3 Travel Tips For Amateur Photographers

6 October 2017
 Categories: , Blog

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Photography is a hobby that goes well with a love of travel. No matter where you go in the world, you're sure to be able to find something worth photographing. But there are definitely some things that you can do while you travel to increase your chances of coming home from your vacation with great photographs. Take a look at some important travel tips for amateur photographers.

Make Sure You Can Back Up Your Photos

There's nothing worse than losing a great, one-of-a-kind photo. That's why it's so important to be certain that you can back up your photos when you travel. Backing them up online may seem like a no-brainer, but if you're traveling out of the country or to a rural area where internet access might be too spotty for uploading large image files, you'll want to have some physical backup options as well.

When you pack your photography gear, make sure to include a portable external hard drive. That way, you'll always have a way to store photos for later access. For an extended vacation, you may want to bring several small hard drives – you can mail them back home as you fill them up, so they'll be waiting for you when you arrive.

Arrange For a Wake-Up Call

The light in the early morning is great for taking pictures, especially wildlife photos. If you're not an early riser by nature, you'll want to make arrangements to make sure that you don't miss the opportunity for early morning photo shoots.

Talk to the hotel staff about setting up an early morning wakeup call for the mornings that you plan to take pictures. That way, you won't need to worry about remembering to set a clock or whether your cell phone alarm will ring. Most hotels are happy to provide this simple service, and it can go a long way toward ensuring that you get great pictures.

Talk to the Locals

Hopefully, you will spend some time scouting out your location before booking your trip. Guidebooks and travel websites can help you identify some of the best places to take photos. But if you want to get great shots that are off the beaten path, your best bet is to talk to some of the local residents.

Take the time to talk to staff members at your hotel and people you meet in restaurants, pubs, parks, and other places that you visit. You'll get a unique perspective on the location and find sites that may not be popular tourist attractions, but could be excellent places to photograph.

One last thing – even if you're not planning a photo shoot, don't forget to take a camera with you wherever you go. You never know what unexpected sight you might come across.