There’s more to travel photography than just snapping popular sites. We’re going to give you some tips for your next shoot abroad.

Travel photography is one of the most unique genres and arguably the most competitive. Taking good photos in this genre is about more than visiting fancy locations; you also need to convey the emotions you were feeling at that moment in time.

When taking photos on your travels abroad, it’s vital to prepare accordingly. Compared to shooting images in your hometown, you haven’t got as much room for maneuver. If that’s left you feeling a little daunted, don’t worry; we’re here to help.

Keep reading to discover our best tips for improving your travel photography.

1. Use the Right Lens

Travel photography is a versatile genre. As a result, you’ll want a versatile lens to help you get the best results.

When picking a suitable lens for travel photography, you can go down a couple of routes. The first is to choose a zoom lens with a wide enough range of focal lengths for the type of pictures you want to take.

Alternatively, you can choose a prime lens with a fixed focal length; this is what we recommend. Using a prime lens will help you document a wide range of situations, and since travel photography is fast-paced, this can also reduce the decision fatigue often associated with zoom lenses.

When picking a focal length for travel photography, we recommend going for something between 27 and 50 millimeters.

2. Brainstorm Your Photo Ideas in Advance

Spontaneity can be helpful for things like choosing where to go for dinner. And although travel photography requires some spontaneity, planning in advance will give you better results if you want to capture the life and atmosphere of the places you visit.

When preparing for a trip, think about the culture of the place you’re visiting. While your images in New York City might be chaotic and vibrant, a trip to Sweden could involve capturing the visual demonstration of calming feelings and sounds.

You might find it helpful to create a storyboard based on your itinerary. Doing so will add structure to your photoshoots, and it’ll force you to stop and think about each image before you snap away. Thanks to this, you’ll get better shots.

3. Scout the Areas That You Want to Photograph

When it comes to travel photography, many people make the mistake of only visiting popular tourist sites. By doing this, they get the same results as everyone else. This is why you see so many of the same images on Instagram; if you fall into this trap, you’re not going to stand out.

Of course, the touristy spots will most likely be a part of your trip; when you visit Paris for the first time, you’re going to want to see the Eiffel Tower. But before you stand in the same spot as all the other tourists, go for a walk and look for unique angles.

It’s also a good idea to walk around other parts of the place you’re visiting before you start snapping away. Take an aimless walk in a particular district and scout exciting spots. You can take a photo on your phone to save the location and then return later with your camera.

4. Wait Before Editing Your Images

When you travel, emotions are high. Beautiful landscapes, hot weather, and the excitement of exploring a new place can all cloud your judgment. And if you begin editing your photos while still on holiday, you could end up with edits where you’ve pushed the colors, clarity, and everything else too far.

It’s all too tempting to show off to your social media followers straight away about your latest trip, but you’re better off waiting a few weeks when you get back. Having this buffer between the trip and the editing phase will let you choose the pictures you like the most and edit them from a neutral perspective.

Because you’ll no longer feel the same high as when you were traveling, you’ll edit with a clear mind—and your photos will look better.

5. Pack Minimialistically

If you’ve got several camera lenses, it’s tempting to throw them all into your backpack or suitcase. However, the last thing you want is to feel the weight of those lenses as you carry them around. It’s also pointless to have five or six lenses if you don’t have enough space to pack your clothes and other essentials.

You probably won’t need most of the lenses that you thought you would, anyway. Taking everything you have means more decisions to make, and, if something goes wrong, a higher fee to pay to get everything repaired.

You’ll take better travel photos if you only pack the essentials. Try to take one—at most two—lenses with you. Ask yourself whether a tripod is necessary, too; in some cases, it isn’t.

6. Seek Inspiration Beforehand

Of course, you want your travel photography to be unique. However, that doesn’t mean you can’t seek inspiration from others before you visit. And thanks to the internet, you can get to know more about an area through its network of local photographers.

Pinterest is an excellent place to find travel photography inspiration. You can save all of your ideas in a pin and send direct messages to other users for additional tips. Instagram is another great platform to seek inspiration from; you can look for local photographers and search geotags and hashtags for ideas. And don’t forget about YouTube and Twitter, too.

There’s More to Travel Photography Than You Think

Travel photography is much more than visiting pretty places and pointing your camera at things that look nice. To become a successful travel photographer, it’s crucial that you think about the things you want to capture in advance. Try to avoid cliché poses that will look staged to your followers, and think outside the box as much as you can.

Every trip is unique, and only you can capture your experiences and emotions. These tips should help you start thinking about how to do that.

With worldwide airfares taking a dip, now is probably the best time to pack your bags and go out exploring! Here are four of the best vacation spots to visit when your wallets are not that tightly packed.

Mazatlan, Mexico- Mazatlan is abounding with marvelous restaurants and crisp, fascinating dishes. Lodgings are amazingly modest and true since most aren’t a piece of the colossal chains. El Cid Marina has magnificent pools that are ideal for families, extraordinary nourishment and enormous rooms.

South Africa- With traveling expenses and hotel prices being absolutely rock bottom, spending a holiday in South Africa is a no-brainer. Add on top the local wine prices which can be acquired for less than the price of a can of soda, South Africa can be a dream destination for those seeking a holiday getaway for the cheap and a load of fun!

San Juan, Puerto Rico- With Puerto Rico still being inside the boundaries of the US, there is no hassle of passports and with US Dollars being legal tender, there is no money lost during the exchange.

Chile- With the current exchange rates being favorable, visits to any European country is fair game! With Chile, there is a lot of delicious food and amazing wine to go by. With the local scenery being exquisite and renting cars being very easy and cheap, Chile is an ideal vacation spot on a budget.

The rules on travelling without a passport have changed since the UK left the EU – here’s what you need to know

Travelling without a passport isn’t generally the done thing, but it is possible; to some destinations, at least.

Anyone in the UK can enter another country within the Common Travel Area, which consists of England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, plus the Crown Dependencies (Bailiwick of Jersey, Bailiwick of Guernsey and the Isle of Man) and Ireland, without the requirement to carry a passport.

There are no passport checks when travelling between a land border between England, Wales and Scotland and Northern Ireland and Ireland, but when you enter via airport or port, you will go through security. In this case, if you’re planning to leave your passport at home, you’ll need to show another form of ID. Accepted other travel documents generally include:

• Photographic driving license
• International student card
• Government issued photographic ID cards
• Health insurance/social security photographic ID cards
• Photographic bus/train pass
• Place of work photographic ID
• Birth certificates (for under 18s with no photo ID)

Digital copies of your ID will not be accepted. We also recommend checking the rules on the transport company you’re travelling with, as they often provide a list of accepted forms of ID, and these can vary.

Can I travel to the EU without a passport?

No. Since the UK left the EU on 31 January 2021, anyone travelling from England, Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland to a country in the European Union or Andorra, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Monaco, Norway, San Marino, Switzerland or Vatican City will only be able to travel with a valid passport.

It’s also important to know that the rules have become stricter post-Brexit, and all travellers from the UK must now ensure that their passport is less than 10 years old on the day of entry to an EU country, and is valid for three months after the planned end date of the trip. So for example, if you will be returning to the UK on 1 August 2022, your passport cannot expire before 1 November 2022.

If in doubt, it’s always helpful to travel with your passport and ensure that it will not be expiring soon.

It’s a common notion that we cannot look after our health if we are traveling, and we have to sidestep our healthy lifestyles to enjoy a little holiday. But, isn’t it really possible to have a good time, enjoy the local cuisine, and also get some exercise at the same time when you are on a vacation? In fact, to get healthy, doctors often suggest traveling to have a change of air. If you’re still finding it hard to believe, let us show you some easy techniques to stay healthy and enjoy the local cuisine at the same time.

How to Stay Healthy While Traveling in 10 Easy Steps

Health is important but isn’t living the best life the point of taking a vacation in the first place? Sometimes, even after having the best intentions, some unavoidable situations can derail our healthy travel plans. Let’s see how you can deal with them.

Consult Your Doctor First

It’s always good to talk with your doctor before making any travel plans. They can suggest the required vaccinations you need to avoid contracting diseases like typhoid and hepatitis, which are endemic to certain places. They can also provide tips regarding how to deal with ticks, mosquito bites, and other insect problems.

Have Proper Sleep

Don’t run yourself down when on vacation, which can more likely make you sick. When you are on the road, you become more physically exhausted. So, don’t shorten your sleep hours. Be sure to listen to your body and rest when you need to. Avoid drinking too many alcoholic or caffeinated beverages, which can affect your normal sleep routine.

Don’t Skip Your Breakfast

You may not know it, but breakfast is the most important meal of the day, especially when you are traveling. Don’t start your daily trips on an empty stomach. Instead, fuel yourself with some healthy food options, like fruits, cereals, or oatmeal, when you’re heading out.

Prefer Walking

When you’re outside, you must avail yourself of even the smallest opportunities to look out for your health. You may not have the gym to perform a workout; hence you must find other ways to make your body sweat. Walking is one such activity. Avoid elevators or vehicles and instead, walk to various places to keep your body fit.

Keep Yourself Hydrated

When you’re traveling, your body is losing more water than under normal circumstances. Drink plenty of fluids to avoid getting dehydrated. Start your day with a big glass of water. Even fruit juices can be a good alternative to keep yourself hydrated.

Eat Healthy Food

Being healthy while traveling is a choice we have to make. It includes choosing the right dishes to eat when you’re roaming around. Select meals that have plenty of fruits and vegetables which will supplement your health requirements. Besides this, always keep some bananas, apples, oranges, and nuts with you to keep yourself energized when you’re on the move.

Wash Hands Regularly

As we all know, washing our hands is very important before we have any meal. Your hands come into contact with many different surfaces and are therefore the most common place where various bacteria and germs are found. Washing your hands is a must, especially before eating. Carry hand sanitizers and wet wipes along with you whenever you travel.

Plan Your Trip Well

Don’t rush through your vacation. Instead of jampacking your days with various activities, take some time off and plan your trips accordingly. Explore the nearby attractions at your own pace and give your body the proper rest to re-energize.

Beat Jet lag

Traveling long distances by air often causes jet lag which can derail your intentions of staying healthy and enjoying yourself. To avoid jet lag, use melatonin or drink chamomile tea to have a proper sleep after you reach your destination. When traveling to a new place, it’s important to adjust to the local sleep timing unless you want to spend the nights staring outside.

Avoid Too Much Screen-Time

Besides eating and sleeping well, you also need to give your eyes and ears a proper rest. When you’re traveling, your senses remain more alert than usual. So, you tend to get exhausted more easily. Avoid spending too much time on your smartphone, laptop, or tablet before going to sleep. You can also wear earplugs and an eye mask to avoid unnecessary distractions.

Conclusion

Follow these easy and simple tips to avoid coming down with a terrible cold or gaining a few unwanted pounds while traveling. Make a separate diet and exercise routine to follow whenever you are on a vacation.