Guest Post by Adobe -Take Great Travel Photos Every Time With These Tips

Written by Riley Conti, Outreach Coordinator at Adobe Express

If you’re fortunate enough to travel often, you know that expressing your experiences through photographs can enhance the impact and effect of your travels. While on a trip, photos are not only the memories of the events and attractions, but they can also be used to create a connection with your audience by conveying the passion and excitement you feel about your destination. However, taking excellent travel photos isn’t as easy as pointing and shooting a camera or smartphone. In this article courtesy of Dan Costa, we’ll show you how to take great travel photos every time.

Image By: Dan Costa

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1. Focus your efforts during certain times of the day

Light is one of the most important components of photography. Before taking your shots, take the time to study the area you intend to explore and create a plan based on when the sun will be high or low. Take advantage of the sun's golden hour, by taking photographs near sunrise or sunset. The perfect time for light is 15 minutes before and after the sun has risen or set.

2. Move around your environment

It’s essential to move around different angles of your environment, seeking out unique perspectives and unexpectedly beautiful shots you wouldn’t have found otherwise. Come prepared with a variety of lenses so that you can manipulate your shots in the way you want. The environment of a location can also contribute significantly to a beautiful photograph. Including the surrounding landscape in the picture can make your image much more interesting and special.

3. Be respectful of local culture

Because travel photography is also a form of journalism, it’s essential to be mindful of sensitive subjects like cultural practices. Be courteous when you’re photographing real people’s traditions. In some cases, specific situations may require your discretion when shooting photographs. Before you begin capturing your moments, seek permission from others around you. It is respectful to ask when locals can be introduced in photos, and conversely, sometimes they might not prefer appearing in photos.

4. Stay away from tourist attractions

Photos of iconic tourist attractions and places are certainly terrific, but when you’re trying to capture the real essence of a place or experience, you must look beyond the surface level. Go off the beaten path and try to find something exciting and innovative in your location. There’s plenty of beauty and life in travel destinations that are not featured in travel guides and focused markets.

5. Learn all you can about your equipment

No matter how advanced or simple your camera is, you need to have a strong understanding of how it works. This includes the various settings, modes, and lenses that come with it. Professional-looking photos do not require a high-end camera. Don’t be afraid to experiment with the different settings and modes contained within your camera. Aside from camera knowledge, knowing a few editing software programs can help you fine-tune your photographs to give them your desired effect.

6. Use Adobe Express to create keepsakes with your finished photos

Adobe Express is a mobile app that simplifies the process of photo editing. It’s easy to use and allows you to make minor adjustments like cropping your photo or adjusting the brightness and contrast; you can also create beautiful social media posts. Here are a few tools you can try:

● Create a beautiful photo calendar that uses a different travel photo for each month of the year. This makes a great gift, or you can hang it in your office and relive your trip all year long. The hardest part is deciding which photos to use!

● Create an attention-grabbing blog post with striking images and engaging copy. You can choose from an array of templates. The best part? Each one is designed to look great on any device, so your followers will never miss a thing.

● Make a Facebook story that highlights your favorite moment from your trip. This is a great way to show off a meaningful shot to your followers. Customize your story using this free tool.

● You can make a fun thank-you card, holiday card, or greeting card using your travel photos. This is easy to do with Adobe’s free tools. Just choose the template you like and pick a photo that goes well with the layout.

To wrap up, telling great stories through travel photography is a skill that you can develop over time. It’s crucial to understand that travel photography requires a specific mindset and personal strategy. Therefore, it would be indispensable to focus your efforts during certain times of the day, experience the environment, learn all you can about your camera equipment, and respectfully understand the local traditions and culture you interact with. By following these tips, you can ensure that every travel photo you take is not just a memory but a masterpiece that will evoke emotions and take you back to that particular moment whenever you revisit it.

As a BONUS you can access my custom Instagram Story Travel Recap template that I use to visually tell my adventures.

Have a question for Dan Costa? Use the contact form to get in touch today.

**This post is made possible by Adobe Express, a design tool for quickly and easily creating graphics, collages, holiday cards, flyers, and other content with access to millions of templates, images, fonts, icons, and effects. 

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