15 Tips for Better Travel Photos
The Best Ideas from Our Community Contest
We asked you for your travel photography tips, and you really delivered! From lighting conditions and perspectives to technical insights: You shared your knowledge and showed just how versatile the topic of travel photography is. In this post, we’re sharing the 15 best tips from our #choicefortravel contest with Sony.
The Winning Entry
Moritz (@moritzfraenkel) did a fantastic job of illustrating his tips with photos in his creative entry. Our winner’s tips highlight what really matters in travel photography: observation, creativity, and a keen sense for capturing the right moment.
Tip 1: Visit locations when the light is at its best — in the morning and evening. Sunrises and sunsets provide soft light and creative freedom!
Tip 2: Work with your surroundings! Look for pockets of light, leading lines, or natural contrasts to make your photo more exciting.
Tip 3: Stick to your own perspective! Don’t just mindlessly copy other photos—capture your subjects exactly as you see them.
Tip 4: Different lenses can help you achieve new results! Try a focal length you don’t usually use. If you tend to work with zoom lenses, try a prime lens instead!
Tip 5: Don’t try to force a shot! Enjoy your trip and capture the moments as they happen.
General Tips for Travel Photography
You’ve also shared many inspiring insights on image composition and how to approach a scene. These tips show that good travel photography depends not only on technique, but also on creative thinking.
Tip 6: Play with Perspectives
Lea (@grimm.travelstories) recommends choosing unusual angles: Squat down, shoot from above, or move closer to your subject. A different perspective can turn an everyday scene into something special.
Tip 7: Take Videos as Well as Photos
Lea also advises supplementing photos with short videos. Moving images can emphasize the mood and round out a photo series—even simple cell phone videos are sufficient for this.
Tip 8: Use bad weather to your advantage
Jessica (@jessi.fon) reminds us that fog, rain, and clouds are no reason to put your camera away. That’s exactly when warm fall colors like yellow, orange, and red shine most brightly.
Tips on Photo Spots
Anyone who has ever traveled to a foreign city knows how difficult it can be to find the truly interesting places—especially those off the beaten path.
Tip 9: Look for Hidden Spots
"Unspoiled nature is rare; many places are overcrowded," explains Sören (@chronisch_reisen) in his Instagram post: "Keep an eye out for inconspicuous green spots on the map, or draw inspiration from unconventional sources—ask locals or an AI."
Tip 10: Use public transportation
Julia (@_julboe_) shows that you don’t always have to travel far to take great street photos. Many of her favorite shots were taken while she was on the go—for example, on trains or ferries. When you use public transportation, you experience authentic moments and get a glimpse into real local life.
Tips on Equipment
There was also valuable advice on the topic of equipment. One piece of advice came from Alexander (@alexande.lehmbecker), who demonstrated that modern cameras can withstand far more than you might think.
Tip 11: Trust Your Equipment
"Many people underestimate how rugged modern cameras are. My camera was out in freezing Lapland at -18 °C; the focusing mechanism was frozen solid, and yet I was still able to photograph breathtaking northern lights. By the way, the Sony A7III didn’t have any trouble with that at all."
Tips for Exceptional Photos
Some of you have focused on specific photographic subjects while traveling—from portraits to starry skies to waterfalls. These tips show just how diverse travel photography can be.
Tip 12: Take Photos with Models
Julia (@_julboe_) recommends making connections in new cities: If you find local models through platforms like Instagram, you’ll discover new places, get creative inspiration, and who knows—maybe you’ll even make new friends along the way.
Tip 13: Photographing Waterfalls
For your next trip to destinations like Iceland or New Zealand, Timo (@timofarsch) has put together some helpful tips for photographing waterfalls:
- Find a beautiful waterfall, such as Skógafoss in Iceland or Gollum’s Pool in New Zealand.
- Tripod: Don’t rely on rocks—trust me, a sturdy tripod is worth its weight in gold.
- Long exposure (2–30 seconds): Adjust the exposure time based on the lighting conditions.
- ND filter: Prevents overexposure during long exposures.
- Low ISO: Keeps image noise to a minimum and ensures clear shots.
- Aperture of f/10 or higher: Adjust as needed to achieve the desired depth of field.
For equipment, he recommends the Sony A7 III with a 24–105mm lens as his top choice for travel photography.
Tip 14: Photographing the Starry Sky
"With a small tripod, a wide-angle lens (a travel zoom will do in a pinch), and the right settings, your camera can capture worlds we’d never be able to see otherwise." Sören (@chronisch_reisen) recommends starting with these settings:
- short focal length
- Focus set to infinity
- Wide aperture
- 20-second exposure
- ISO 2500
…and then adjust step by step.
Tip 15: Capturing the Northern Lights
Alexander (@alexande.lehmbecker) shares a short checklist of the most important things you need for great Northern Lights photos:
- Tripod: A must for long exposures.
- Remote shutter release: Not required, but your fingers will thank you for it.
- Aperture: as wide open as possible (f/1.4–f/2.8).
- ISO: High enough (1600–6400) to capture details without too much noise.
- Shutter speed: between 2–10 seconds—depending on the intensity and movement of the lights.
- Focus: Set manually to infinity; it’s best to use Live View to focus on a star. Disable image stabilization.
- Extra Sony tip: Set the white balance to cool white—this really makes the lights pop.
"And most importantly: don’t just focus on the technical aspects—enjoy the moment, too. Because the Northern Lights are more than just a photo—they’re an experience."
More Tips from Paul Hüttemann
Now you’re all set with tips and tricks for your next trip with your camera! If you’d also like to learn a few tips on travel photography from Paul Hüttemann, check out our livestream of the live talk from Travel Experience Day.
Don't miss a thing!
If you try out any of these tips, we’d love to see your results. Share your photos on Instagram and tag @fotokochde —we might just feature your photo in our Story soon. Also, follow us on our social media channels to enter our next giveaway and make sure you never miss any exciting events or posts again.
