10 Tips for Better Summer Vacation Photos

My clients ask me all the time “What’s the best camera for us to have for vacations, school plays, etc?” And while I will give you some options for a travel camera at the end of this post, really, the answer is: the best camera is the one you have with you that YOU WILL ACTUALLY USE. And honestly, we’re so lucky nowadays to have decent cameras on our phones, that you shouldn’t feel guilty for using them. So with that in mind, here are my tips for better vacation photos, regardless of what camera you’re using.

1. Shift your perspective: move up, down, all around your subject. I know it’s second nature to just hold up your camera, point, and shoot, but after that: get low looking up, get up high looking down.                                                                                                                                                                                                             
2. GET IN THE PHOTOS: Hand your camera to a family member, or use the camera timer, prop it up somewhere or use a tripod, and get in the frame. You deserve to be seen, and your family wants photos of you with them!                                                                                                                                                                           
3. Look for the good light: outdoors, this is usually at sunrise and sunset. The light is soft, flattering, and you won’t be squinting.                                                                      
4. Engage with your environment: this is one of my favorite things to do on vacation. Not only do I want images of us going somewhere as a family, but I want to remember the place. Travel is so important to us – I want to document details like the café where we had our morning coffee, my daughter’s little hands double-fisting croissants, local market stalls, architecture…                                                                                                                                                                                        
5.  Get close: get creative, zoom in, move closer. Then, CLOSER. You’d be surprised how many objects appear differently in an image when you move in close. Look for   detail: closeup and/or macro shots can make the ordinary appear unordinary.                                                                                                                                         
6.  Watch your horizon: while you can always crop an image later, getting it right in camera will save you time (and you won’t risk having to crop out parts of your image   you wish to keep). Make sure your horizon is straight unless you’re purposefully wanting it slanted for a particular shot.                                                                            
7.  Watch your exposure: especially when you’re shooting something like a subject with the sun setting in the background, either tap the faces on your screen, or use the   flash to make sure you’re not making a photograph of just a black silhouette with a sunset behind it, when you really want to see faces.                                                    
8.  Often, the best images are candids: I have literally never told my daughter to smile for a picture. Sometimes if I want her to look at me, I’ll make an unexpected noise,   or do something else to get her attention momentarily – but I’m not interested in fake or forced smiles. And not to be too paparazzi, but some of my favorite images   are ones I’ve taken where the family member didn’t know I was photographing them in that moment (or knew I was taking photos, but I blended into the background   and they were able to ignore me and act naturally).                                                                                                                                                                             
9.  Rule of Thirds: While I don’t necessarily believe in “rules” about art, I do find this suggestion can be helpful to create visual interest in what would otherwise be a   perfunctory picture. Turn on the grid in your camera or camera phone, or imagine a tic-tac-toe board drawn over the scene. The Rule of Thirds suggests that the points   where the lines intersect are where you should place your subject. For example, place a person on the right or left grid line instead of dead center. Or put your horizon   line along the bottom or top lines instead of the middle of the picture.                                                                                                                                                     
10.  Put the camera down: I know it’s easy to get caught up as the family documentarian. But grab some good shots and then put the camera down. Play with your kids,     see the sights, enjoy the ceremony, relish the meal… don’t let the camera keep you from engaging with your family. Because after all, the camera is there to   DOCUMENT the memories themselves – it’s up to your family to create them.

If you’re headed to a New Orleans vacation, 30A vacation, or really anywhere else that is meaningful to your family’s story, and you’re looking for a vacation photographer, shoot us a message! I frequently work with out of town families visiting New Orleans and the Gulf Coast, and we can make sure you receive the same level of care and customer service as our New Orleans family photography clients by arranging virtual consultations and ordering appointments.

As promised... if you’d like to have a “camera-camera” instead of just your iPhone to bring along, I recommend a mirrorless camera. They are much smaller than DSLRs.

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 VII -- $1300

Best for family trips, this camera is a great do-everything camera. It’s easy to take along in your purse or pocket, and because of that portability, doesn’t feel like a chore to have to bring out. It’s a workhorse with fast auto focus and creates beautiful image quality with accurate colors.

Canon PowerShot G5 X Mark II -- $875

Also a good all-around camera, but a little slower than its peers for autofocus. Since the majority of my clients have fast-moving kids and pets, I’d spring for the Sony above.

Fujifilm X-E4 - $1000

A highly capable camera that is also very compact and portable and creates beautiful images.

Nikon Z5 -- $1300-2200 depending on lens

One of the most affordable, entry-level full frame cameras ever released. However, it’s bulky and you have to purchase a separate lens for it.

All the photos below were taken by me, my husband, my sister, or with a self-timer on our family vacations to Alys Beach!