Travel photography, here we come! Bring on the vacation with friends and family. You’ve planned, packed, researched and are ready to venture to your vacation destination.
- Camera’s, lenses, filters ~ check.
- Transportation schedule and documents ~ check.
- Clothes, shoes, personal care items ~ check.
- Shooting plan ~ check.
Are you sure? Hold on a minute.
As a photographer, traveling with friends and family can be rewarding and fun. But, what happens when you – the more serious photographer of the crew – wants to spend quality shooting time at various destinations? Or, when you see something that just begs to be photographed?
Your travel companions are thinking, “Why is he/she taking so many photos of that? We need to hit our next spot or we’ll miss the next destination on our plan.” Or it’s getting chilly since the sun has set.
You’re thinking, “Why don’t they understand that I need at least 20 – 30 shots of this subject! It’s so unique, so interesting and there’s so many different ways to capture it?”
Some may take their frustrated thoughts to words and they may not be nice ones at that. After all, it is both yours and their vacation.
How can you make vacations fun for all while including time for your photography?
- Communicating and agreeing to a plan in advance.
- Dedicating a set amount of personal time each day or at each location for photography.
- Waking up earlier than the crew to go shoot and have a meeting time for you to join the group.
- Planning to stay an extra day or a few days if possible to go back and shoot those areas that require extra time.
- Involving your friends and family in the the scene. Adding the human element provides a different feel. If they are involved they become more engaged in the location and moment. Sometimes the memory of making the photo happen is just as good as the photo itself!
- Encouraging them to take photos with their smartphone. You might convert someone.
- Creating and sharing a vacation photo book after the trip. These make a wonderful gift that can be revisited over and over.
Don’t forget to include you in some of the photos. You’re part of the gang, Your family and you will appreciate being in the memory once you return home.
The holidays are here with vacations on the horizon. How will you plan your time to create photography opportunities for you and keep fun, group harmony?
For travel packing tips check out: Photography and Packing
4 comments
Sheen, nice article and great suggestions. This conflict certainly comes up on most of our trips. Taking off for a sunrise shoot and let the gang sleep in is my favorite workaround.
Agreed and thank you!!
I’ve definitely run into these situations in the past. I used to rush my shots so that I wouldn’t inconvenience anyone. Then, of course, the shots weren’t nearly as good as they could’ve been, or I missed something entirely.
Now, I try to schedule some shooting time by myself. Or, if someone wants to come along while I shoot the milky way, sunrise, sunset, or whatever, it is with the understanding that I’m going to be a while. They bring lawn chairs, blankets, snacks, or whatever they need to enjoy themselves.
So agree Dennis! We feel rushed and definitely leave not as happy with our results. I love the idea of telling your folks to bring a chair and snacks – will definitely use that in the future!
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