Ah, the lure of far-off, exotic places - okay, maybe I'm overdoing it a bit. Seriously, though, for most people, opportunities to travel and see the world are cherished. For photographers, they're golden. Whether you're simply a tourist, an avid amateur photographer or a working pro, your travel photos are going to be important to you as mementos as well as potentially profitable. This article will give you a few tips to help you make those shots as special as the experience.
- Know your gear.
Nothing gets in the way of capturing the moment like fumbling for settings. That's why you should practice with your camera diligently before your trip. Learn your favorite shooting modes for given situations. Learn how to make adjustments quickly, without the need to take your eye off the subject. Know your AF and AE modes and how to change or disable them. Know how to change lenses quickly and safely.
Don't lose the shot because you couldn't find the right setting. Practice, practice, practice! - Have spares.
When your batteries are dead, the photo shoot is over. The same applies to memory cards. Keep your rechargeable batteries topped up with a mobile charger or charge them nightly. Having at least one spare for each rechargeable cell is a good idea. For disposables, keep enough on hand for swaps. Invest in a memory card wallet and enough fast cards to cover a couple of days' shooting. - Shoot RAW.
You're going to be taking a lot of once-in-a-lifetime photos. Make sure you can do them justice later by saving them as RAW files. If you want to have JPG files for quick previews, set your camera to save both file types. - Have a place to upload to.
Eventually, you're probably going to fill up those memory cards. When you do,you'll need a place to put them. Storage space on your laptop or pad is going to be limited and carrying around extra storage drives adds weight and bulk. Set up a cloud storage account and a KeepSnap account. Not only will you be able to clear those full cards, you'll have a place to show off your images and maybe even sell them.
- Don't forget the people shots.
I'm not talking about your selfies or the family vacation shots in front of the tourist attractions. While you're shooting, don't forget to grab some shots of the locals or other tourists. They're going to be a big part of your experience and they'll add color and flavor to your photos. Don't forget to work on your people skills, too.
Here's a bonus tip: Whether you're an amateur or pro, there's potential profit to be made with your photos of people in these locations. I recommend heading over to KeepSnap and checking out their unique program. It's easy, and can really help you break the ice with strangers, too.
- Find something less-photographed.
You'll probably want to get your own photos of all those wonders that draw people to the places you visit, and that's a good thing. While you're at it, though, create some spectacular images of things more “off the beaten path”. Give yourself and others the “back-roads” tour. You'll have a richer experience and you'll find that there's a good market for those shots, too.
While there's lots more advice I could provide, I'm not here to write a novel, and you're probably not here to read one. There is, however, one last tip I'd like to leave you with: have fun! Remember why you came to these places and drink in the experience!