Worldwide, people are now enjoying travel again. Exploring, adventuring and seeing all the beautiful sights the world has to offer. Photographers are finally able to do what they love; capture amazing shots from around the globe.
There are a few things you can do within your photography to ensure your images don’t look the same as every other travel shot.
Do your research
When it comes to travel photography, it can be a little difficult. Where should you go? What should you look out for? The first step is to plan.
You should think about where it is you want to visit. Is the purpose of the trip to capture old, quaint towns in Italy showing the culture and traditions? Or it may be that cool, modern buildings are your thing? Either way, planning in advance is going to come in handy when it comes to your photography.
Don’t forget to do your homework on where you’re travelling to. There may be local customs or laws that you need to be aware of.
Standing out
Travel photography is nothing new. This means that it’s extremely important to ensure your images stand out from the rest. Look around you. Are there groups of people that you can photograph to capture the atmosphere you’re after? Authentic scenes of the location you’re visiting enables people to relate and imagine themselves there.
Composition is important. A creative composition can alter your image immediately. Think outside the box. Rather than pointing and shooting, think about the outcome and how you can switch up the focal point of the image.
Angles are something that is guaranteed to ensure your images look different. Are you crouching down, leaning over in an awkward position or on your tip toes? If you aren’t, try it! After all, our customers don’t want to be looking at the same location shot in the exact same way. Be creative and make sure your image is the chosen one.
If you’re wanting to photograph the locals and capture the candid life, a key tip is being friendly and learning the language. A simple smile and saying ‘hi’ will help the locals or even tourists to cooperate with you and the shot will look better. You want people to feel comfortable with your photography rather than feel uneasy.
Property releases
This is one not to be forgotten. If you’re shooting any privately-owned properties, try and secure a release if you can. This will open up the opportunities for the usage of your images by potential customers.
Don’t worry if you can’t get a signed release, as your images can still sell for editorial uses. More on releases can be found here.
Time of day
If you’re truly wanting to capture the location you’re shooting in its authentic self, then get up early or stay out late. Lighting is key for amazing images and morning light enables the hues to be soft and warm.
Think about how you can capture stillness during the morning hours and in contrast, the hustle and bustle you tend to see at night. Keep in mind that early in the morning, you’re less likely to have tourists in the way of your dream shot.
Equipment
Don’t forget to pack your essentials. Camera (of course!), any lenses you need, memory cards, your laptop and camera bag.
If you haven’t considered taking a tripod, then you should. However, make sure it’s lightweight as you’ll be carrying it around all day. Having a tripod with you will allow you to set up your fixed camera position. This then allows you to plan and time your perfect composition. If you’re working with long shutter speeds it will be beneficial to use a tripod too.
Keywording
It’s important that your captions and tags are accurate so customers can find and use images confidently knowing that information is correct. If you’re adding locations or dates to your captions or tags, you need to ensure this information is 100% accurate. If you’re not sure, don’t add it.
Picture need
We currently have a request for images of famous landmarks from around the world, shot from unusual perspectives. Think differently from the traditional views that you expect to see from a landmark. Check out this lightbox for inspiration.
If you have travel content that fits these examples, please upload these to your account and email contributors@alamy.com to let us know.
Finally, see your travels as a way to challenge yourself. Shoot and think differently to how you usually photograph, and your images will stand out. You never know, your image might be feature in your favourite travel guide.