You have finally decided to break out of pandemic mode and booked that way overdue vacation. It will probably be the best vacation you ever take because it is your first trip since you were told you could not travel. You even cleared up memory on your phone so you can document every waking moment of the trip. We want you to take amazing pictures, so we decided to share some simple tips for taking better vacation photos so you can create the most beautiful travel photo book post-vacation.

6 Great Tips to Take Better Vacation Photos

Lighting is Key for Great Photos

Without fail, the number one destroyer of great photos is bad lighting. For outdoor photos, you try to aim for early morning or late in the day. Direct overhead lighting like midday sun or bright overhead lighting will cast unflattering shadows and highlight wrinkles and other imperfections. Overcast weather is the perfect photography weather!

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Pro tip: Not all your photos have to be facing the camera. Choose to take more abstract pictures by turning your back or looking away from the light and facing the view.

Use Nature to Frame Your Shots

A great photo will always include something that is visually interesting. Look for doorways or arches that naturally frame the view you are looking to capture. Natural shadows can change a shot dramatically, so make sure the subject of the photo is well lit for optimal pictures.

These palm trees make a great frame for this travel shot:

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Pro tip: Take advantage of leading lines like those made by buildings and stairways, or even in nature with mountain lines and curving roads for added visual effect.

The Angle of Your Photo Matters

Not every photo has to be you in the center facing the camera and smiling. The most interesting photos are taken from odd angles, like pointing up or off centering the subject. Capture motion in the photo by having the subject do a quick twirl or leap in the air. Move around your subject a bit before deciding which angle reflects it best.

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Pro tip: Remember not to block the view with the subject. You can be a part of the surroundings without making you the center point. Think about how the subject interacts with the surroundings to make a better vacation photo.

Invest in a Selfie Stick or Tripod

In a pandemic-stricken world, it is not always optimal to ask people to take photos for you. Sometimes selfies are a necessity, other times they are the preference. Despite the taboo of selfie sticks, the truth is they will get you a better photo. It will give you more range for your angle and will make sure you do not accidentally cut off your face in the picture.

Tripods will help reduce any motion blur and are perfect for group photos. Let the tripod be your photographer (+ using your camera’s timer) to capture solo shots or multiple group photos.

Pro-tip: When using a selfie stick, point the camera to a downward angle. This will make sure you do not end up with a double chin from the glare of the sun.

Enlist the Help of Others

If you have an alcohol pad in your back pocket to wipe down your phone afterward, it may be worthwhile to seek out the help of other travelers to get that perfect vacation photo. Be selective about who you ask since not everyone takes good pictures. A great way to locate someone to ask is to look for people actively taking photos. Those are usually the people who will snap the perfect vacation photo for you.

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Pro tip: Do not be afraid to ask for what you want in the photo, or to give simple instructions to the person you are asking. You can always take an extra photo, but you cannot get a moment back once it is gone.

Editing is Equally Important

In a lot of cases, snapping the photo is only half the battle. Even mediocre photos can be edited into the most incredible pictures. Take advantage of apps like SnapSeed and Adobe Photoshop Express to tweak your good vacation photos into greatness. Simple cropping, straightening, and adjusting the lighting on photos can enhance an image drastically.

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Pro tip: You finally managed to get a photo on an empty beach except for the one kid swimming who photo-bombed the shot. Do not fret. Look for a photo editor that has a blemish removal feature. Zoom in close on the kid, and photo-blend your way to the perfect vacation picture.

It is Okay to Put the Camera Away (Sometimes)

Look, we get it. Vacations are awesome and therefore everything about them is too. Sometimes though, the key to taking the greatest vacation photos is to choose the right moments. Remember to stop and just enjoy your time rather the whole time looking at it on a screen. Vacations are a time to unwind, be bewildered, and to experience a new place. Getting 20 great photos will capture it better than 200 bad ones. Make the photos look as great as the experience was.

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We hope that these tips help you take better vacation photos to memorialize travel in 2021. Go out into the world, embrace your well-earned vacation, and when you get back you will have loads of great pictures to fill your next Mixbook with. We cannot wait to see them!