8 Tips for Taking Better Vacation Photos

I love taking photos on vacation! I explore with my camera. It’s a great way to preserve memories. It’s also a great time to capture your family on film. Sometimes, though, when you get home and look at the images, they don’t capture the scene the way you remember it. Here are a few tips to improve your vacation photography.

1. Photograph scenery early or late in the day.

   If possible, photograph scenery early or late in the day. The scene will look more interesting, and colors will be more vibrant. When the sun is directly overhead, colors will be washed out, and the scene will appear flat.I took this image early in the morning on a trip to Cape Cod.

2. Avoid squinting in vacation photos.

   When photographing people, try putting the sun behind them so they don’t squint, and use fill flash to make their eyes come alive.A once in a lifetime family trip to Italy to celebrate my parents’ 50th wedding anniversary.

3. Put your family in the foreground.

   If you are photographing a family member in front of a building or landscape, keep the family member in the foreground, close to the camera, rather than placing him within the scene where his face will be lost. This little guy is married now!

4. Zoom in to capture fun!

   You don’t always have to photograph your subject head to foot. Zoom in to capture expression.Fun vacation in Disney World.

5. Watch where the horizon line is in your vacation photos.

   Put the horizon line in the top third or the bottom third of the photograph to avoid chopping your image in half.Great memories from Stone Harbor, NJ.

6. Create depth in your photos.

   Create depth by having something in the foreground, middle ground, and background.Captain David Kelley House in Centerville, Cape Cod, was an amazing place to stay. Those were the most relaxing 2 days I’ve had all year! Tom and Rick were the most gracious hosts!

7. Don’t forget the little details!

   The vistas are amazing, but don’t forget about the details. They may remind you of your trip just as much as the landscape images do.I’ll never forget the scones at Captain David Kelley House. My son said they were the best scones he had ever eaten. This was the rum raisin scone made by Tom, but the cranberry white chocolate scones made by Rick were equally amazing, as was the rest of the breakfast.

8. Your photos can tell the story of your vacation.

   Tell a story with your images.