The brand new way to photograph your holiday

What is it?

In the age of Instagram, tourists are increasingly reliant on cumbersome selfie sticks or the help of random strangers to document their globe-trotting memories. Enter Canadian-based Flytographer which is wrestling power back from social media by allowing holidaymakers to hire local pro photographers to take high-quality snaps. And the service isn’t limited to big cities, as you’ll even find expert snappers in faraway hotspots like the remote beaches of Mauritius. The resulting shots use more than your average online filters and make fantastic souvenirs. What’s more, the service is more affordable than you might think.

How it works

With a network of over 300 handpicked local portraiture and photojournalist experts right around the world - including many Thomson destinations - Flytographer’s services are available to everyone from honeymooners to solo travellers and families. Take Reykjavik for instance. Here, you could opt to have that special pic captured in some must-see locations – such as the harbour, the old town or the cutting-edge Harpa concert hall.

The brains behind it

Company founder Nicole Smith points out that when your brain is blissfully coasting along in holiday-mode, it's easy to forget all about pictures: "Often photos are an afterthought,” she says. “[People] take selfies which in my case is often a big swirling head.” Nicole says she came up with the concept after a trip to Paris with her best mate. "We were disappointed both with the photos we had taken of ourselves and the ones we had asked strangers to snap," she admits. "We asked a friend living in the city to take some shots and ended up with beautiful images which captured the spirit of the trip."

Getting started

Just head to the Flytographer website where you can choose from popular holiday destinations - like beautiful Puerto Vallarta in Mexico. Then you can browse galleries from a list of fully-vetted photographers and select a style that suits your taste. Then just book it and pay - a 30-minute session and 15 digital photos costs around £170, while a two-hour tour and 60 digital photos starting at around £445.

One of the main benefits is that photographers will be able to guide you to hidden gems off the beaten path – giving your shoot a more authentic feel. You can also arrange to have a special occasion – like a proposal – caught on camera, which could be the most romantic thing ever (as long as the reply is ‘yes!’).

Crucially, it doesn't take forever to see your shots and you’ll usually be emailed an edit of your digital shots within five days. And if it turns out you really don't like the results, Flytographer will refund your money. Win, win…

Ready to get snapping away?

Check out all of our holidays for some photographic inspiration.