Make people drool over your life by recording vacations with ease & jealousy inducing success!
Tip #1: JET LAG is YOUR Friend!
If you're up anyways, use that time to catch those beautiful early morning sunrises or late night sunsets. It's hard to justify setting any alarms while on vacation, so use jet lag while it lasts.
The image above was taken just before 5am as my 4y old woke at his 'normal' hour from back home. As a side bonus, I've used this image to create a custom Thank You card for the owners of the home we stayed in (and seen in this image).
Tip #2: Tell a Story
The scenery around the subjects tells as much of the story as the people within it. Remember your rule of thirds* and frame the image using family & friends.
Tip #3: Zoom into Unique
Seek out details that make your vacation destination unique. Animals? Vegetation? Architecture? It's these qualities that will ad needed texture to your vacation galleries.
Tip #4: Look for Emotion - rather than smiles
Rather than asking my son to 'pose' with a smile, this image evokes the emotions of wonder & trepidation he felt exploring this bamboo forest. The added irony of this being a very non-Canadian place also makes it one of my favourites.
Tip #5: Don't let Equipment Bog you Down
An image taken is better than a moment missed. I was afraid to bring my expensive camera equipment into the ocean, so I brought my waterproof cell phone to this rock shelf instead.
So, don't let heavy & expensive camera equipment bog you down from experiencing your exotic surroundings. However, keep your cell phone close at hand (just in case). Especially when sharing socially, many cell phones images can hold their own among high quality photographs.
*Rule of Thirds:
The rule of thirds is applied by aligning a subject with the guide lines and their intersection points, placing the horizon on the top or bottom line, or allowing linear features in the image to flow from section to section.