In my mind I roam the American West and meander along the coast of the Adriatic Sea. I imagine myself at non-descript train depots in Kerala drinking chai with men donning patterned lungis and transport myself to Peru’s Sacred Valley picnicking on yams and grilled cuy. My dreamscapes include vast deserts, forest retreats, even chaotic urban mishegoss. In most of my daydreams, I have a camera by my side. With COVID-19 far from being under control globally, widespread international travel remains elusive. But for those fortunate enough to be vaccinated and have the financial means, domestic (and even some international) travel options are slowly becoming available. With restrictions beginning to ease, many are starting to consider their next adventure and how to best visually encapsulate the experience.
There are countless action steps that all levels of photographers can engage in before, during, and after a trip that will help cultivate a stronger approach to travel photography. Regardless of your shutter-happy goals, it is my hope that this list of 50 tips will help others avoid common pitfalls that even seasoned travel photographers frequently encounter. More, I hope that the collection inspires you to fully embrace the essence of travel while simultaneously improving your photography craft.
Before Your Trip
Before Your Trip
En Route
En Route
Upon Arrival
Upon Arrival
Creating Images – Three Big Ideas
Creating Images – Three Big Ideas
Creating Images – Considerations
Creating Images – Considerations
A Variety of Techniques
A Variety of Techniques
On Portraiture
On Portraiture
Upon Return
Upon Return
In Conclusion
I am in debt to many photographers who have taught me the tricks of the trade. But on the whole, I have had to learn most travel photography lessons the hard way. From broken equipment, memory card loss, theft attempts, and cultural blunders, I have made countless mistakes throughout the years. Mistakes are part of the learning process and are just as valuable, if not more so than successes. With this said, I wish you many mistakes but also hope that some of the ideas presented here will ease frustrations and help others improve their travel photography craft.
About the Author
Andrew Faulk is a commercial, editorial, portrait, and travel photographer based in Tokyo, Japan and he is available for photography commissions worldwide. You can find out more about Andrew on his website and follow his work on Instagram and Facebook. This article was also published here and shared with permission.
