Going somewhere on Spring Break or later this summer? Taking photographs is a great way to document your trip, your family's growth and can serve as a visual reminder of all the fun long after it's over. At the end of this post are 10 tips for having fun while taking pictures on vacation.
Ten Vacation Photography Tips
1. Before you leave home, check that your camera is functioning and that you've got plenty of spare batteries/memory cards/film (if that's how you roll). Take any accessories you enjoy using, including a flash or tripod, different lenses if your camera takes more than one, and a comfortable way to carry it all on your travels.
2. Don't forget to use your camera, but don't let it spoil your fun. A vacation is about relaxing and interacting with your family or friends. Know when to put the thing down, too!
3. Take lots of photos! Just refer to No. 2 if you find yourself with a camera in your hand too often.
4. If you want to move beyond snapshots, buy a book on travel photography (or check one out from your library). Paying attention to backgrounds, composition and light will help you create images that stand out. Also, ensure you know how to operate the most important functions on your camera before your trip begins.
5. When taking photos of landmarks, include members of your traveling party. The porthole of the tall ship Elissa in Galveston, Texas, is an interesting photo subject. The historic ship came alive when my son poked his head through with a funny expression. The image is more meaningful because he's a part of it, too.
6. If you'll be at the beach, as we were for our trip last year to Surfside and Galveston, protect your gear from the elements as best as you can. If you have a camera with interchangeable lenses, I recommend NOT changing lenses outside. The slightest bit of sand on your digital sensor can spell disaster, as can saltwater.
7. Put your camera strap around your neck. Even if it's not something you normally do elsewhere, a strap is cheap insurance against dropping your rig in the water, on the beach, on the concrete, down a wishing well. You'll wish you'd been wearing your strap if that happens!
8. If you have a cell phone like an iPhone, you can actually get some decent snapshots with it in the right conditions. Consider downloading applications that aid you in the capture and editing of photos. Sometimes the right camera is the one you have with you.
9. Don't forget to include yourself in some of the photos, either by handing your camera to someone else for camera duty (someone you know, preferably), to using a tripod and employing the self-timer or a remote shutter release.
10. After all is said and done, view your photos, cull through the keepers and then pick your favorites. Do something with them rather than letting your images languish on your computer's hard drive or on DVDs/CDs. The point is enjoying your photos, right? Life was a little simpler when we shot a few rolls of film, had them processed and then got prints without having to do any extra work. With digital, the photos need a little push to paper to make them useful sometimes. If not printing your favorite images, load them onto a digital photo frame or mobile device for sharing. Viewing them, even on your phone was wallpaper, can take you back to that happy place.
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