Five Tips for Taking Unforgettable Vacation Photos

Welcome to Ofoto

my account help sign in

cart

Five Tips for Taking Unforgettable Vacation Photos

	These simple suggestions on what equipment to bring and what kind of photos to take will help you capture vacation memories you'll be enjoying for years to come!
	Pack Wisely Make sure your packing checklist includes a camera with flash, a high-capacity memory card and plenty of battery power. If you'll have nightly access to electricity, bring a charger and at least two sets of rechargeable batteries. If you won't have easy access to electricity, bring several extra sets of lightweight lithium batteries instead of regular AAs (unless your camera uses a proprietary battery). Other helpful accessories include a small tripod for nighttime and group photos, a water and shock-proof carrying case, and even a backup camera if possible.
	Bring Plenty of Memory Nothing is more frustrating than running out of room for more pictures in the middle of a trip, so definitely make sure your camera's memory card has the capacity you need and ideally bring an extra card. Although the temptation may be to use the lower resolution setting on your camera to fit more photos on your memory card, this can result in poor image quality and highly pixellated prints. Instead, we strongly recommend using the highest quality JPEG setting your camera offers and getting larger memory card if necessary. It will make all the difference when you're enjoying your photos after the trip!
	Get Up Close and Personal A common mistake many amateur photographers make is to stand too far from their subjects, forcing the viewer to squint to see who's in the picture. Instead, when you photograph people make sure you're close enough to see the expressions on their faces. Try three-quarter body shots (from the waist up), or zoom in on individuals. Side views and even an occasional back view can also tell a story. People pictures are generally more interesting if you catch your subjects at candid moments, when they're not posing for the camera. When you do set up a posed shot, try to integrate some interesting elements from your surroundings. Try close-ups, wide-angle settings and further away with the lens set on telephoto to capture different perspectives of the same group.
	Tell the Story of Your Trip The best vacation photos tell a story, and together they'll create a visual diary of your experiences. For example, you'll want to recreate the mood and atmosphere of the places you visit, so make sure you photograph the surrounding scenery such as landscapes, street scenes and even signs from places you visit. Mix horizontal and vertical photos so when you assemble your album it will have variety. Don't be afraid to get up close for detail. Once you've returned home, you can integrate these shots with photos of family activities and they'll form the complete picture of all the fun times.
	Know When to Use Your Flash Using your camera's flash during daylight hours can be very helpful, especially when photographing people or detailed subjects. Bright sunlight tends to cast dark shadows under the eyes and accentuates wrinkles in the face and neck. Shade is better, but without flash your camera will have to use a longer shutter speed or larger lens opening to compensate for the low light and your pictures may be dark. Setting the camera's flash to "fill" or "forced" mode will cause it to go off for every exposure, even in bright daylight. The end result will be just enough flash to fill in the harsh shadows, without making your subject look unnaturally bright. If your camera doesn't have a daytime fill flash mode, try holding a small piece of white or translucent Plexiglas over the flash to reduce the amount of light. For more tips on digital photography, visit www.imaging-resource.com.