While many people collect souvenirs when they venture out to exotic destinations around the world, others like nothing more than capturing each and every breathtaking view and action moment on film. Novices tend to use their smartphones or tablets while advanced vacation photo enthusiasts will usually opt for a serious professional camera set up (tripod is optional, of course.)
However, whether you’re a newbie photo snapper or an old hat, there are some standard principles you can follow that will always set you in good stead. And don’t forget about all those awesome features on your iPhone or Android like filters, HDR, and panoramic options. We aren’t about to tell professional photos how to take great vacation pictures, but we are going to guide those who simply want to capture those meaningful moments in the best way possible.
Tip 1 – Get An Early Start
As the old saying goes, “the early bird catches the worm,” and that’s definitely true when it comes to those all-important holiday snaps. Waking up early is a great way to make sure you get the perfect light for the best vacation snaps possible (similar rules apply to sunset time too.)The right light is hands down one of the most important things when it comes to taking good pictures. As well as offering optimum lighting, the early morning also means fewer people, especially in touristy spots. Our advice is to enjoy a hearty breakfast and try to head out just as the sun is rising for those perfect holiday memories.
Tip 2 – Check Your Angles
When it comes to taking that perfect vacation photos, angles are all important. You know how people take those selfies, holding their phones at weird angles to get the snap just right? You need to do the same when taking pictures when on vacation. A selfie stick is a good call here but obviously, checking your angles also means checking your position relative to the sun, and watch out for that glare that comes off of swimming pools and oceans. Try a shot of you standing atop a small mountain from down low, or flip the script and lay on the ground with the camera help above you for a birds-eye view.
Tip 3 – Patience, Patience!
Our third top tip for you is possibly the most crucial element to successful vacation snaps. Sure, you can sit on the beach snapping random selfie after random selfie, but for those golden pictures, it’s all about patience. Taking a relaxing stroll to the beach from your hotel and seeing which special spots along the way catch your attention. Instead of rushing to get the best seat at the ocean, slow down, take in your surroundings and find that ideal spot. It’s also worth taking the time and patience to pay attention to detail as much as possible. Check out the position of the sun, the cloud coverage, and be sure a sudden flash storm isn’t on the way.
Tip 4 – Get Lost
No, I’m not being rude or impolite, but I did want to save what I think’s the best tip for last. In my experience, when it comes to vacation photos (and I have a lot as I was a travel writer for many years), the best snaps are taken when you just throw caution to the wind and get lost. Take a long walk up that sandy path you noticed on your way to the beach. It might lead to somewhere extraordinary. All of the best vacation photos are taken when you get lost, and the backstory is usually a great one.
Over to You!
These top tips are a great place to get started when it comes to taking the perfect vacation photo, but we want to know what you think. Do you prefer to snap vacation pics in the morning or evening? Do you use your smartphone to take a more serious kit with you? Feel free to leave your comments in the comments section below.
