- Hey guys.
What is going on?
Today I have 50 travel photography tips
to take your photos to the next level.
(upbeat, exciting music)
All right guys, so I got the idea
to do this video from TwoWanderingSoles.
They did blog post on 32 photography ideas for traveling,
and they included us in there.
I decided to run with that article and make 50 tips
on making better travel photography.
If you want more travel photography tips,
go down into the description, check out their blog post.
I've linked it down below.
Also, with this video, I've reached out to a bunch
of different influences, other Instagramers,
travelers, photographers, and I had them submit
some of their best travel photography tips.
So guys, this video is a bunch of tips
that's a collection from a bunch of different people.
Before we get started on the tips,
guys I'd love it if you go check out their Instagrams.
Go see who they are, what they're all about.
Go give them some love.
I've included links to all of their accounts down below.
Everyone here is an awesome photographer,
and they put a ton of awesome content out there.
They're giving away some of their best secrets,
so you can be successful when you're taking photos
out on your next adventure.
This is a big one.
There is a lot of content to unpack in here.
Sit back, relax, check out these 50 tips to up
your travel photography game.
If possible, always shoot RAW.
This will provide a ton of flexibility in post when editing.
When in doubt, underexpose the photo,
'cause you'll be able to regain most of the detail.
But if the photo's overexposed,
the details are lost forever.
The general rule of thirds.
Most cameras and phones have a grid,
try to place the most important aspect
on one of the four intersections.
Charge all the batteries.
Although it may seem like a boring tip,
this is a useful one.
Having multiple charged batteries ensures that you'll
be capturing a once-in-a-lifetime sunset,
that candid shot of your family,
or the gorgeous hotel that you're staying in.
We usually carry at least two extra batteries
for each device, and make sure to pack
all the chargers and cords necessary.
It's all about perspective.
A lot of people will be visiting the hotel
you're staying at, or the beach you're walking on.
But how many will be laying on the ground
to get the perfect shot?
We found that looking at things from multiple perspectives
enables us to create and original and unique photograph.
So get down on the ground, look up,
look down, look everywhere,
and get a different view than you're used to.
Bring the necessities and narrow it down.
I love to have mobility to trek to remote places
and not worry about my back breaking.
This also forces us to get creative
with smaller parameters in terms of gear.
Insurance.
I have had all my gear stolen off a rooftop
during a shoot in New York City.
Thankfully, State Farm saved the day.
Connect with others.
Talk to locals.
It can be easy to stay at a hostel
with other international travelers,
but look into a local bed and breakfast,
or an Airbnb where you're renting a room
in a house with others, so you can get to know
the culture on a deeper level.
If you see something while shooting in the street,
it never hurts to ask someone to take their portrait.
I've always regretting not asking,
but I've never regretted asking.
Bring your camera everywhere.
But we all knew that, right?
Shoot in the moment.
People can spot a posed photo a mile away.
But when you're shooting in the moment,
capturing the real, raw emotion and actions
that aren't staged, your photo will feel
more organic and relatable.
Get in your photos.
It took me over a year of photography
to finally realize this.
I had hundreds of photos from around the world
that I wasn't too excited to post anywhere
and I couldn't figure out why.
Anyone can take a picture of a monument,
beach, building, et cetera.
If you get in the frame, it adds a perspective
and some personality.
It also makes your photo more unique,
and not like any other photo on the internet.
Nate is always carrying her vlogging camera
while I take pictures on the different one.
So it takes more time and planning to get a photo
with one of us in it, which is why
I didn't do it for so long,
but the effort is totally worth it.
Carrying cameras around can attract a lot
of attention to yourself.
A lot times we embrace that, and we take it
as an opportunity to ask locals if they mind
being in the photo or video.
Sure there are a lot of people who
are not into it, which is a little awkward,
but I can't even count how many times
this question brings hugs and smiles to their faces.
Just make sure your camera's ready when this happens
for the priceless shot.
Most of my best travel photos are taken either
at sunrise or sunset.
I use the mobile app Sun Surveyor to know the exact
time of the sunrise and sunset in my specific location,
as well as the exact path that the sun
is going to take throughout the day.
Be sure you know your location at least 30 minutes
prior, so you can set up your camera,
and don't miss the shot.
When posting your travel photos to Instagram,
crop your images to the four by five aspect ratio.
This allows your photos to take up the maximum
amount of real estate in the feed,
which will lead to higher engagement from your audience.
Be sure to keep this in mind as you're out shooting,
and compose your photos accordingly.
Challenge your perspective.
Is there a famous landmark you wanna shoot?
I guarantee everyone and their mother has taken a picture
at eye level straight on.
Even Google Street View probably has the same photo.
Find a new vantage point, climb a tree, get on your butt,
sneak into a rooftop bar across the street.
Yes, we've definitely done this.
Whatever it takes to make it fresh.
Tell a story.
I think the most important thing
is to tell a story with your photography.
What is it you're trying to say
with your photography, and why?
I think if you consider the aim of your travel
or photography, you start to move and shoot
with more purpose and direction.
Your work will have more substance behind it,
and people will really be able to feel
and engage what you're doing.
I can guarantee, if you find this purpose,
you for one will feel way more excited and motivated
by your work, and at the end of the day,
that is what matters most.
Learn color theory.
When considering the composition of a photo
it helps to think about what colors will be present.
Certain color combinations
are more visually pleasing than others.
The colors that are opposite each other on the color wheel
are considered complementary colors.
A few examples would be red, green,
blue, orange, purple, and yellow.
So if you're going to shoot a photo
of yourself in the woods, perhaps consider
wearing something red as it complements the greens
of the leaves, moss, grass, et cetera.
You don't need expensive, professional gear
to take great photographs.
But you do need to understand your camera.
While I think it's important to invest
in a decent DSLR camera, you don't need to get
the top of the line model, especially if you're a beginner.
Shop within your budget, and take time,
and learn, and understand your camera,
and the basics of photography principles before you travel.
You can find a good camera for under $500
if you shop older models, or consider buying used.
Enroll in a photography course,
and spend time watching YouTube videos
to learn how to adjust settings on your cameras.
Then practice, practice, practice
before you leave for your travels.
Have patience and think about your shot.
Aside from the usual suspects of mastering composition,
light, and technical stuff, our biggest tip would be,
have patience with your photography.
Sometimes you're so worried about getting the shot
that you start snapping away without really stopping
to check your settings or think
about the scene in front of you.
When you do that, you tend to miss out
on many great photo opportunities,
because you haven't taken the time
to really absorb what's around you.
There's nothing worse than looking
at your photos later and thinking,
if I'd only get the shot from this angle instead.
When you slow down, you'll start to see these small details
and a totally new way of composing shots.
ND filters are your friend.
Invest in a quality travel tripod,
and a set of ND filters.
Neutral density, I'm a big fan of long exposure photography,
and you'll need to keep the camera as still as possible.
The ND filter is essential to capture these shots
during the day, 'cause what they do is
they cut out how much light hits your sensor.
If you're near water, it flattens out
and really makes that photo pop.
It take a bit getting used to,
but once you learn the basics it's really addicting.
Use any natural elements, colors, or textures around you.
They've always added such a great pop
and unique spin to the usual travel photos
you see in popular destinations.
Make your photos stand out,
and not look like every other photo
that was taken in the same spot.
Wake up early, stay out late.
Not only will you catch more sunrises and sunsets,
but if you're around when it's not peak tourism time
you'll beat or miss the crowds, and you'll
be able to get those epic post card photos you dream of.
Early morning or later in the day
are also great times to get some beautiful lighting.
While traveling and shooting street photography,
keeping your camera in this mode will ensure
that you don't miss the shot because of exposure.
Keep your ISO slightly higher
if you're moving between shade and direct sun.
Take into consideration the size and scale
of both of your subjects.
If a building or monument is massive,
make sure to have the person stand far enough away
to fill enough of the frame
so they don't get lost in the photo.
Don't make your viewer play Where's Waldo.
I only use prime lenses for two reasons.
One, I'm so familiar with all my lenses
that I know exactly how far away I need to be
from something to capture the shot I had in mind.
Two, prime's have a wide aperture,
so I can shoot in low light without a flash,
and I can get insanely shallow depth of field
to isolate what I wanna photograph.
Setting your camera into burst mode means
that you'll get several shots taken
with a single click of the shutter.
This is especially helpful when you're trying
to take an action shot, like a whale breaching,
on the water's surface.
Carry a small tripod.
A tripod will seriously up your photo taking game.
There are several reasons for this,
but one main reason we carry a tripod
is so that we can get shots of epic
landscapes with ourselves in the picture.
Have patience, especially in crowded places.
Getting epic shots in famous places takes time.
You can't expect to show up at an iconic spot
like the Eiffel Tower or Cinque Terre
and get the perfect shot on your first try.
You'll need to be patient with the crowds
and wait for people to pass by.
You'll likely have to take several shots
just to get it right.
Try a polarizer.
This is relatively inexpensive, that will really
take your landscape shots to the next level.
Polarizers work best on sunny days
when the sky is blue, and will make the colors pop.
Like the blue in this glacial lake in the Himalayas.
Don't be afraid of rain or clouds.
Cloudy days can sometimes be disappointing
when you're on vacation, but often
they make the most interesting photos.
Clouds soften the suns rays like a natural light box,
and make it possible for you to get great shots
even in the peak of afternoon.
They also create cool moody effects,
that will make your pictures more interesting
than if you had a clear blue sky.
Make sure your lens is clean.
This might sound obvious, but time and time again
that I return home from an epic trip,
to when I find my pictures on my computer,
there's a spot in every single shot.
Pay attention to what you're wearing.
Not saying that you should carry
an unrealistic floor-length dress on a long hike
so you can get a pretty shot at the top.
But if you're headed somewhere
that you really want a photo in front of,
avoid shirts with writing, stay away
from super busy patterns.
Also consider colors that are neither dull,
nor super bright, and avoid shirts
that will show sweat stains.
It happens to the best of us.
Change the focus point.
We all love photos where the subject is in focus
and the background is blurred, right?
Practice this technique by focusing on unexpected points
like a flower in front of a church.
Take a photo in the exact same spot
with the flower burred and the church in focus.
Sometimes the unexpected focal point makes
the most interesting photos.
Change the way you look at the world.
There's beauty all around you.
Whether it's flashy or not,
sometimes it's not easy to see like a white sand beach,
but other times beauty can be imperfect, the every day.
When you start seeking out beauty in every day
around you, you'll notice the reflection
in puddles, the patterns in tiles.
You'll notice the texture of the tree bark,
and how the small hole in the fence
makes a super unique shape.
You'll start to love graffiti
and the walls covered with interesting vines.
You'll start seeing beauty in unexpected places.
Capture it.
Don't overthink it.
This might sound contradictory
after we're just piling up a list
of tips and things to think about when taking photos.
But the thing is, even if you're a pro,
you can't do all these things each time you snap a photo.
And sometimes when you have a moment
or two to capture a shot, go for it.
Spontaneity is beautiful.
If you have the time, look at your pictures,
and think about how you could make it better,
and snap another.
There's not much that would ruin a trip faster,
than losing all your photos.
I use to think, I'll just back up my pictures
when I'm at home, but I can tell you from experience,
that you may not have that luxury.
Your memory card that you're using could be damaged,
or your camera could be stolen.
I'm not trying to scare you,
but I do want you to be prepared.
Use light and shadow.
I'll put the camera down and watch how the sun rays
affect the scene in front of me.
Then look for a way to capture it
with a unique perspective using the shadows.
Organization is key.
Find a system that works for you.
I organize all my photos by year, month, day
and what we did that day.
This way I can always find what I need quickly
in both Lightroom, and I can find them on my hard drive
in the same way.
Unfortunately, it's very rare that those epic shots
you see all over Instagram, are made in camera.
It's amazing what the editing software
can do with a RAW photo.
Spend time learning Lightroom,
because as soon as you start enhancing your photos,
you'll be able to create some stunning pictures.
Share your photos immediately.
This may seem obvious, but don't sit on your photography.
Upload your photos and share them in your social media
to get instant feedback.
The more you put yourself out there,
and the more you put your photography out there,
the better you'll get as a photographer,
because you'll get feedback.
Because nothing big is built in a vacuum.
You'll start finding out what works,
and what people really like to see.
And you'll also find what you like sharing.
Check your sensor.
There are so many times that I've changed lenses,
and something has got on the sensor while traveling.
The last thing you want is 100 with a dot on them.
Bring a small hand held air blower,
and clean out your sensor while on the road.
Find a bag that fits your style.
I've gone through so many travel photography bags
to find one that I really like.
You need to figure out how you shoot,
and what's easy for you to get the gear you need
while out and exploring.
Don't be afraid to break your gear.
This is why you get insurance on everything.
I've destroyed so many cameras and lenses over the years,
but guess what, they're always covered.
If I left my camera in a safe spot,
then I would be missing out on so many epic shots.
Do your research.
Before you get to a new spot,
check out what other people are posting from there.
See what kind of photography they're capturing.
This will give you insight
into what you might need to bring with you.
Don't be afraid of the dark.
Night photography is a ton of fun,
and it's not as hard as it seems.
You just need a tripod, and to learn the basics.
There are so many tutorials on YouTube,
and you can do it with any camera,
even if it's not the best in low light.
Just takes understanding how to open your shutter,
and let more light in.
Clear your cards every day.
Every night before you go to sleep,
dump your photos on hard drive and back them up.
Fresh cards each day mean that you'll never have
to worry about running out of space,
or losing your shots because
your camera gets stolen or broken.
Make sure you have enough hard drive space and a back up.
I was on a trip once where my friend ran out
of hard drive space on day one of a two week trip.
Always be prepared with your gear properly,
and know that even if you shoot every day all day
that you'll never run out of space on your main drive
or your back up.
Also think about backing up on the Cloud.
Then you don't have any chance of losing any of your photos
even if everything got stolen on your trip.
Less is more with gear.
Don't bring everything
under the kitchen sink when you travel.
If you bring too much gear,
then you'll get bogged down trying to use it all.
Think of the absolute essentials
to get the shots that you like to take.
Learn every inch of your camera.
The internet is exploding with information.
As a photographer, you'll need to get past
using the auto setting.
Go through your camera's manual and learn every button
and every function on your camera.
Once you've mastered this, then when you're out shooting
you won't be fumbling around and miss the moment.
And the last tip that I have for you,
is sometimes we forget to put down the camera.
When you get somewhere and it's amazing,
take it in, grab some awesome photos,
and set aside the camera.
We've traveled with other couples,
and have seen their entire trips ruined
because they're way too focused
on getting the shot for Instagram.
Unless you're getting paid a ton of money,
you're not there just to capture photos.
So enjoy the moment, take it all in, enjoy the experience.
All right, guys.
So do you think those tips were helpful?
There's so much to learn here from all these tips.
You don't wanna get out there and just be fumbling
with your camera and miss the shot.
It's all about capturing the moment,
it's also about experiencing the moment.
Especially what I was saying with my last tip,
is that it's all about enjoying the moment.
You don't wanna focus all your time and effort
on just getting the shot.
There's so many times I've seen it happen in front of me,
where people are so focused on just getting the shot
that they forget that they're actually traveling
and that this is an experience,
and you wanna be here and experience it.
So guys, when you're out on your next adventure,
make sure you take time, soak it all in,
enjoy the moment, 'cause it's pretty awesome
to be able to travel and be in a world
that's so connected nowadays.
All right guys, like I said at the beginning,
make sure you go check out everyone
that has contributed to this video.
They're all awesome photographers.
I wanna say a special thank you to all of them
for contributing their tips,
because it wouldn't be possible without you.
And guys if you haven't already,
make sure you hit that subscribe button,
turn on those notifications,
and check us out on Instagram at Wanderworx.
All right, that is it,
that is the 50 travel photography tips.
Guys, if you wanna see another video like this,
I'd love to hear from you.
So leave me a comment down below,
and I will see you on the next one.