9 Travel Photography Tips to Take Better Vacation Photos

Don't let technical details hold you back. Capture the moments that matter, experiment, and find your own way to tell your vacation story through your photos.

For casual photos, focus on the basics by having fun and relying on your phone's capabilities. For more creative control and artistic expression, learn the phone camera’s settings.

If you're interested in diving deeper, it can be rewarding, but you can often rely on a phone’s built-in features and editing tools without needing manual adjustments. It’s more about prioritizing experience over equipment. Enjoy the moment and engage with the places you visit. Don't get bogged down in technical details at the expense of experiencing your vacation.

Embrace the golden hour. Sunset gives the world a warm glow, perfect for flattering landscapes, but sunrise often results in soft light and fewer crowds to create unique moods.

Master the rule of thirds. Imagine your phone's screen divided into nine squares and place key elements at their intersections for a balanced composition. Think mountains in the distance, trees in the middle, and wildflowers in the foreground. Experiment with vertical compositions for towering scenes or get low for dramatic perspectives.

Remember, the best shot might be just a step away. Capture the dynamism of nature by being ready for fleeting moments like waves crashing, clouds casting shadows, or birds taking flight. Embrace the unexpected, like a burst of sunlight, a grazing deer, or a sudden rainbow. These are the treasures that make your travel photos personal and majestic.

To make your photos stand out from the crowd, forget the "perfect" moment. Sometimes the most compelling photos capture something that resonates with you. Even if the lighting isn't ideal or the scene isn't postcard-worthy, it's all about feeling a connection to the scene.

This is also the result of patience. We've all found the perfect spot on our trip, like an empty Tuscan hillside with a medieval tower in the background or a beach sunset absent of crowds, but something's missing. Don't just snap and walk away. Instead, wait, observe, and anticipate. Will that person across the street glance your way? Will that bird take flight? Let the scene unfold and be ready to capture it.

It's not just about finding moments, it's about making them. Don't be afraid to play director. Move your subject, adjust the angle, wait for the right light. Sometimes, a little nudge can transform an ordinary scene into something extraordinary.

Forget rigid and embrace playfulness. Ditch the gridlines and play with perspective.

Capture the wildflowers framing Torres del Paine’s granite peaks or weave together a story with contrasting textures, like smooth sand against rugged rocks on a French Polynesian beach. Hike for panoramas in New Zealand or kneel for a tablecloth at a Spanish tapas bar dancing in the breeze.

Ultimately, it's not perfection, it's about your travel story.

Taking impressive action shots with your phone is not about fancy gear. Camera phones have limits, but your reflexes can be a superpower. Anticipate the peak, choose your moments wisely, and click quickly but quietly; a fly on the wall rather than a firing squad.

Burst mode can capture fast-paced thrills, but it is not a catch-all. You can fire off 10 to 20 shots in a row and choose the best one, but it is still about anticipating the right moment.

Tilt the camera, blur the image, tell your story. There is no one-size-fits-all method for capturing the travel images you want.

Low-light photography doesn't have to be a blurry mess. A tripod is your friend, but a creative ledge or book can be great substitutes. A tiny cube light adds warmth and clarity like a personal spotlight when up close to a subject.

Capturing an intimate dinner under the starlight on a safari or diving deep underwater for a unique view of marine life, low light doesn’t have to be an adversary, it can be a mood-maker.

Play with shadows, embrace silhouettes, and let the darkness add a mysterious touch.

Fancy software and generic filters can take away from your unique aesthetic. With editing your photos, less is more. Subtle tweaks to brightness, contrast, and color can give your photos more impact than louder, drastic reinventions.

Enhance the natural beauty of your photos, don't erase it. A touch of warmth, a sprinkle of clarity and your photo will come alive. Embrace imperfections – a bit of grain, a quirky angle – these add character and charm, making your photos personal to your trip.

The best edits make you smile. They enhance the memory of your travel experience.

Travel is your photo playground. Shoot, shoot, shoot, but not mindlessly. Be present, compose with intention, and capture those fleeting moments that speak to you. Experiment, play, and don't be afraid to move your camera or embrace happy accidents. Think about what draws you in or your personal visual aesthetic. Learn from your mistakes, share your gems, and connect with others.

Motivation matters. Is your goal to capture a meaningful moment you want to remember or to capitalize on an unfamiliar situation? Consider the circumstances and the potential impact of your photo.

A camera can help you connect with people, sparking conversations and fostering genuine interactions. It can also create a wall and keep you from fully immersing yourself in the moment. The camera can heighten your observation skills or become a barrier between you and the experience.

Engaging with people and capturing the essence of their lives in a respectful way can be a powerful form of connection and understanding. But you should always ask permission, explain your intentions, and be prepared for a polite "no”.

Photos are one of the best ways to revisit your trip after you have returned home. From capturing incredible moments to sharing memories with others, your best photos become part of the travel experience. Whether sharing travel ideas with friends, inspiring family, or revisiting a specific destination, your travel pictures have priceless meaning.

Find inspiration on where to capture more travel photos with our best places to travel by month or when exploring our Experiences of a Lifetime travel guide.