Beginner photography can be a real steep learning curve.
You’re setting out on a trip you’ve wanted to take for years, and you want to make sure that you capture every moment! An admirable goal, but one that can be hard to accomplish. I’ve been working on my skill behind the camera for more than a decade now and here are my best beginner travel photography tips.
The most important thing in photography is just keep looking for that perfect moment. Doesn’t Nichole look perfect here!
Choose The Right Camera
If you’re a typical person who just wants to take some nice pictures to remember your trip or share with friends, my honest advice is just use your cell phone. To be clear, the lenses in your phone aren’t better than those of a dedicated camera. However, the digital processing software in your phone IS amazing and it’s getting better with every generation.
Two of the author’s cameras. One she’s using now and the one she started with.
But, since you’re reading this, you’re probably interested in travel photography as a hobby or thinking about picking it up as one and you want to know what camera to get. Well, don’t break the bank with your purchase, but get a decent camera to start with.
Get a camera with a swapable lens system, nothing with a permanent lens, and don’t spend too much, then you’re on the right track. Your price range should be around $500-$800.
Get Out Of The Way
The most insensitive and annoying thing you can do as a travel photographer is be in the way of everyone else’s experiences. I don’t mean, be in the way of everyone else’s picture, I mean experience.
If you’ve ever been to a tourist attraction, like the Grand Canyon, then you’ve likely experienced the “influencers” or the pushy photo tourists. These people barge their way through everyone and take up the entire space, taking way too many pictures for way too long. Blocking the views and beautiful panoramas, ruinging it for everyone. Don’t be these people.
Be polite and courteous, get your picture quickly (no more than a minute or two if it’s a busy area), and move on. It’s that simple. If you’ve got a group photo you want to take, do it off to the side, away from the crowd.
Only Take Needed Gear
Beginner photography often presents you with tons of optional gear. You might buy an $800 camera set up, but a salesperson can easily convince you to tack on another $300 in extra gear if you’re not careful. Before you get taken in by a bunch of shiny new things, keep these things in mind.
The key for any traveler is to not overpack. Cameras and their gear are heavy. At a scheduled photo shoot, professional photographers may bring hundreds of lbs. of gear with them. You are not going to a photo shoot, you are walking down streets, meandering through a port, or hiking a trail somewhere.
With travel photography, consider how much you’re walking or hiking and the type of places you’ll be visiting. You don’t want to pack too much, then be carrying around a backpack full of unneeded gear all day. Here’s a couple items that you can often leave at your hotel or in your cruise cabin.
- The tripod. It takes time to properly set up a tripod. You have to make sure that it’s secure and stable, and get the timer or remote trigger set up, and they’re awkwardand bulky to carry around. Unless you have something specific planned for it, it’s just not worth lugging the tripod around.
- Extra Lights. These can be static lights or flashes and most of the time you just don’t need them. A lot of places, like museums or other historic sites, won’t let you use them and staff freak out if they even see one. Save yourself the hassle and leave them at home. And remember to turn your flash off if there’s one built into your camera.
Beware Thieves
Before you step out with your nice camera, remember, some people will want to steal it. We’ve all heard about thieves picking your pocket for your iPhone, well camera theft can be even more brazen and costly. As a beginner photographer, pay extra attention to this bit of advice.
Afterall, you just spent several hundred dollars on a decent camera, maybe you even sprung for a second lens. So…
Do. Not. Let. It. Out. Of. Your. Sight.
It’s ok to hand someone your camera and have them take a picture but make sure that they are part of your group, maybe a fellow cruise passenger that you’ve become friendly with. The same is true of your tour guide or someone who is very clearly an employee of the place you’re at (they must have the uniform, name tag, and be behind the counter).
Our tour guide took this photo. It’s not perfect, but it’s a nice shot for a family photo.
Keep your gear close to yourself. Carry your camera in a backpack with locking zippers or one that has the storage pocket on the inside, against your back, and always keep the pack with you. This is exactly what I use: Manfroto Camera Backpack
We hope you enjoyed these travel photography tips.
By the way, the last photo is from Meteora in Greece and if you want to know more check this out.
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