Travel photography can be an incredibly rewarding career or hobby. But capturing great photos of destinations takes more than just turning up and taking a few snaps. In this guide, we’ll take you through some of the most important things that you need to know to get the perfect shot and capture a memory you’ll treasure forever.

1. Plan everything

One of the most important parts of being a travel photographer is being able to research and plan your shoot meticulously. Think about it, if you were going on vacation, you wouldn’t just turn up to a place without having done any research. Travel photography is the same. The more that you know about a destination, the better your chances of being able to capture amazing photos. By the time you have finished your research and planning, you should have a short list of exactly where, what, and even how to shoot various locations. This will not only ensure that you capture great shots but also that you won’t miss anything.

2. Light is the key

Whether you are shooting with the latest DSLR or a smartphone, the principles of photography remain the same. Incredible photos require a great subject which is carefully composed and photographed in great light. This last part – “great light” is the most important element. Even the most amazing landscapes will look dull and uninteresting in the wrong light. But what is the wrong light? Or the right light?

Well, as a starting point, generally on a sunny day (i.e. not an overcast day), the light in the early morning and late afternoon is great for photography. This is why the hour after sunrise and the hour before sunset is known as the golden hour. The soft, warm light when the sun is low in the sky helps to create a wonderful glow in a scene. It also helps to extenuate shadows and create a wonderful contrast. This also varies at different times of the year. For example in the winter months when the sun is low in the sky, the light is often great for the whole day.

On the other hand, for example around midday is often a very difficult time to photograph things as the light is very harsh and washes out details in a scene. To fully master lighting conditions requires years of experience, but for now try to time your shoots for early mornings and late afternoons.

3. Use compositional help

How you compose your shot is also very important and plays a big part in how the final photo will look. Composition also helps the viewer to navigate around the photo and by placing points of interest in your photo you can guide the viewer's eyes around the image.

The best way to do this is firstly to spend a bit of time analysing the scene when you arrive. Most of the time you will be shooting places that you may not have been to before, so it’s important to slow down and take it all in before shooting away. Try to work out what the most important element of the scene is and then build the composition around that.

You can also use compositional tools like the rule of thirds to help you construct your scene. The rule of thirds is a great way to do this as all cameras and smartphones have grid overlays that you can access to show on your LCD screen. Basically, the rule of thirds will divide your scene into 9 squares with two vertical lines and two horizontal lines. You can then use these lines as a guide for placing important elements in your scene. For example, your main point of interest can be on one of the intersecting points of the two lines and a person can be on the other. This helps to create balance in the photo.

There are a lot more compositional tools, but the rule of thirds is a good starting point.

4. Be patient

I always find it astonishing when I see people turn up to a location, take a few shots, and then head off. Most people are more concerned about ticking off their bucket list than appreciating the scene. One of the most common bits of feedback that I give to my workshop students is to be patient and wait for the perfect moment to take the photo. That might involve waiting for the light to change. Or for someone to move out of the way (or someone to move into your shot). Sometimes, this might be minutes whilst at other times this might be hours. And sometimes you may even have to keep returning to a location again and again until you get the perfect shot.

Always remember that it’s rare to turn up to a location and have everything in place for the perfect photo. Most of the time you must be willing to wait.

5. Look beyond the obvious

We are all guilty of turning up somewhere and shooting the most obvious shot. You know the ones I am talking about. The eye-level shots from the viewpoint that millions of other people capture. Of course, sometimes these are the best shots to take, and you should never forgo these shots. But once you have captured those, start to look around for other interesting angles and compositions that might produce exciting results.

For example, move your camera closer to the ground and you’ll suddenly get a completely different perspective and shot of the same subject as you would get if you were photographing at eye level. Or get higher (if you can) for an elevated view of the subject which can again make for a completely different photo. The main point here is to try to experiment with your composition as you never know what you might end up with.

6. Zoom in

If you want to add variety to your photos, then one of the best ways to do so is to look much closer at your subject. Everything you photograph will have details that are incredibly photogenic. Whether it’s carvings on a wall, textures, or even abstract architectural elements, these are often the details that people miss with the naked eye. So if you can capture them, not only will they look great in your portfolio, but you will also show the viewer something they may not have seen before.

So, there you have it. If you follow these 6 tips, you will almost certainly make your photos better. But of course like anything, the more your practice the better you will become. But for now, these 6 tips should help you on your way to becoming a better photographer.

About the Author: Kav Dadfar is a professional photographer and writer based in the UK. His images have appeared in publications around the world, and he is the author of over 550 articles on photography. Kav is also one of the founding editors of a brand new widely acclaimed travel magazine called JRNY. In addition to his photography and writing work, Kav also runs photography workshops around the world via his company; That Wild Idea.

How To Go About Taking Amazing Photos Wherever You Go