a great way to save on accommodation and Trusted Housesitters has house sits all around the world for you to try.
• Photo Editing – is a great way to bring your photos to life and you can try Luminar Neo, which I use.
• Visa Applications – apply online for your visa requirements with iVisa.
• Sim cards – Try Airalo is the world’s first eSIM store that solves the pain of high roaming bills by giving travellers access to eSIMs (digital SIM cards).

If you want more tips, try my Travel Links and Resource page.

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