Each vacation experience is a once-in-a-lifetime event. Even if you return to a favorite place and do the same things, it will never be exactly the same. Maybe the kids are older, the weather is a little different, or that charming little restaurant changed ownership. But you can relive the fun and excitement you felt on a particular trip when you look at your vacation photos. Use these vacation photo tips to capture the thrill of exploration and moments of delight that make each trip unique.

1. Tell a story. Whether you put your pictures in an album, an Instagram story, or a video when you get home, let your vacation photos be a narrative of your trip. Take photos of signs, the food you eat, and unusual architecture to help illustrate where you went and what you did during your vacation.
2. Get people in your photos. Your travel companions are an important part of the vacation story, so be sure to get them in the pictures for the future memory value. Photograph the local people, as well, to capture the local culture in action (you may need to ask for permission first). People in photos also demonstrate scale. When a person is in the picture, you can tell how big the elephant is or how low the cave ceiling is.
3. Take candid photos. An impromptu expression can be priceless and is more natural than stiff companions lined up in front of the site du jour. Try to catch your subject being silly or pensive, laughing, dancing, or bartering without them being aware you are taking pictures.
4. Zoom in to capture details. No matter how beautiful a landscape may be, panoramic photographs are often boring because all the detail blurred together. Try focusing on one architectural element, such as a single gargoyle’s face on the Notre Dame Cathedral or one mounded basket of fruit at a busy market. Going small often has big impact.
5. Get high or get low. Try to construct your image with a foreground, mid-ground, and background and remember that unique angles also create impact. For example, crouching down to make a smaller foreground element look larger gives your picture dimension, texture, and depth.
6. Look for interesting geometry. Pleasing curves like a winding staircase add esthetic interest to your images. The hard edge lines of a building casting a straight shadow increases dramatic flair, or a sequenced row of statues or columns is artistically satisfying.
7. Use the rule of thirds. The composition of your shot makes all the difference. Draw the viewer’s eye to what you want to feature with the rule of thirds. Imagine a hashtag grid (#) over the viewfinder and frame up your focal point where lines intersect. Align horizons on one of the horizontal lines, rather than the center for a more compelling image.
8. Snap during the golden hours. Early morning and just before sunset are the magic hours. The light at these times of day is softer and warmer, giving your vacation photos a golden quality. Midday light is harsher but that doesn’t mean you can’t shoot great pictures then, as well. Look for shadows making interesting patterns or step into the shade to take portraits.
9. Know your camera. If you’re a true beginner, you might want to rely on the auto setting to let the camera adjust the exposure and color balance. As you practice, learn how different scene modes change the results. Intermediate and advanced photographers can learn to fine-tune exposures by using the aperture and shutter priority modes. Vacation isn’t the time to learn – just use what you already know so you don’t miss the shot while tinkering.
10. Be prepared. Make sure you have enough juice to keep your technology going. It would be awful to spend three nights in the Arctic hunting the Northern Lights only to find your battery is dead when they finally appear. Always carry an additional memory card, too. You don’t want to have to delete vacation photos and videos from the first half of the trip just to have room to document the last half.
11. Camera Recommendation: Travel and wildlife photographer, Dook says, “For amateur photographers looking for a no-fuss camera, the Nikon Coolpix P900 has a staggering 83X optical zoom. It’ll take great photos in multiple situations, including long-distance shots of those colorful birds.*

Now that you know the best tips to improve your vacation photos, it’s time to go somewhere to practice them! Contact your Covington vacation advisor to plan your next trip.

 

*Quote source: Virtuoso Dispatch, June 2016, African Safari Photo Tips 

All photos courtesy of Virtuoso Advisor and Traveler Photo Contests. Please request permission for reuse.