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One of the most common questions I get asked is how do I take better travel photos? Whilst there isn’t just one rule that you can apply that will automatically get you amazing results, over the years I have learnt that these 10 simple rules will dramatically improve most people’s photos. But you should view these as a starting point and continuously learn, experiment and practice to improve your photography. So here are 10 Golden rules for better travel photography to help you get started.

Know what you are doing

If you want to capture great photos you have to be willing to put some time into learning the basics. This is the technical stuff that often people forego in favour of the automatic or program settings on the camera. No one is saying that you should never use automatic mode. But if you know what those settings are and how they work, it will give you more options and more creative control over the picture-taking process. You need to understand the exposure triangle which is ISO, shutter speed and aperture and how they affect and interact with each other.

Beyond photography theory, you should also learn how to use your photography equipment. For example, how do you mount your camera on your tripod correctly and safely? Or which lenses to use when and how do you change them quickly? If you have a flash, what is the best way to use it to avoid your scene looking flat? Once you know the technical and practical parts of photography you can actually concentrate on capturing better photos and worrying less about how to do it.

Learn how light transforms a scene

Light is one of the most important elements in any photo. Even the most amazing scene will look dull and uninteresting If you haven’t got great light to work with. Often what transforms an ordinary photo to an extraordinary one is the right light. You need to learn how light differs at different times of the day. Things like intensity, direction and even colour can all make a huge difference to a photo. It’s no secret that the best light is in the early morning and late afternoon. This is when the soft warm light can enhance shadows, textures and shapes. Always remind yourself that there is a best time to photograph anything. So be prepared to wait or even come back for that best light.

Don’t shoot in anything other than RAW files

If your camera has the function to shoot RAW files, then you shouldn’t use in any other file format. RAW files are not processed by the camera’s software which often compresses data and will make permanent adjustments which are embedded in the photo. A RAW file is essentially what the camera captures with nothing else added to it. Any adjustments such as white balance, exposure, contrast, saturation and even sharpness can be added by the photographer subsequently on a post-processing software. This allows for greater control on an image by image basis. Simply put if you want the very best file format to work with for your photos you should shoot in RAW.

Know how to use editing software

Often one of the excuses people use to justify not using editing software is that they don’t believe photos should be edited. The thing is that if you are shooting in RAW files your photos will have to be post-processed in some way to be able to use day to day. Even if you simply convert them to JPEGs you are still adding a layer of post-processing to the photo. RAW files are fantastic but they are just that, RAW files. So to bring them to life and actually give them the best possible look and feel you have to add some adjustments to the photo. That could be as little as simply adjusting contrast and brightness. Or vibrancy and saturation. At the very least you should ensure that your photos are straight, cropped well and the white balance is corrected. But don’t be afraid to use post-processing to enhance your photos. It’s not cheating.

Be the most informed tourist in town

Research and planning are vital if you want to capture the very best photos. You have to know where to be at the best time of the day. the more you plan and research any destination the better your chances will be of capturing fantastic photos. Always remember that a photographer will need more time at a location then your average tourist. So don’t try and cram in too much into your shot list. It’s always best to allow more time than to find yourself rushing around. For example, you might get to a location and find that the sun has gone in behind clouds. Or there might be someone or something in your way like a van parked in your composition. Give yourself enough time and it shouldn’t be an issue. The reality is that most times when you get to a location you will have to wait to capture the photo you want.

Practice as much as you can

Photography is like any other skill or hobby. The more you practice the better you will become. So once you have the technical stuff sorted out and understand some of the theory, get out there and actually shoot as much as you can. Nothing will make you learn and practice what you have learnt better than actually doing it. You will make mistakes along the way or you might experience scenarios that you’re not prepared for, but this is part of the learning process. You will learn from your mistakes and you will become a better photographer because of it.

Commit to the image

Often one of the main reasons that professional travel photographers capture the fantastic images that you see in magazines and newspapers is because they have waited for the perfect moment. In other words, they committed to capturing that image as long as it took. Once you have got to a location and you have your settings and your composition sorted, set yourself the task to not leave until you have captured the very best photo. If you can’t capture the photo that you want then be prepared to come back. Of course, there will be times when this won’t be possible because of limited time. But if you have the option of giving up or persisting in order to capture a photo, there shouldn’t really be a decision for you to make.

Walk as much as you can

One of the best ways to capture great photos is to experience a destination in the same way as locals do. For example, if you get a taxi everywhere you go then you’re going to miss so much of a city. Instead of getting taxis or private transfers, if it’s safe to do so walk around. If you have to get transport from one place to another try to get buses or metros. This will give you much more of an insight into a destination and can present you with far more photo opportunities.

Be your own critic

It is often difficult to critique your own work. You tend to have a sense of nostalgia. You might select photos that may not be as good as you think simply because of the effort it took to capture them. But if you really want to have great photos in your portfolio, you have to be willing to put all feelings aside and judge your work on its merits, not sentiment. One good trick is to scroll through your photos and the ones that make you pause for a moment or two are possibly worth keeping in your portfolio. It’s always great to also get a second opinion. So ask someone else what they think. Do they agree with your choices? Treat this period as assessment and reflection on your work. Could you have done anything better? Did you make mistakes? Often you will learn much more from your mistakes then you will learn from your successes.

Find your own style

Over time most photographers will develop their own style. By that, I mean that if you looked at the collection of their work it all looks like it’s come from the same person. The subject may be different the destinations will vary and some photos will look different. But as an overall set of work, you can tell they belong together. There is no right or wrong here it’s just what works for you and the sort of composition, lighting, colours and styles that catch your eye. So try to develop your own style over time. Once in a while put out some of your work in front of you. Does it all look like it’s comes from the same person? You can, of course, look at other people’s work and be inspired. The key is not to copy but rather be inspired to find your own style.

Travel photography is a wonderful profession or hobby to have. To capture great photos you have to be willing to put the time and effort in. By using the tips above you will be on your way to capturing great travel photos.

Back in my early days of photography, I was told by an experienced photographer that photography is the most “complicated but uncomplicated skill”. You can’t get much more of a contradiction than that. At the time I wasn’t too sure what this meant and even after being told the meaning I didn’t fully grasp the concept. It wasn’t until years later that I began to understand what he meant. In theory, capturing a great photo is easy. All you need is an interesting subject framed well with good lighting and the correct settings. But the reality is that it’s a little more complicated than that. In this article, we will delve into the anatomy of a great photo. So here are 6 elements that if you can get right will give you a great photo.

A great photo needs a great subject

The first part of any great photo is something interesting to actually photograph. Your subject or your story is an integral part of any great photo. You might be able to capture a great photo if it isn’t technically perfect. But you would rarely be able to capture a great photo without an interesting subject. This is the part of the photo that will capture the viewer’s attention. So you need to train yourself to be able to see those photographic opportunities. Sometimes they will be fleeting moments that will disappear quickly. At other times you may have to set up a scenario like in a studio. The more you get out there to take photos the better and more efficient you will become at seeing interesting subjects.

Good lighting is key

Usually, the biggest feedback that I give to amateur photographers when asked to view their images, is on lighting. If they simply took the same photo at a different time of the day they would see a vast improvement. For example, even the most stunning landscape scene will look dull and uninteresting in poor light. If you could improve just this area of your skillset, you will see a huge improvement in your work. This also extends to indoor lighting as well. A poorly lit subject in a studio will not have the same impact as one that is lit well. To utilise light effectivly you should dedicate some time learning about it. For example, natural light will look completely different throughout the day. You need to understand how to use this and the direction of the light to your advantage. Or in a studio, you need to learn how to use a flash or things like reflectors to manipulate the photo.

Consider the composition carefully

How you compose or frame your photo can have a huge impact on your final result. For example, leave too much dead space and your subject might be lost. Alternatively, don’t leave enough space and the image will look too busy and unbalanced. The key to capturing a great photo is to take your time when possible to compose your image. Of course, sometimes you will not have the time. But in a studio or for example for landscape photography, take a few minutes to work out the best composition before shooting. Once you have captured the shot ask yourself if it is the best it can be. If not try again with a different composition. Don’t forget that you can also crop your images in post-production. So for example, if there are distracting elements around your main subject, crop them out.

Your settings

If you have a great subject that is beautifully lit and composed, the last thing you want is to find that your photo isn’t sharp. So there is no way around it, you will have to at some point in your photography journey learn how to use the correct settings in different scenarios. This is arguably the hardest part for amateur photographers to master. Whatever your genre of photography is, you need to know what shutter speed, aperture, ISO, white balance and so on to use at what times. The more you know your settings and your camera inside out, the more control you will have over the final outcome. For example, using slower shutter speeds to capture some motion blur. Or a shallower depth of field to blur the background when taking a portrait. These can help give you more creativity for your photos. Unfortunately, there is no shortcut. You need to spend time learning and practising until it becomes second nature to you.

Can you capture something unique?

How many times have you seen a photo of a famous landmark and just moved on without a second look? With photography so mainstream these days, that is one of the biggest challenges photographers face. to really ‘wow’ people with photos you need to show them something unique and different from what they have already seen. This could be everything from lighting or composition to actually showing a different perspective of something people have seen before. So don’t be afraid to take risks with your photos, because that is the only way that you may end up with that unique shot that is different from what already exists.

How to use editing software

There is no denying it. Every photo will benefit from some level of editing in post-production. Sometimes these will be as simple as just straightening and adjusting the white balance. At other times the editing might need to be more extensive with boosting of contrasts, brightness or even saturation. This is the final step in ensuring your photos are the best that they can be. If your camera allows it, always shoot in RAW format as it will give you the most options when it comes to editing not to mention photo quality. But whatever format you do shoot in, make sure you spend the time that is required to make your photos the best that they can be.

So there you have it. Easy, right? As mentioned at the start a great photo, in theory, is easy to achieve but in reality, it takes time and practice. The more you take photos the better you will become. Until eventually all of these points above become second nature to you. So use the tips above and you’ll be capturing amazing photos in no time.

10 Golden Rules For Better Travel Photography