You’re having the most incredible holiday in a perfect picturesque location. You know you need to capture some of the iconic scenery to share with friends, post on social media, and have for memories, but with just your smartphone, what can you do to ensure those photos really do justice to the beauty around you?
That’s where travel photography tips come in handy. Whether you’re trying to frame that breathtaking sunset or capture the charm of a bustling market, following a few key techniques can transform an ordinary snapshot into a stunning image worthy of your travel stories. With the right tips and tools, your smartphone can work magic.
Tips for capturing stunning travel photos
Golden Hour Lighting
There’s a pair of magical times of day that happen at dawn and dusk nearly everywhere in the world. Just as the sun peeks over the horizon in the morning and again as it dips back down in the evening, everything will be bathed in a soft golden light. The designation “golden hour” is actually a bit of a misnomer as the timing rarely lasts longer than a few minutes of perfect lighting for that special shot, much less a full hour. Still, if you can time it right, it’s one of the best travel photography tips to highlight the gorgeous vistas you enjoy on your travels.
Rule of Thirds
There’s a mathematical formula to ensure that a photo will feel balanced and be naturally pleasing to the eye. Known as the “rule of third,” it’s a theory of dividing the shot into a 3×3 grid. Simply place the subject at one of the imagined interactions and it will draw the eye of the viewer exactly where you would like.
Leading Lines
A leading line is one of the best travel photography tips to help create depth and make a photo dynamic. The principle is about following where the angels lead your eyes. Consider the lines of a cobblestone street, the top of a fence, or the flow of a river into the distance. The naturally occurring lines of a landscape can guide you to snapping the perfect shot.
Candid
We’re conditioned to say cheese! to catch a smiling face but sometimes the best travel shots are the ones that catch you (or others) off guard. You might find that your most memorable shots are the ones that aren’t planned at all. Imagine a candid moment of a local vendor assisting travellers of your party under the swaying branches of a native tree against a beautiful sky. To capture these types of candid shots just click away when you feel moved to do so, even if you’re worried it might an imperfect setup.
Perspective
One of the most underrated of all travel photography tips is to change up your perspective. Reach for the sky…and then crouch down low. Eye-level shots are boring. Instead, look for some unique vantage points like a balcony with a bird’s eye view of the city, or below looking up through rows of dangling lines of lights. Changing your perspective, in life and in travel photography, is always a good idea.
Top 3 apps for travel photography
Want to give even more of a boost to your pics? Here are a few great apps to add to this list of travel photography tips:
A favourite of content creators and travellers alike. Lightroom offers pro-level features for editing your photos easily from an app on your smartphone. Bonus: it syncs up across devices with one account.
Available on desktop and mobile platforms, Polarr offers both standard editing tools as well as retouching, overlays, and custom filters.
Unhappy with some of your travel photos? Picsart features a suite of editing options including removing backgrounds, adding textures, and even includes a text-to-image AI feature.
Whether you’re chasing golden hour or snapping candids, just remember: it’s all about having fun and capturing the memories, not stressing over perfection. Now go out there and make your Instagram jealous!
