Capture the Moment: How to Take Better Travel Photos

​Travel is one of life’s greatest joys. It excites us. It inspires us. It changes us. While memories are a wonderful way to recall our travel adventures, photos have a way of transporting us right back to those once-in- a-lifetime moments. With a little pre-planning, capturing these invaluable images is easier than you may think. With peak travel season just around the corner, read on for my top tips for taking better travel photos.

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Be an Early Riser
Have you ever wondered how photographers get those epic shots of popular locales without the hordes of tourists in them? They’re likely up before dawn before the city comes to life, wandering with their camera in hand. Sunrise is one of the best times of day to take photos (sunset is the other), as the soft light bathes everything in pinky-gold hues. Even if you only do this once, you will be amazed at how differently you experience your surroundings, and the images you will capture.

Find a Different Perspective
With the advent of Instagram, and other social sharing platforms, you’ve likely seen hundreds of the same kind of photo of popular places around the world. Challenge yourself to capture your locale from a different perspective – perhaps the details of an ornate door, or a unique angle of a famous structure. Also, play with composition and lighting to add drama to your image.

Get Personal
Often, it is the people we meet during our travels that leave the biggest impression on our hearts. Capturing portraits of the locals helps to tell the story of your travels and will bring amazing memories flooding back to you whenever you look at their photos. Just be sure to ask permission first. If you don’t speak the language, gesture politely with your camera to communicate what you would like to do. If they decline, respect that and move along.

Step in Front of the Lens
Even if you are not a fan of having your photo taken, you may regret not having any photos with you in them. If you are especially camera shy, have someone take a photo of you from the back, as you look out over a fabulous landscape/skyline. If a selfie won’t cut it and there is no one around to take a snap for you, set your camera/phone on a sturdy surface and use the timer function to put yourself in the picture (or use a tripod and wireless remote if you have the equipment).

Use What You Have
It is a common myth that the ‘better’ (read: more expensive) the camera the better the photo. Taking a great photo has a lot more to do with composition, lighting and your own style than having top-of- the-line gear. You may have heard the saying ‘the best camera to use is the one you have with you.’ This is especially true while traveling! Checked and carry-on baggage is valuable real-estate, so if all you have room for is your camera phone, or a point-and- shoot, then take that! Practice with whatever camera you will be using on your travels before you go so you know exactly how to use it.

​By incorporating one, or all, of these tips, you are bound to up your travel photography game. If you use one of my tips, tag me in your post! I would love to see your travel snaps. Bon voyage!

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Kate McGartland, owner of Kate McG Photography, is a Toronto-based event, portrait and travel photographer with an insatiable sense of wanderlust. A former executive, Kate has recently returned to Canada after working abroad, and now fills her days capturing the moments that matter most in Toronto and beyond.

Kate is offering a 15% discount on portrait, headshot and girl boss photography packages for readers of Liberty Life Yoga’s blog for bookings made until June 30, 2018 (for 2018 session dates). Please mention this article when booking to secure your discount!

To see more of Kate’s work, follow Kate McG Photography on Facebook and Instagram.

To book with Kate, contact her at:
katemcgphotography@gmail.com | 416-475- 2470 | www.katemcgphotography.com