Top 24 Helpful Travel Photo Tips

I am by no means a professional photographer, and I 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. If you save this blog, check back regularly to see if I’ve added more useful travel photo tips.

Photos of You

Now, I may be in the minority in photography, especially travel photography, but I don’t like taking photos of myself. I know this isn’t for everyone, and people are now getting very creative with how 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 that what you think is a great shot may not be appreciated by others. Not everyone has the same taste, and similarly, you may not like what someone else has taken.

Trust yourself and stick to your own style, not someone else’s. Your work will be recognised at some point, and if you stay true to yourself, it will show 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 being featured is even better.

Photographers often borrow ideas from one another, so don’t be afraid to draw inspiration 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 the abundance of tutorials available on YouTube. You can learn a great deal about your camera, including how aperture and shutter speed affect photos and composition.

Find photographers you like and follow them. Most posts are regular tutorials, which I find invaluable.

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, experimenting with depth of field to capture creative shots.

If possible, always shoot in RAW. This gives you more control in processing, as all the image data is recorded and not compressed, unlike the case with 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

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

You’ll be working with low light, and simply holding the camera isn’t enough to achieve the sharpest focus possible.

The best times of the day are sunrise and sunset. By using a tripod and setting the camera on a timer, you’ll be more likely to capture 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 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 the sky is bright but the landscape or foreground isn’t as colourful or looks flat. They should even out the tone of the photo. These also come in Reverse action.

For special effects, you can achieve a star, bokeh, softening/diffusion, infrared, or close-up look 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, such as in a waterfall, river, or clouds.

I have an ND filter of 10, which means that if I set the camera settings to f/22, the filter adds 10 stops, allowing less light to enter the lens. Therefore, I can keep the shutter open for a longer time to achieve the desired effect.

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.

Numerous free phone apps help you determine the correct shutter speed. I use the Long Exposure Calculator, available on the Apple App Store.

Batteries

If you can afford it, always carry a spare battery. Suppose you can’t, keep an eye on your remaining battery life. 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 to take your favourite photos, and it can be costly to revisit an attraction to get more photos.

Camera Care

To ensure your photos turn out well, you must take proper 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 ensure that nothing can reach 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 now and then, you may find that, through leading lines or symmetry, the shot looks 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. If it doesn’t turn out as you’d like, consider cropping or discarding it. This is where taking multiple shots at different compositions proves helpful.

Another example of breaking a rule is shooting with the sun behind you. Sometimes, 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 relates to another point about looking around. You never know what you might come up with if you think outside the square.

Patience

Patience is enormous, 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 ties back to research, where you see what others post and incorporate your own 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.

I feel that animal shots and people shots require you to see their eyes. You don’t necessarily have to see both, but seeing their eyeline seems to look better.

Local Cultures

From locals wearing colourful clothing as they go 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 achieve 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 to look out for.

Of course, sometimes a photo presents itself to you, but looking at social media for ideas in the area you are in is a good place to start.

After Taking the Photo

Set aside time for post-processing at the end of the day. Select a reliable photo editing software that you are familiar with.

I use Luminar, but there are also Lightroom and Photoshop. Be critical.

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

If you’d like to try Luminar Neo, click the link below. It costs you nothing extra, but I receive 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 locate them when needed.

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

Share your best photos as soon as possible. Instagram, Flickr, and other photography sites, such as YouPic and Viewbug, are excellent sources for building your online presence and following.

Expose for the Highlights

When taking photos of a bright sky against a dark foreground, you should expose for the sky or the brightest point.

In photo editing, details in shadows are restored much more easily than those in highlights.

The bright sky in 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, which came with just the kit lens.

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

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 won’t be long before you’re retaking photos.

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 to get home and show friends and family a shot, but if you don’t pay close attention to the surroundings, you may find something in your photo that shouldn’t be there and you don’t like.

Walk around first and see everything. Perhaps there is something you can’t capture, but you can tell the story 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 about Australia, you can find them on the following links: Queensland, South Australia, New South Wales, Victoria, Camping and Silo Art. If you’re interested in New Zealand, the United Kingdom or Photography, you can click on their links.

Travel Resources

• Flights & Accommodation—You can search for the cheapest flights and accommodation using Booking.com, Skyscanner, Tripadvisor, and WayAway, which offers 5% cashback.
• Car Hire— Take to the road with these great car hire deals: EconomyBookings.com, RentalCars.com, and DiscoverCars. In Australia, you can use Apex Car Rentals Australia, Budget Car Rentals Australia, or Avis Car Rentals Australia. In New Zealand, you can use Apex Car Rentals New Zealand, Avis New Zealand or Budget New Zealand for all your travelling and exploring needs.
• Camper & RV Rentals—Want a quieter pace exploring Australia and New Zealand in your own accommodation? Jucy Rentals and Star RV Rentals will give you an unforgettable experience travelling.
• Train & Bus Tickets UK & Europe—Use Trainline to plan and book your rail and bus travel in the UK and Europe.
• Travel Insurance is the number one thing to pack when you’re travelling. Cover-More Australia, Cover-More New Zealand, EKTA, Travel Insurance Master, and Insubuy provide insurance coverage 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 offers house sittings worldwide.
• 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, the world’s first eSIM store, which solves the pain of high roaming bills by giving travellers access to eSIMs (digital SIM cards).
• Power Stations—Bluetti and EcoFlow Power Stations are your choices for sustainable, eco-friendly power on the go or at home.

• For more tips, try my Travel Links and Resources page.

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