How to Shoot Great Travel Photography

• Produce a range of imagery, in terms of tone. You can create a silly tone in a somber environment, and vice versa. Remember that the buyer is trying to create a certain feel with their layout, and the more options you give them, the better. Give them funny and kitschy, give them traditional and beautiful. As Granado says: “the buyers may not all agree that a funny picture of someone pigging out on a corn dog, for example, is appropriate for that article.” Well put.

photo by Cedric Angeles

• Produce a range of imagery, in terms of subject matter. Food, portraits, landscapes! You’re telling the story of a place, and a place is multi-faceted. Find what is special about the place to you, and let the story evolve. Wander about and try to shoot a bit of everything– remember there is no one set formula. If the location means something to you, if you have a clear perspective– it will come through in your imagery. You want the viewer to feel as if they are there with you, enjoying that local goat cheese.

photos by David Nicolas

• Natural light, natural light, natural light! This is a biggie; your goal as a travel photographer is to show the best of the place. And that means showing it naturally. Why light a room when you can have natural light streaming in the window? When in low-light situations, use fills, use long exposures. Travel is about charm, and charm is not achieved with a strobe (unless you are very careful). This is the same for gels. Be very careful where you tread.

photos by David Nicolas

• Do your research. Know where you’re going! Cedric Angeles has some great techniques: “I usually watch films set in the specific place i am photographing. I also read books about the place, a guidebook, a novel or travel writings from any writers that I like. This gives me a good base in terms of what kind of imagery starts to form in my mind.”

photos by Cedric Angeles

• Make lists. Again, both a buyer tip and a photographer tip. If you’re on assignment, you’ll have a list from your editor, and if you’re not, you should make your own. Think of moments that will happen, faces you’d like to capture. It’s your perspective that you’re recording, so figure out what that perspective is.

                     photo by Emiliano Granado

• Find some friends. Be a local. Talk to folks! This is an invaluable tool to help you understand and shoot your environs better. You’ll learn about spots that are not in the guidebooks, and you’ll find interesting faces and customs.

• Avoid the cliches. If you’re shooting something exactly like the aging postcard on display at the local gift shop, you’re wasting film or card space.

• Sunsets? Everybody shoots sunsets, so know that the quality bar is very high and your shot must be differentiated. Search ‘sunset’ on any stock site and see what comes back. If you can’t beat what’s already there, it’s probably not worth capturing from a sales standpoint. On the other hand, if you can beat the existing inventory, do it!

photos by Cedric Angeles

• Be yourself. In the end, travel photography is very much about the photographer’s style and vision. Bring your own perspective, make yourself stand out. And don’t give up! Angeles, again, helps us out here” “Dont give up. Keep shooting, keep showing your work, promote your work, make sure people see it. Always make sure your work is being seen.”

5. SHOT LIST
Here are some ideas to get you started. These are truly just a jumping off point – we encourage you to find your own ideas and get creative – it will pay dividends in your sales!

Urban Settings:

• Conceptual/Mood-setting Images: urban destinations can be associated with the moods the traveler wants to experience: excitement, energy, romance, culture, style, high fashion, party atmosphere, history, modernity, sophistication etc.
• Neighborhoods, both well known and off the beaten path, ethnic and more typical
• Districts, such as theater district, shopping district, etc-try to get a new point-of-view; include signage where appropriate.
• Parks, recreation, outdoor amenities
• Locals in these settings in different moods and times of day (positive /clean depictions are more saleable)
• Major landmarks, artworks, and buildings– try to be unique in point of view and time of day.
• Cityscapes
• Restaurant exteriors, including signage
• Restaurant interiors, including servers, customers and decor
• Food and beverages in restaurants
• Typical street or ethnic food /try to avoid flash and messy backgrounds/
• Residents going about daily life
• Residents having fun
• Environmental portraiture of beautiful locals, or local characters
• Local style and fashion
• Store exterior and interiors, goods for sale- don’t stick to only typical tourist haunts and avoid cluttered photos; use signage where appropriate
• Nightlife in general, in the streets and in establishments
• Exteriors of clubs and bars, includings signage and neon lights
• Interiors of clubs and bars
• People dancing having fun inside clubs and bars (one case where strobe might be ok)
• Close up detail shots of any and all of these locals
• Typical vehicles or modes of travel, transit stations hubs– again, unique POV
• Cultural events high and low, art, museums, music, theater venues
• Churches, mosques, synagogues, temples
• The clergy and rituals thereof

Beach Settings:

• Conceptual/Mood-setting Images: beach vacation spots are often associated with the following moods or feelings desired by the traveler: relaxation, luxury, adventure, pampering, romance, exclusivity, play, sunshine, fun, surf, the beauty of the landscape, a sense of open space, colorfulness, party atmosphere, sexiness, togetherness, etc.. (*these must be very well executed since they will be purchased for their aspirational value*)
• Bodies of water and waves should be shot at great moments and with good light to show off the best color and shapes.
• Streets and villages, both typical tourist spots and off the beaten bath
• Details of shells and sea life, well-composed, colorful, shot on the beach or underwater
• Couples, families, locals, and tourists on the beach, should be aspirational and attractive
• Environmental portraits of local characters and beauties, ethnic/native peoples
• Beach chairs, umbrellas and towels — empty and waiting for the traveler
• The beach with a beautiful companion, beverage, bird, flower, or food item in the shot
• Specific hotels, interiors and exteriors, signage where appropriate
• Bungalows, huts other unique places you can stay at beach locales
• Food, especially seafood, tropical drinks, fruits before and after cooking
• Local markets, street food, good composition, sense of the moment (color and light is essential here)
• Beachfront cafés and grills
• People in stylish beach wear, showing tans, nice bodies
• People in scuba snorkel gear, people enjoying those activities
• Local flora and fauna, both alone and including people
• People swimming, floating, luxuriating in water, from many points of view
• Surfing, Windsurfing, Paragliding etc. Catch the right moments, spray of water, good expressions, make it look, fun, skillful, or relaxed where appropriate
• Dawn, dusk, candle or fire light on the beach
• Cultural festivals, carnivals, musical and dance performances. Try to avoid canned events designed for tourists only.
• Pools, Jacuzzis, hot springs, spas, restaurants, other hotel amenities
• Show the unique service at high end establishments, using employees, turned down beds, shined shoes left at your door, room service, complimentary spa products in your room etc, etc.
• Spa and beauty treatments, massages
• Sandcastles, sand toys
• Kids playing in the sand, etc
• People playing beach games like volleyball and Frisbee etc.
• Fitness, meditation and yoga may be appropriate in certain destinations.
• Boats, boating, sailing, yachting, harbors: (*Be extremely careful not to clutter the frame with many masts and boats, poor color and contrast, ugly unclean details. We get a lot of these shots and most are uninspiring. Capture details, colors, clean composition, point of view on the boat including the prow and wake, both motion and calm. *)
• Fishing, Fisherman, etc.
• Watch out for the sky– avoid muddy, dark, or blown out

Countryside/ Small Town Settings:

• Conceptual/Mood-setting Images: rural areas and small towns often create these types of feelings or ideas in the traveler: calmness, landscape, back to nature, tradition, retreat, timelessness, quaintness, warmth, friendliness, family, simple life, humanity, agriculture, animals, green, privacy, quiet, relaxation, solitude, beautiful vistas etc.
• Impressive landscapes, mountains, waterfalls, valleys, towns etc. – composition and waiting for the right light is important here
• The above with a person, couple, friends, or family included to set a mood
• Farms, farming
• Picturesque homes and shops
• Environmental portraits of happy locals, salt of the earth types, and ethnic people where applicable
• Local produce, artisanal foods and beverages
• Details of tools, baskets, crafts
• Stores and signage, local goods
• Buildings and historic landmarks
• Places of worship and ceremony
• Rural activities, including horseback riding, canoeing, golf, hiking, biking hunting, backpacking, fishing, etc.
• Farm equipment, quaint vehicles
• Bed and Breakfasts, smaller hotels and lodgings
• Details of the interiors of these places, pretty décor in the rooms, country amenities and socializing with other guests are often the appeal of these places.
• Camping, campgrounds
• Cookouts, campfires
• Relaxing on the porch, hammock, grass, dock etc..
• Local kitsch

Ski/Winter Sports Settings:
Many of the same shots for urban, small town or countryside areas would apply here. Mmore specific ideas also include:

• Mountainous landscapes, distant shots of ski towns or resorts
• Overall resort pictures
• Ski lifts, both distant and close ups
• Interiors of Ski lodges, hotels
• Snow covered streets and other details of the town
• Storefronts, restaurant fronts
• Cozy interiors of ski lodgings, hotel accommodations, amenities, spas, spa treatments
• Images of skiers and snowboarders
• People in ski clothes hanging out, or talking outside
• People in warm clothes gathered in lodges, fireplaces, warm drinks etc
• Snow covered natural environment shots, and details
• Windows covered with frost
• Other winter sports offered at each specific resort, skating, tobogganing, cross country
• Lighted night skiing

Remote Settings:
Again many shots from beach, small town, countryside or urban environments would apply here depending where you are. You could also shoot:

• Sensitive depiction of local culture
• Local ethnic groups, positively portrayed
• Exotic creatures and plants
• Unusual modes of transport
• Local religious or cultural customs carefully depicted

Adventure Travel:
This type of travel photography can differ somewhat from the others in that you would also show travelers in the shots doing adventure sports activities (see magazines such as Outside, National Geographic Adventure, and Backpacker). Keep the shots dynamic and focus on showing high energy.

• Backpacker from behind with a beautiful landscape in front of them
• Climbers of all types on mountain and rock faces or ice covered cliffs that show unique aspects of that locale
• Kayaking and canoeing
• Running, jumping, hiking, trail walking, snow shoeing
• Camping, snow camping
• Activities relating to those above

photos by David Nicolas

About the author

Rachel Hulin

3 Comments

Spa Towel Rack 2-5-2010

Spa Towel Rack

CDATA April 17, 2008- Paint wearing from both pools. The rungs a

Coors Light Bottle Neon Sign 4-9-2010

Coors Light Bottle Neon Sign

Beer Tap Handles Beer Steins All Neon Signs The Coors Light Neon Clock is a great a

Tim Makins 5-5-2011

Some interesting information, and some great new ideas. Thanks for the article! Tim, photographing in Africa for 10 months. http://www.gnomeplanet.com/gallery.php

Comments

Name (required)

Email (required)

URL

Cancel