Hopefully, traveling will return in 2021! And no matter where you decide to go first, you certainly will be telling the world all about it via vacation photos! But oftentimes when you start flipping through the photos from vacation for something to post, you feel disappointed. None of them seem to capture how amazing certain things really were. The good news? Is that I’m going to lay out a few tips that will help take your vacation photos to the next level. And you have some time to practice before the big day!
Consider Your Camera: I get it—updating your phone can be a pain. You don’t need the latest and greatest iPhone to capture amazing photos on your next vacation. But if you haven’t updated your equipment in 5+ years it may be time to consider doing so. That’s because technology changes rapidly. At the end of the day, it comes down to the photographer—a good photographer can take a good photo with an old camera and a fledgling photographer can take a bad photo with the latest tech. Nonetheless, the smallest differences that result from the latest in tech could prove helpful on your next bout of travel.
Take more than a single shot: When a photographer is capturing a story, they rarely get the winning shot on their first take. Ask any professional photographer who has spent hours—or even days!—at the same location, adjusting and readjusting for the “perfect” shot. So it’s unrealistic to expect that a single photo will result in the perfect encapsulation of your vacation! Try taking multiple shots of the same scene. For instance, if you’re taking pictures of your child on a beach, go for different angles. Take photos from your vantage point or squat down to theirs. You could even try lying on the ground and pointing the lens up!
Master your hold: The number one cause of “bad” photos on your phone? Blurriness! Learning how to hold your camera steady is imperative to taking good photographs. I always recommend using a tripod (inexpensive, light to pack, and available on Amazon) when photographing if possible. If you don’t have a tripod, practice different ways of holding your camera that reduce shaky movements as you capture images.
Practice Composition: The composition and the framing of your photos is key to overall photo success. Why? Doing so ensures that you are guiding your viewer’s eye to exactly where you want it to focus in your photograph. So instead of trying to capture “everything” that you see on your next vacation, try focusing on a single thing. A pelican diving for fish. A bicyclist on a busy street. A single stall in an outdoor market.
Consider the Time of Day: The most powerful pictures are built on how the photographer used light. But there are multiple lighting scenarios to consider. Try to avoid taking photos at noon—when the sun tends to be at its highest. You should also skip taking photos at night unless there is a lighting source, such as a streetlamp, that can help increase the vitality of your photos. Flashes—especially those on phone cameras—should be avoided.
These tips are sure to help you take better photographs on your next vacation! But in the meantime, be sure to practice around your own home and community.