The 4 Most Useful Tips for Travel Photographers

If you’re a travel photographer or you’re aspiring to become one and you’ve already started looking into advice in this niche, you’ve probably noticed that there are plenty of huge lists containing applicable and actionable tips. However, many of those suggestions aren’t really essential and some aren’t even useful at all in many scenarios. If you’re just starting out, you don’t want to spend time reading about generic or useless recommendations – you want to know what matters. In this brief guide, we’ll go over the 4 most important tips that you can heed to produce better work and have a more fulfilling experience as a travel photographer:

1. Rent a Photography Studio

Some photo shoots are better done indoors, especially if you’re going to be photographing models, furniture, or other items that often require perfect lighting for the best look. If you’re just planning on taking pictures of nature, then this won’t be necessary, but during a people or object-oriented shoot, it’s best to have full control over the lighting and space within your set. Of course, you can’t expect to reliably achieve that within a standard hotel room, so it may be best to rent a photography studio during your stay. To see an example of a professional art studio, check out the official gallery of White Rabbit – a Shore ditch-based studio rental company.

2. Conduct Research & Planning Before Departure

Knowing what you’re getting into before you set out on your journey will help you avoid unnecessary obstacles along the way. Creating great photography under pressure can be difficult for anyone who isn’t highly proficient and experienced, so you need to make sure you alleviate all possible stresses by planning out your trip and thoroughly researching the area’s inherent challenges.

3. Schedule an Introductory Itinerary

Getting to know a place before you choose your shoot locations can give you the advantage of having a well-rounded knowledge of the local attractions. That way, instead of just randomly snapping pictures as you go along, you’ll have a better idea of which areas are most worth your time.

4. Step Away from the Common Attractions

In completing the previous step, you might be tempted to visit all of the main tourist destinations that pop up at the top of a web search. However, the way you add value to your career as a travel photographer is by capturing sights that haven’t been seen yet, so be sure to deviate off the beaten path.

Give Yourself Time and Creative Freedom

One more adjustment you can make as a travel photographer to make sure you’re getting the most out of each journey is to opt for extended stays of at least 1-2 weeks in length. That way, you won’t feel rushed to produce something amazing within the span of just a few days. By creating that leeway for yourself, you can ensure that you’ll have plenty of opportunity to capture and curate an extensive amount of visual content before heading back home. In addition to giving yourself more time, it’s also important to allow for a degree of spontaneity within your planned itinerary.