Top Travel Photography Tips from the Experts

Team Thomson recently attended a talk on travel photography from Steve Davey and Paul Goldstein – the experts when it comes to catching locals, landscapes and wildlife on film in destinations around the globe. We thought we’d share some of their top tips with you…

1. Engage with your subject

If you want to take a photo of a local, spend time getting to know them and ask if you can take their picture. And once they’re relaxed, work quickly so they don’t get uncomfortable.

2. Practise, practise, practise

Practise makes perfect, so put in some hard graft before your holiday. Get to know your equipment and practise on home soil. A dog or cat can make great pre-safari practise, for example.

3. Be patient

To get that shot you need to be prepared to wait, whether it’s climbing a mountain at dawn, lying flat on your belly for hours or waiting for the wildlife to show up. It’s all about being ready.

Paul Goldstein/Exodus/Rex

4. Do your homework

There’s nothing worse than returning from your holiday to discover you’ve missed an amazing photo opportunity. So research your destination before you go and make a list of places to tick off.

5. Be original

Don’t get all arty, be bold. Go for simple compositions that will get a reaction. Is it cute? Does it tell a story? Is there anticipation? Wait for the moment, and go for it.

Paul Goldstein/Exodus/Rex