We’ve all been there: you’re on vacation, having the time of your life, and you come across the perfect spot to take a picture. Then, when you look back at your photos at the end of the night (or worse—at the end of your vacation), you find out the photos don’t do the location you were at the justice it deserves. Maybe it’s too blurry, or the lighting is wrong, but in both situations, you’re left with a less-than-stellar photo and a swell of disappointment.
Luckily there are people in the world who do this sort of work for a living. Travel photographers like Renan Ozturk, Elisabeth Brentano, and Chelsea Yamase are considered some of the best in the travel photography business, and listening to their advice could help your next vacation photo represent your vacation destination exactly as it deserves.
Renan Ozturk
Getting the perfect lighting can make-or-break your shot, advises Renan Ozturk, especially if you’re out during sunset or sunrise. The same can be said for the time just before sunrise and just after sunset; taking photos at the right time will not only artfully highlight your photos, but it’ll also allow you to enjoy your time while you’re on vacation since you’ll be out a bit earlier or later than most people.
Not to mention that being out before or after most vacationers will help you to avoid crowds.
Ozturk also advises photographers to download a few editing apps such as Lightroom Mobile—editing a photograph can sometimes make all the difference.
Chelsea Yamase
According to Chelsea Yamase, candid shots are everything. Her photography rules are to focus on lighting, composition, and connection, all of which reflect in the work she showcases on Instagram and her website. A connection is what makes photos really come alive; though posing with a smile isn’t something she condones, Yamase says that interacting with your environment is a lot more interesting, and taking pictures of “real moments” (such as someone laying on the beach or swimming through the ocean) will capture the feeling of the moment.
She also encourages you always to keep your camera out and at the ready—you never know when the perfect moment will strike, and you can’t always plan for every photo you take.
Elizabeth Brentano
Lastly, if you want your photo to be memorable, Elisabeth Brentano says you need to take your time with it. If you find the perfect spot for a picture, but the lighting isn’t quite right, don’t be afraid to revisit the spot later on and try again for the perfect photo. By not rushing yourself, you give yourself time to think about the photo’s composition and try something new with the setting you’re in.
Likewise, she encourages doing research and talking with locals to help you find the perfect spot. A bit of searching on the Internet will highlight the most Instagram-able spots in an area, but talking with the locals will point you toward places that people might not have thought of before. “Your efforts will almost always be rewarded,” Brentano says.