7 Rules for Perfect Travel Photos
Full disclosure: I’m not a landscape photographer, or a hobby photographer. When I go on vacation I rarely pack my camera. It’s my time to spend with my friends, family, and fur baby, Shelby. When there’s a camera in my hands, I transform into a different person and even with my incredible prowess of multi-conversation engagement, I can’t hold a camera and talk at the same time. So, I travel light with an iPhone in hand to grab those shots I just can’t miss. Here’s my rulebook to get the perfect travel photography without a pro camera.
1. Get a protective case for your phone.
My husband cringes every time I reach for my phone. I have a beautiful rose gold iPhone 6 plus, sans case. I carry it in my wallet for easy access but it won’t fit with a bulky, protective case, so for the past year I’ve carried it (free of damage) without a case. However, the first thing I do before heading to the beach is throw on an Otterbox or Lifeproof case. The last thing you want to deal with is a cracked or worse, unusable phone and camera during your vacation. Trust me, I speak from experience, and obviously still don’t heed my own warning. (Hopefully my father is not reading this post, I can feel the disappointed glare from here…)
2. Get inspired
Check out some Instagram photo experts to get ideas and inspirations for shots. Here are a few of my favorite to follow.
Travel + Leisure
Kristen Alana
This is a great example of an open composition. Take a step back and give the full story (see more advice in #3)
We Are Travel Girls
Amazing use of composition and color!
Round the World Girl
A photo posted by Elise ? (@roundtheworldgirl) on
3. Think of your composition
Most people take photographs too close to the subject matter. Take a step back! Travel photographs are about telling a story. Include the surroundings, allow yourself to embrace the idea of your subject matter looking “small” in the photograph.
A photo posted by Travel + Leisure (@travelandleisure) on
In addition to thinking about your composition, think about your position. Get high, get low. You’ll be surprised the different type of shot you’ll get just by changing your view point.
Finally, don’t forget about your panoramic setting on your phone. You can get some EPIC shots with this setting. Take a look at a few my husband took on his way moving out west to college years ago…
4. Use the time of day to capture color.
Make your shots “pop.” The time of day you shoot will add to the mood of the shot. Looking to get a peaceful Namaste-esque photograph? Shoot in the early morning with the sunrise over your shoulder. Looking to get a romantic “kiss and dip” photograph? Head to the beach during the “magic hour.” Shoot around a few minutes before sunset for vibrant pinks and purples to get that oh-so-lovely swept-off-your-feet look.
To get more vibrant colors download Camera+. This is a quick, easy-to-use editing app that will take your photos from meh, to WHOA in seconds. See more about this app from my previous 7 steps for perfect iPhone photos.
5. Get a selfie stick.
Yes. I know, you’ve been holding out on this purchase so you don’t look like a tourist on your vacay. I get it…I am just now purchasing one. But there’s a reason why these are so popular! It gives you the advantage to get a different perspective, a large range of motion and, once again, you get the environment around you essential to capturing and remembering those travel memories.
Epic underwater selfie ? Tag people you’d do this with ? cc: @thiagomlcorrea
A photo posted by SPACE WHEEL (@spacewheel) on
If you’re still hesitant to purchase, just grab your phone, lean it against a post, chair, umbrella, or iPhone tripod — whatever you can find — and throw on the timer. You’ll have to rush to get the shot, and pray no one runs off with your phone, but you won’t have to use the infamous selfie stick!
Check out this post for additional tips and trick for the perfect selfie.
6. Play with motion and video
Every mat has a story to tell. #justmymat
A video posted by lululemon (@lululemon) on
As a photographer, I’m always looking for the next big trend in the creative world. Ladies and gents, it’s here. I’m talking about gifs, moving images, and short videos. This idea was first introduced (to me) on Top Model. Tyra used incorporated moving images into the show and this blew my mind! Now, you see top fashion and wedding photographers using this method. Snapchat and Instagram have made gifs and short videos a popular way to share your vacation stories, with added bonus of making all your friends at their 9-5s super jealous.
7. Don’t worry about looking like a tourist.
My husband and I last year in Old Orchard, Maine. You know, just acting like tourists, not caring about the hint of disapproval in the background…
Seriously, you’re never going to see these people again. Who cares if you take a million selfie shots and everyone sees you on the beach. Get over it. Live in the moment, enjoy your surroundings, and ignore the people giving you the side-eye when you pop your phone out to take the perfect wind-blown selfie.
The only downside to this is you may get a target on your back as being someone easy to pick pocket. Just keep your belongings nearby and camouflage your Birkin, Louis, or Tory beach bag with a Save My Bag from TSALT.
Follow me on Snapchat (@alxstylebook) for additional travel photography tips while I’m soaking up the sun next week. More about Stylebook’s Snapchat tomorrow!
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