Capture Your Adventures: Essential Travel Photography Tips

Traveling offers a unique opportunity to capture the world’s beauty and the essence of new experiences. At Picturli, we believe that every trip has a story waiting to be told through your photographs. We also know that when traveling, it is easy to get lost in your camera as it’s glued to your hand to ensure you don’t miss a moment. And we get it, trust us we do. But this summer, we’re doing our best to be intentional with our travel photo-taking - finding a balance in living in the moment and capturing the moment for memories to hold. 

So we’ve done our best over here to put together a list on how you can master the art of crafting a compelling photo story while exploring the world:

1. Be Intentional

Before you head out on vacation, take a moment to think about your vacation photos past and what it is about them that brings you so much joy! A clear sense of what moves you helps you capture images that are not just beautiful, but also meaningful and lived in. Often times on vacation, we get so caught up in snapping that we forget to live in the moment and be present.

Why? A clear sense of what moves you helps you capture images that are not just beautiful, but also meaningful and coherent. BONUS! It keeps you off your phone and in the moment!

2. Include Diverse Shots

Vary your shots to keep your story dynamic. Mix wide-angle landscapes with close-ups of intricate details. Include portraits, candid moments, and action shots.

Why? A variety of shots keeps you engaged and adds depth to your story, showing different facets of your travel experience.

3. Show Context

Capture the surroundings to provide context for your story. Include shots of street signs, local architecture, and environmental details that set the scene.

Why? Contextual photos enrich your story by grounding it in a specific place and culture, making it more relatable and immersive.

4. Focus on People

Photograph people, both locals and fellow travelers. Capture candid expressions and interactions to convey emotions and stories.

Tip: Be mindful of taking photos of people you don’t know or have not asked permission of. It might seem like common sense, but in the midst of a good time, it’s easy to forget!

Why? People bring your photo story to life, adding a human element that viewers can connect with emotionally.

5. Edit Thoughtfully

When you have a moment on your vacation, or when you are home and ready to revisit your trip, we recommend using a consistent editing style for all your photos when it's time to make your photos look their best! Whether you prefer vibrant colors or a classic black-and-white look, consistency ties your story together. Make sure you frame the photos before taking a lot of them! Turning on the level & grid functions on your camera are a wonderful way to help make your photos the most dynamic!⁠

Why? Consistent editing provides a uniform look and feel to your photo story, making it more professional and visually appealing.⁠

6. Back it Up

After you’ve taken your time to edit thoughtfully, don’t forget to back up your photos to the cloud! Connect to wifi and make sure each photo or video makes it to your storage safely. No wifi? No worries! Picture Keeper Connect is a thumb drive that plugs directly to the phone and can get up to 256GB storage. All you have to do is download the app to your phone and back up all the photos to the flash drive. You can also plug Picture Keeper into your laptop! Click here to purchase!

Why? Because losing your photos is SUCH A BUMMER! Eliminate that fear all together!

7. Share Your Story

Once your photo story is complete, share it with others! Create a photo book, a digital album, or a social media series to showcase your journey.

Why? Sharing your story allows others to experience your travels through your eyes, inspiring and connecting with them on a deeper level.

Crafting a compelling photo story while traveling is an art that combines planning, creativity, and a keen eye for detail. By following these tips, you can turn your travel photos into a cohesive and engaging narrative that captures the essence of your adventures! Remember, the best stories are those that resonate with the heart and imagination, bringing your journey to life for all who see it.

Quick tip!! Don’t forget to clean your front and back camera!! Nothing is worse than being disappointed with how a photo turns out and realizing it’s because the lens was dirty!

Happy travels and happy storytelling from all of us at Picturli!