Five tips for successful holiday photos
Want to get some great holiday snaps this year? The following five tips will help you get amazing images, for lasting memories.
Above all, enjoy your holiday!
Take time to admire the scenery without having your nose behind your camera. If you try to capture everything, you'll miss out on the best part: the moment.
- Don't take everything that passes in front of your lens, you'll then have fewer photos to sort through.
- Plan. Save locations on Google Maps and look for Photospots.
- Let yourself be inspired. Search for your destination on Instagram and YouTube. We bet you'll want to jump on the next plane.
Tip no. 1: Avoid the centre
Placing your subject or the horizon in the middle of your photos makes them boring. To avoid this, imagine your image is divided into three parts.
- Separate the image into three parts.
- Place your subject in the left or right third, or directly on one of the lines.
Another tip for the horizon: place it according to what you want to highlight.
- The land or the body of water? The horizon should be in the top third of your image.
- The sky? Place the horizon in the top third.
I've given you a quick overview of framing techniques so you can apply my tips straight away, but if you want to delve deeper into the subject, type "image composition" or "golden ratio" into Google.
Tip #2: Pay attention to detail and perspective
Take the time to choose your subject carefully. Pay attention to the environment, the light and the details of the landscape. Move around. The best photos have a particular angle.
- Capture the little details: the gecko, the butterflies, the straw in your cocktail...
- Make a flat lay of everything you brought to the beach.
- Photograph your subject while sitting on the ground.
- Get further away, or get closer. Use your camera's macro mode.
The appeal of your photos also depends on the type of camera you use. Have you ever thought about using an instant camera like ? They force you to choose your subjects more carefully and impose an image format on you. You'll see photography in a completely different way.
Tip #3: Early in the morning
I know, holidays are for sleeping in. But trust me, getting up early is worth it. After the first few shots, enjoy a nice cup of coffee and have a little nap on the beach.
- The light is completely different.
- The beaches are often still empty.
- You'll capture the everyday: the fishmonger bringing in his first catch, for example.
- You won't be stressed by the crowds of tourists and can take the time to take prettier photos.
Tip no. 4: Tell a story
It's well known that holidays make the best stories. Ask yourself why you like a photo. Because it touches you, doesn't it? It captures a moment and tells a story that charms you. Here are a few ways to do it:
- Start with you getting on the plane, then a day by day to summarise your holiday, and a photo of the journey home to finish.
- Make a series of photos. Each day, photograph the view from your room. Or the food you're enjoying. Or...
- Capture a day in all its detail, including the less pretty moments.
- Take a few amusing photos.
- Keep a travel diary. You can also do this on Instagram. The diary of my stay in Hong Kong.
- Photograph the floor, the doors, the plants, ... Collect them and create a series.
Tip #5: Have the right equipment
- A tripod for group shots, when the camera needs to remain still.
- A remote shutter release, so you're in the picture too.
- A comfortable strap. You'll always have your camera within easy reach.
- a case or a backpack in which to store everything.
- Two 32GB SD cards, to store your photos and videos during your two-week holiday.
- Bring at least one spare battery, charger, cable and adapter.
- If your holiday is full of adventure, invest in a action camera.
- If you want your photos and videos to get some height, opt for small drones.
- Use the right lens. Check out our top 12 holiday lenses.
Print your photos and create albums
Taking great photos is great, but you also need to do something with them, don't you? Try to sort them as quickly as possible so that you only keep the best ones. Don't worry, you'll have plenty left over! Some retouching Retouching, whether minimal or more advanced, always makes photos look better. I have a Mac. When I don't feel like using professional software like . Want to opt for the traditional format? Check out our photo printers.
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I’ve had a fascination for content marketing ever since uni. My aim is to generate great content – any requests are welcome. Photography is what I’m passionate about and so is shopping. So I’ve definitely found my place in the online business at digitec!