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Be My Travel Muse

Solo Female Travel

10 Easy Tips for Taking Way Better Travel Photos (+ The Gear I Use)

08/02/2018 by Kristin 45 Comments

Looking to up your game with photography? Here are 10 tips that will dramatically improve your photography, to help you get stunning photos and become a better photographer #PhotographyTips #Photography
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Over the past six years, photography has been my main way of leaving a place with souvenirs. I usually don’t have room for anything in my bag except for the bare essentials and don’t have room in my head for more than the situation at hand, so my photos have become a very important part of documenting and remembering my travels.

When I first started out, I loved some of my photos but couldn’t figure out why most of them came out strangely or didn’t reflect what I’d seen in person. In the years that followed I’ve watched countless tutorial videos and poured thousands of hours into getting better. It turned out that it was never about the equipment, it was about the photographer – me!

Photography has been hugely important for this blog and my career. Since I focus on travel, pleasing photos have been a major contributor to the growth of this website. I’ve also been hired for projects, like in Hawaii and Mexico, where I was told the style of my photography was what made them pick me for the job. It’s been an indispensable skill.

Here are the main things I did to become a better photographer that you can implement easily, too, broken down into 10 easy tips:

Table of Contents

  • 1. Consider how the light is hitting you/your subject
  • 2. Expose for highlights
  • 3. Remember that less is more
  • 4. Get in your photos!
  • 5. Do a little research first
  • 6. Don’t cut your subject in half
  • 7. Examine your favorite photographers’ photos
  • 8. Don’t overdo new tricks and techniques you find
  • 9. Learn to edit
  • 10. Never stop practicing and experimenting

1. Consider how the light is hitting you/your subject

 

A post shared by Kristin Addis (@bemytravelmuse) on Apr 7, 2018 at 8:34am PDT

Lighting plays a huge role in photography. It can be the difference between a grainy photo and a crisp, clear one. Or the difference between a plate of food looking beautiful and appetizing to yellow and unappealing. I’m sure you can think of a time when you tried to take a photo and it was just too dark or way too bright and nothing you did would make it look nice.

Conventional photography instruction advises not to shoot in the middle of the day when the light is the harshest and least flattering. However as someone who does the bulk of her photography on hikes which are a daytime activity, this is far too limiting and disappointing advice. So let’s rewrite it: It’s all about making light work for you.

If it’s dark, is there a way to make light hit your subject in a flattering way? Is there the possibility of getting in the shade if it’s super bright, or making the sun part of your photo? Golden hour (the hour before sunset), sunrise, and sunset are almost always going to be more ideal conditions than midday or cloudy skies, but as long as you have light hitting your subject in a nice way, it can still turn out beautiful.

2. Expose for highlights

 

A post shared by Kristin Addis (@bemytravelmuse) on Mar 8, 2018 at 7:22am PST

Let’s say you’re shooting on aperture priority or manual mode and you’ve got dark and light parts of your photo. When we say expose for highlights, I mean shoot the photo for the brightest parts and then you can adjust the contrast and shadows later when you edit. However if the entire photo is too bright because you’ve exposed for the dark parts, then there’s almost nothing you can do to fix it in editing later.

3. Remember that less is more

 

A post shared by Kristin Addis (@bemytravelmuse) on Dec 30, 2017 at 9:16am PST

Which photos are the most pleasing to look at? Sometimes photos with a lot going on can be entertaining, but they can also be stressful, even if only on a subconscious level. Before you take that shot, ask yourself what you want your viewer to focus on. What kind of story do you want to tell? The fewer things competing with your story, the better.

It can be difficult to visit a popular or busy place without having other people around, but not impossible. Could you go very early in the morning? That’s usually my trick, like in the photo above which was taken at one of the most popular cenotes in Mexico, however by going early I had it almost entirely to myself.

When the viewer doesn’t have to decide what to look at, because it’s already very clear from the photo, it’s simply more pleasing to look at.

4. Get in your photos!

 

A post shared by Kristin Addis (@bemytravelmuse) on Jan 13, 2018 at 6:07am PST

For the first couple years of my travels, I was absent from almost all of my photos. I came to feel kind of sad when I looked back at them and thought, “this could have been anyone’s trip.”

I started putting myself and my friends in the photos more and it made all the difference. Sometimes, a photo just looks way better with a person or animal in it. It shows scale, allows the viewer to imagine him or herself there, and allows you to come home with awesome travel photos. Besides, people want to know who they’re following.

Though it doesn’t look like it, my photos are mainly selfies shot with a timer, or are situations where I figured out exactly how I wanted it to look, and asked whoever I was with or a passer-by to hold it right in that position and take the photo for me. It’s still my photo, I’m just in it more. For more tips on taking travel selfies I went into detail here. You can also join my 5-day selfie post challenge below, it’s a lot of fun!

5. Do a little research first

 

A post shared by Kristin Addis (@bemytravelmuse) on Jun 3, 2017 at 8:58am PDT

Knowing what time to expect sunset and sunrise and knowing what part of the sky it’s going to set/rise in can go a long way to help you to take better photos. For the example of Horseshoe Bend above, I just quickly googled whether the sunrise or sunset was better there and found out that the sun sets right behind the bend, which meant it was the perfect time to go and photograph it. Any other time of day would have still been beautiful but it would’ve been missing that special touch.

6. Don’t cut your subject in half

 

A post shared by Kristin Addis (@bemytravelmuse) on May 24, 2018 at 8:44am PDT

Sometimes when you look back at your photos they’re somehow off but you can’t quite tell why, right? It could be that the person or the subject was somehow awkwardly obstructed by the horizon. In the example above, it would have been better if I could’ve gotten the water line above my head rather than through it. For this I would have needed the tripod to be a little bit higher (it was a selfie). It’s still a nice photo, but it would’ve been much better without the horizon cutting through my head!

7. Examine your favorite photographers’ photos

 

A post shared by Kristin Addis (@bemytravelmuse) on Feb 16, 2018 at 7:36am PST

One of the best ways to improve is to pick some people whose work speaks to your soul and to examine what they do. I recommend selecting several different styles that you like and seeing how you can incorporate them to make your own style.

It’s important not to outright copy anyone, but rather to draw inspiration while you’re learning. Then at some point, the best thing to do is to focus entirely on your craft and stop paying as much attention to what anyone else is doing. That’s how you really stand out!

8. Don’t overdo new tricks and techniques you find

 

A post shared by Kristin Addis (@bemytravelmuse) on Feb 12, 2016 at 5:25am PST

When you do discover a new technique, like how to shoot HDR, or in my case when I learned how to do a sunburst pictured above (which you can do at an f18+ in the middle of the day), it can be really exciting and you might want to do it all the time, but resist the urge because otherwise you’ll have a bunch of photos that look the same or using a technique that is probably only appropriate in some situations.

9. Learn to edit

 

A post shared by Kristin Addis (@bemytravelmuse) on Mar 12, 2016 at 11:26am PST

Trust me on this one: Learn how to edit your photos. I know this is a bold statement but I’d venture to say that there are no professional photographers out there who never edit their photos. In fact, editing usually takes even more time than the photo shoot. This doesn’t mean that you completely change the photo and make it fake, it just means that you make it look more like it did in real life. The most user-friendly program I’m aware of is Lightroom and most of your favorite professional photographers are most likely using this program. I have a full tutorial here to help you get started.

10. Never stop practicing and experimenting

 

A post shared by Kristin Addis (@bemytravelmuse) on Oct 5, 2016 at 8:09am PDT

Never stop practicing! Perhaps you’re familiar with the 10,000 hour rule, which states that for anyone to be an expert in any field, they must practice for at least 10,000 hours. Most of your favorite photographers were not overnight successes and the reason why they do so well is because they’re passionate about their art. To get good at anything, you’ve got to put in the work, and photography is absolutely one of those mediums.

Thankfully photography is an art that anyone can get good at (trust me, scroll back to circa 2012 on my Instagram and you’ll see how horrible and oversaturated my photos used to be!), and that anyone can keep improving upon. That’s what makes it so much fun – you can always get better.

If you like posts like this, be sure to sign up for the newsletter for more photography-related content and announcements in the coming months!

Enjoy this journey, it’s the most inspiring one I’ve ever embarked on.

With these 10 steps, you will become a better photographer and improve your photography skill. I've spent years working on mine, attending photography courses and practicing on a daily basis, and I am sharing everything I know about photography in this article. Check it out! #Photography #PhotographyTips
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I'm Kristin, and my vision of a better world is one where more women are empowered and living out their dreams. Solo traveling is the best method I've found to become the best, bravest version of me. This site is all about how YOU can have the adventure of a lifetime in an easy, fun, approachable way, so that you can feel empowered, too. Want to learn more about me?

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Comments

  1. Jimmy Dau says

    11/26/2015 at 5:54 am

    The pursuit of a great shot does require more effort, but sometimes requires more patience. I see so many people leave as soon as the sun goes down, but that’s when the real magic happens.

    Reply
  2. Izy Berry says

    11/26/2015 at 2:28 pm

    Thanks for this tips !! i love your blog you are an amazing writer

    Reply
  3. Scott says

    11/29/2015 at 8:41 pm

    You take gorgeous photos, and I especially love the Singapore shot! If only it was a little bigger, it would be my new desktop photo!

    Reply
    • Kristin says

      12/10/2015 at 6:32 am

      You can get any size you want of it here 🙂
      https://www.flickr.com/photos/avaapollo/17425563402/sizes/l

      Reply
  4. Paul says

    11/29/2015 at 10:09 pm

    Nice tips… the wide-angel shot of London looks amazing!

    Reply
  5. Cest La Vibe says

    12/01/2015 at 3:56 pm

    I use a Sony NEX-6 with a wide-angle lens. Your camera is the successor to mine! I did a post on travel photography tips as well but I kept it really basic. Glad to know you use a Sony mirrorless cause I like your pics.

    Reply
    • Kristin says

      12/10/2015 at 6:26 am

      Thanks! Yes it’s a great camera and I’m so in love with it.

      Reply
  6. Deanna says

    12/16/2015 at 11:02 am

    These are great suggestions. Love the wide angle lens. I need to invest in one. The pic from Singapore is absolutely gorgeous.

    Reply
    • Kristin says

      12/16/2015 at 11:42 am

      Thank you! Yep the wide-angle is a game changer.

      Reply
  7. Michelle says

    12/29/2015 at 12:11 pm

    I got the Sony a5100 and am new to taking photos with a compact camera, so I’m really trying to find my way around this. So far I love it! Glad to see that you (and apparently other travel bloggers as well) are using a Sony compact camera. Do you have any recommendations for apps that I can download for the a5100? Especially the remote app?

    Reply
    • Kristin says

      12/31/2015 at 4:17 am

      Do some searching in play memories and you should be able to find some good apps 🙂

      Reply
  8. CrazyTravelista says

    01/03/2016 at 3:34 pm

    I love you pictures and you’ve inspired me to buy the Sony mirror less camera you use!! I used your Amazon link too :). I had a Canon 60D and it was just WAY too bulky for all the traveling I do so I just sold it and bought this one. I’m excited to receive this camera and start playing with it as I’m going to Iceland at the end of this month! I’m hoping it’s not too difficult to use, I’m the worst when it comes to tech hehe. Wish me luck! And keep on posting badass pics! 😉

    Reply
    • Kristin says

      01/05/2016 at 9:00 am

      Wow thank you so much for purchasing through the link! I saw you commented on the Iceland post so hopefully you lift some good tips from that for your Iceland trip! Let me know how it goes and I’d love to see your pics after! It should be a snowy wonderland.

      Reply
  9. Kristin says

    01/30/2016 at 12:19 am

    There are SO MANY features! There’s a time-lapse one I might start playing with as well. There’s an IGer I follow (@mattglastonbury) who does the coolest nighttime ones and seeing those makes me want to try them out too. Next level!

    Reply
  10. Mae Miller says

    02/24/2016 at 4:07 pm

    Hello! I recently got an A6000 for taking photos while traveling. So far, it works amazing and I am loving it! Out of curiosity, do you using any editing software for your photos? Thanks!!

    Reply
    • Kristin says

      02/26/2016 at 2:03 pm

      Yes I use lightroom. It’s user-friendly and really makes a big difference: http://amzn.to/1VJgxnk

      Reply
  11. Rebecca says

    03/16/2016 at 4:14 pm

    Great article! I’ve been thinking about a new camera – one that doesn’t break my back! – and this could be the one… Thanks for sharing your tips! 🙂

    Reply
  12. Serhat Engul says

    04/30/2016 at 8:08 am

    After browsing your several blog posts, I am definitely convinced that you are an excellent photographer. So I will certainly follow your advices about photography. I think I am longing for being in the nature these days. I am impressed by your nature photos. Thank you for sharing.

    Reply
  13. Kristen says

    06/06/2016 at 7:44 pm

    My brother sent me your website link and told me this reminds me of you. You can do this. I’m / wondering, what about photo editing? What program did you use and how long did it take you to learn it? Do you spend much time editing your photos?

    Reply
    • Kristin says

      06/13/2016 at 3:23 am

      I definitely edit my photos and I use Lightroom: http://amzn.to/1UdJZCc (affiliate link)

      Another reader asked me to do a post on my editing techniques which I may do soon! 🙂

      Reply
  14. Abélia says

    08/03/2016 at 4:01 pm

    Like you, I would really like to improve my efforts to take better pictures and to become somewhat of a photography junkie. I absolutely love your camera! I think it all starts with a good camera. Thanks for sharing your knowledge about a good start up camera and the functions available.

    Reply
  15. Ethan says

    08/28/2016 at 11:56 pm

    London long exposure + wide angle lens pic is so awesome. How do you take it in detail ? 😀

    Reply
    • Kristin says

      09/07/2016 at 3:13 pm

      By having a really nice camera and lens 🙂

      Reply
  16. Crystal Le says

    10/26/2016 at 8:52 am

    This has to be one of the most helpful articles I’ve read lately! I know nothing (I mean it…zilch, nada, zerozero) about photography and I know more than ever that I need to bolster my camera game if I ever want to move the needle with my travel blog. I don’t own a professional camera at all so I’m starting completely fresh. Do you think the Sony A6000 an ultra-newb such as me can learn on?

    Reply
    • Kristin says

      10/27/2016 at 2:38 pm

      yeah definitely. It’s pretty user-friendly and you can watch YouTube videos to learn where the settings are. Even in automatic mode you’ll get some great stuff!

      Reply
  17. Micki says

    03/16/2017 at 12:09 pm

    I’ve been traveling for the past year or so and am finally at the point where I’m sick of having mediocre pictures (and like you said, none of myself!). I’ve been contemplating the a6000 myself so was happy to see your positive remarks about it, but in the process of research have started to get sucked down the pro-photography review wormhole. I definitely want a wide angle, but I was wondering — do you like and use the 2 kit lenses that you bought with the camera?

    Reply
    • Kristin says

      03/17/2017 at 4:23 am

      The telephoto, yes all the time. The original kit lens, no, not anymore. I am too in love with the wide-angle!

      Reply
  18. Vanda says

    05/06/2017 at 9:10 am

    Hi Kristin, thank you so much for this article! Really helpful! I just bought a Sony a6000 too and, although I’m still learning, I’m very happy with it. But I was wondering, what kind of bag do you use to carry your photo gear while traveling? I want to buy one, but I find all the photo bags I’ve seen so ugly and unfeminine… LOL

    Reply
    • Kristin says

      05/06/2017 at 9:17 am

      I use the backpack on this gear page but it’s not a very feminine look: https://www.bemytravelmuse.com/gear/

      Reply
      • Vanda says

        05/07/2017 at 6:35 am

        Thanks a lot! I’ll have a look 😉

        Reply
  19. Heather says

    06/29/2017 at 9:20 am

    Your newer camera definitely created some stunning images! I like that you emphasize that photographs are about evoking a certain emotion, and that can change depending on how you take the photo. Thanks for sharing!

    Reply
  20. Naomi says

    01/08/2018 at 6:42 am

    Hi !

    Thank you so much for your post !!! You make it sound so nice and exciting and
    your photos are gorgeous ! Which wide angle lens do you use ?

    Best of adventures on ur travels x

    Reply
    • Kristin says

      01/11/2018 at 11:37 pm

      Got all my gear listed here https://www.bemytravelmuse.com/bemytravelmuse-camera/

      Reply
  21. GG says

    08/02/2018 at 9:59 am

    Hi Kristin. Thanks for this update. You are so good about updating posts with new ideas as this website is dynamic and fluid. Also this is a good summary of tips and honest advice including how you need to practice a lot to master a skill. In this day and age sometimes people want the quick and easy way, but you really do get out what you put into things. I have some family friends who are into photography and with this I can understand more their attention to detail, such as the cutting a person in half in terms of the background colors or features.
    As a layperson looking at your gorgeous photos, I also agree that “editing” a photograph is about making the effort to make the photograph truly show what you saw and sharing it with others, fixing anything that takes away from this goal. As a proofreader, I try to do this with editing written works. It is something else if someone tries to enhance it or making it “better” than what you saw. I would use a different word for that. Would you agree?
    For what it is worth, your photos look natural. The world isn’t perfect and the beauty of photography to me is the honest capture of a moment in time, warts and all (although it helps to capture it in such beautiful places at beautiful times like sunrise/sunset!!!), which you can revisit anytime you want, like traveling back in time (minus the tastes and smells although if your photos, it might trigger that memory).

    Reply
  22. TRAVELMEOUT says

    08/03/2018 at 12:15 pm

    Never stop practising and experimenting is the best advice that contains the essence of all other tips in travel photography. The article is much more detailed and thanks for that..!

    Bon voyage… 🙂

    Reply
  23. Elizabeth Higgins says

    08/05/2018 at 12:48 am

    Thank you for this wonderful post, Kristin. I am not a professional photographer and find it difficult at times to take amazing shots just like yours. It pays to know that with practice and dedication, I can look forward to improving my skills and have photos that look as great as yours do. I also like the list you put out for the top cameras we can use. But in this day and age, even phones could make a wonderful shot already. But I am definitely checking out the list.

    Reply
    • Kristin says

      08/06/2018 at 1:02 am

      Definitely agreed! I just upgraded to an iPhone 8 and the photos are awesome with it. Still not great in a lot of lighting situations but it’s a great place to start!

      Reply
  24. Mozairshaukat says

    08/14/2018 at 3:05 pm

    Thank you for this wonderful post, Kristin. I am not a professional photographer and find it difficult at times to take amazing shots just like yours. It pays to know that with practice and dedication, I can look forward to improving my skills and have photos that look as great as yours do. I also like the list you put out for the top cameras we can use. But in this day and age, even phones could make a wonderful shot already. But I am definitely checking out the list.

    Reply
    • Kristin says

      08/16/2018 at 9:23 pm

      True phones are great in a lot of situations. However once it’s dark, or something is far away, or you just want to capture more depth and color, it’s harder to get as much with a phone.

      Reply
  25. Christine Foucault says

    08/16/2018 at 10:44 am

    How helpful! I want to improve my photos overseas but I’m always afraid of setting up my tripod in a popular tourist spot and looking like a total tourist who only cares about getting the right picture. How do you get over this fear?

    Reply
    • Kristin says

      08/16/2018 at 9:15 pm

      Well if you’re worried about the safety of your camera then ask someone to take it for you – Ideally someone who also has a camera and knows how to use one. If what you’re worrying about is people judging you just remember you will most likely never see them again, and honestly, nobody cares. They’re trying to get their own photos too!

      Reply
  26. Tina Libardi says

    02/12/2020 at 4:58 pm

    What kind of camera do you use?

    Reply
    • Kristin says

      02/13/2020 at 10:28 am

      These days a Sony A7III

      Reply
  27. James says

    06/13/2020 at 3:33 am

    I like to incorporate flowers in my shots to help frame the photos. The flowers provide my photography with a splash of color that I feel really adds something to the photo.

    Reply
    • Kristin says

      06/13/2020 at 1:05 pm

      me too!

      Reply

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