On my first trip to Japan at 14, I got permission to take the family digital camera, and went truly overboard with photos. No-one could believe I returned home with … wait for it … 200 photos. Fastforward 20 years and we now take that many on our smartphones in less than an hour!
I got home from that trip, printed my favorites, and pulled out my scrapbook kit (glue, glitter, scissors – the whole thing!), to put together an amazing book of memories. And I’ve not completed a single scrapbook since.
Scrapbooking to preserve our travel memories is one of those things we’d all love to have time for, but unlike our 14 year old selves, as adults it’s a project we don’t have time to even begin. So our photos sit on harddrives, get buried in Facebook feeds, and we never have time to look at them again.
But what if you could finish a digital travel memory book BEFORE you even return from your trip? Something which was already designed for you, with very little time input, but produces an awesome product at the end? My friend Laura has you covered with her “On-the-Go Digital Travel Memory Book TOOLKIT”.
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When it comes to travel essentials, there are none more important than your phone (your passport is strong competition though!). And when it comes to essentials for your phone, travelers need three main fundamentals; a sturdy phone case, headphones (because the whole plane doesn’t need to hear the soundtrack to Bridgerton), and a gimbal.
A gimbal is a handheld device that allows your camera to rotate smoothly along an axis, so you can take smooth travel video (without the camera shake). There are a million of them on the market, but only one which is truly worthwhile for travel.
The PowerVision S1 is a stylish and portable smartphone gimbal with easy magnetic mounting, AI tracking, gesture control for hands free recording, a built-in tripod, and a portable power bank with wireless phone charging, all packed into a compact device that fits in your pocket.
If you use your phone camera for travel photos and video, or take video calls when you’re abroad, the PowerVision S1 is a gamechanger. Here are 12 reasons you’ll love the world’s smallest smartphone gimbal.
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Travel photography can be what you want it to be, but it’s often used as a way to express the feeling of a time and place, thereby allowing us to relive or share our special travel moments. Travel photography is spontaneous and ever-changing, the antithesis of studio photography which can largely be controlled by a photographer.
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Photos may speak a thousand words, and tell rich stories, but an image contains so many technicalities the photographer composed to create the perfect setting. And one of those is lighting.
Lighting is different for travel photography than it is for other forms of the art. For instance, when shooting in a studio, you can control the light, but when out in the field, you have to plan according to sunlight.
It’s almost impossible for a traveler to move between destinations with bulky gear like large reflectors and flashes, and sometimes you’ll have a very limited window of time before the lighting disappears. So, with these challenges in mind, what are some basic tips for achieving great lighting?
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As a young traveler on my first flight trip, I made the mistake of taking a very bulky carry-on. I had no idea how narrow the aisles were on the plane and how tight the storage space would be underneath the seats. This made for a less than pleasant experience as my big laptop bag (which also doubled as my purse) overlapped onto the arm rests of passengers and embarrassed me all the way to my seat.
Thankfully I’ve learned so much since that first flight. As a writer, I need to always keep my laptop readily available (much like my partner, who needs to keep his camera ready as a photographer).
But more bags equals more problems, so 9 times out of 10 I just end up carrying my device in the crook of my arm. It was less than ideal, but it was better than bulky baggage, right? That is, until I discovered The Laptop Strap! It’s the perfect way to carry a laptop for any traveler.
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Are you looking to expand your photography gear kit but don’t know where to start? Everybody who has a camera, sooner or later, wants a better one. And why not? Upgrading your tools is a must for leveling up your photography career.
To help you buy the right gear, we’ve compiled a list of useful photography gear buying tips. Take a look and make an informed buying decision.
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I stopped making travel videos 5 years ago. I gave up because editing took too long and ultimately became too hard. It was overwhelming trying to learn complicated features, I was always so confused about music, and I could never get the effects and transitions working the way I wanted.
However I’m excited to say that I’m inspired to get back into it again, having discovered Filmora Video editor which is the holy grail of easy video editing!
It’s an amazing video editor for both Mac and Windows, which comes with huge libraries of music, transitions, effects, elements, titles, and very cool templates (like split screens) you can literally just drag and drop. It’s so easy to create amazing, epic travel videos with your footage, without a learning curve (it literally only took me 5 minutes to learn it), that beginners can look professional, and professionals can spend less time editing.
Better yet, it’s free to initially download!
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Earlier in the week I reviewed my favorite entry level portable laptop monitor; the INNOCN Travel Monitor N1F PRO, a great way to enjoy an external computer display on the go.
Though since then many of you have reached out and asked about a portable monitor with a screen specifically built for photo editing, which is still slim enough and sturdy enough to travel with on the road.
Much of my photo editing happens on the road; in the downtime I have in hotels, or in transit. Though I’m often traveling with an old laptop (safety hack, I leave my good laptop at home!), or sharing photos straight from my phone. So I definitely understand the importance of investing in a high quality laptop monitor, with a premium screen for a strong and vivid visual experience.
For me that’s the INNOCN 4K OLED Portable Monitor PU15-PRE. And just like the N1F PRO, for this monitor I also have a discount code: $120 off code: INCMT15RE
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So, you’ve been on a great trip, now what? A lot of us remember flipping through old photo albums, however clunky photo albums are going out of style, so how do modern travelers immortalize their journeys?
With the help of online tech, it’s easy to order photos from your trip straight from your cell phone these days. However, who says you have to frame them the traditional way?
There are plenty of ways you can get creative and add a modern touch to your framed photos. Whether you’re a professional photographer who might have stunning poster material, or you’re an amateur who mainly took pictures of your food and friends, framing is a great way to remember your very favorite snapshots.
It’s easy to forget about all the great memories when they stay hidden digitally in your phone or laptop. Here are 3 ways to get creative with frames.
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Videos have quickly become the most engaging form of digital content, and whether you’re a traveler putting your footage out into the world, or a travel brand looking to expand your reach, there’s one platform you should be using:
IGTV.
IGTV, or Instagram TV, is a relatively new part of the Instagram experience, which allows you to post long-form, immersive video that isn’t limited to one minute, and when viewed, takes over your entire screen.
With over 1 billion Instagram users it’s incredibly powerful for making sure your travel videos are being seen. So in this article, we’re going to take a closer look at IGTV; what it is, how to use it, and tips on how to create the best videos to increase your reach.
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The rise of Instagram has not only inspired us to travel more, it’s also inspired us all to become better photographers. We’ve also seen the creation of the social media influencer, a potentially lucrative career that didn’t exist just a few years ago.
While the number of professional photographers was once quite limited and mostly employed by large publication companies, there is now a wide array of travel photography jobs available with many photographers simply working for themselves.
The idea of a photojournalist covering a war-torn region or capturing images of rare wildlife for National Geographic used to be the picture of a travel photographer, however today people are successfully combining their passion for travel and photography to make money in all sorts of ways.
Whether you’re interested in photographing food, landscapes, architecture, wildlife, people and cultures, products, or big events, there’s a place for you in the travel photography market.
You can score contracts working for tourism boards and hotels, make money from photographing the cuisine and interiors of restaurants for promotional purposes, become a destination wedding photographer, do studio portraits while working on a cruise ship, or even become a paparazzi who chases celebrities around the world.
If interested in monetizing your travel photography, here’s my informative guide to everything you need to know about starting down the path towards becoming a professional travel photographer.
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Now that we’re allowed to head across the pond to visit our nearest and dearest neighbours, New Zealand, it’s time to reevaluate your travel photography kit to make sure you are ready to capture the best travel photos.
After all, New Zealand has some of the best landscapes in the world!
From the essentials, like the right camera and lenses, to the camera accessories, the expert photographers at Ted’s Cameras are taking us through what photography equipment to pack on your NZ holiday.
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If you’re an avid traveller, collecting souvenirs of the places you visit is a fun way of commemorating your trips. Most people do this by taking photographs of their favourite destinations or saving boarding passes from their journeys.
However, there are times when you’re too busy to take a photo of your destination or even pick a trinket.
That’s when vintage travel posters come in handy.
Besides reminding you of places visited and the people you encounter, vintage travel posters have a truly aesthetic appeal. Photographic ads, banner ads and TV commercial are all the rage, but they can’t replace the rich culture that travel posters embody.
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In the early days of photography, taking photos was a rather labor intensive process. The first cameras offered for sale to the public came in the late 19th century but it would be decades before amateurs could easily take decent looking images.
Digital photography revolutionized the way people captured memorable moments and made taking photos far less costly than using film.
Quality digital cameras are now a standard feature on smartphones, and while using an expensive, fancy DSLR camera can produce professional looking images, they can prove quite complicated for most novices to use.
Thanks to smartphones, you can now take great images without needing to know or understand a lot of technical photography jargon. However, there are simple ways you can take your smartphone images from being good to looking really professional.
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Getting that gorgeous snap of the Eiffel Tower, the Colosseum in Rome, or of that stunning waterfall by the hot springs, is the epitome of travel photography; epic photos is what we all aim for!
But capturing the beauty that is in front of you can be a bit difficult; the shot may look fantastic in the preview, but as soon as that shutter clicks, you end up with tons of shadows which completely corrupt your photo.
These shadows occur from objects in the background, from people within the shot (or standing just outside the frame), and even from your own photography skills if you haven’t quite mastered your lighting.
While you can always use Photoshop to remove unnecessary shadows (see how to remove shadows from photos in Photoshop), if your subscription has ended or you don’t want the learning curve, there’s a powerful new program called PhotoWorks.
While the program itself has a great guide for how to remove shadows from photos in PhotoWorks, we’ve summarized the process here in 4 easy steps, to show you how simple it is!
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There’s no doubt that these days, travel photos are the best souvenirs. A physical reminder of your trip, but, unlike the trinkets you buy from a busy tourist area, photos are cheap, last forever, and you can share them as freely as you want to.
Also, you can take thousands of photos every day if you’re so inclined, and they don’t take up any extra space in your luggage. It’s the best case scenario!
But are they actually a physical reminder? They used to be – back in the days before digital photography where you would get home, have them developed, and but them proudly into an album (granted, back then you wouldn’t be taking thousands!).
But these days we often get home, share them on our socials, and then store them away to be forgotten on a harddrive. Which is a shame. Because why would you want your memories of your most epic adventures to fade away?!
The great thing about photos these days is that they’re so versatile, and you can print them for use in so many ways. So, if you want to start displaying your travel photos, consider some of these ideas so you can actually see them everyday!
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Whether you’re snapping pics to post on social media, or shooting new material for your professional portfolio, taking pictures is a part of travel. As the number of stamps in your passport grows, so too does the documented footage of your adventures around the world.
No matter how much you might cherish each one of these photos, there’s no denying that they’re taking up space on your computer and overwhelming your emails attachments.
Sure, USBs can get the job done if you want to share your photos with a family member or travel partner – you know, and not blow up their inbox because of the size limit on email attachments – or are trying to transfer all your photos from your laptop to your desktop.
But what if we told you that there’s an easier, faster way to do it?
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With travel photography becoming increasingly popular, a good quality camera is now a necessity for most travelers. But the biggest question is, what kind of camera should we use?
Bulky DSLR’s were once the go-to, and it was the mark of a photographer to sport a massive zoom. But technology has evolved tremendously, and now that you can take high quality photos with your cell phone, most travelers today are going the portable route.
Also known as compact, or hand-held, portable cameras are preferred among travelers because they are conveniently sized for travel, allow freedom of movement when you’re out. These are often pocket-sized cameras that don’t need to be mounted.
Given this trend towards smaller bodied cameras, the following are 5 reasons to jump on the bandwagon and join those going the portable route.
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Taking photos on that fantastic trip is something we all do – but what happens when you get home? Far too many people take stunning pictures on their adventures, yet when they return to daily life those photos just sit forgotten.
They sit in a phone or camera, maybe they’re filed away on your harddrive, waiting to be looked at once every six months then ultimately deleted for more memory space.
It really is a shame. Those photos could be put to much better use, custom printed onto a variety of different ways, and proudly displayed. That way, you remember your journeys every day!
Online printing specialists offer affordable printing on a both common and uncommon items, meaning you can make those memories last a lifetime. But what sort of things can you print onto?
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The world of social media and online marketing has drastically evolved over the past couple of years. Social media platforms are upping their game knowing that any minute, new trends will overtake what they are currently promoting.
The role of photographers can’t be underestimated in today’s digital world. Well paying gigs are available, but are usually approved for those who have a good online presence.
These changes have also made a lot of content creators, online ambassadors, and influencers rethink the way they go about advertising and promoting their content online.
One of the biggest social media platforms making waves today is Instagram. Everything about instagram advertising is changing, and you definitely need to learn more about it in order to stay in the game.
But even if you don’t have a big budget for paid advertising on the platform, there are still a number of ways to advertise yourself, and build a successful online presence.
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Once upon a time, a camera was a luxury, and on a family holiday, you generally had to share it. Though these days cameras have become an essential, and every traveler has one.
Travel and photography go hand in hand these days, and with the accessibility of advanced technology, even amateur photographers and beginners can take incredible shots.
One thing most travelers have in common is a desire to take better photography. Which you can easily do with these tips.
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Whether you’re capturing holiday memories of your trip, or you secretly want to launch a career as a travel videographer, simply tapping the record button on your iPhone isn’t going to guarentee a high quality video.
For budding phone videographers, there are two main factors that are going to dictate how good your videos are. The first is the quality of footage.
The newest technology will always be the best way to guarentee you’re shooting the highest quality footage, but anything that is capable of shooting in 4K, 120fps/240fps high speed or slo-mo videos will work well.
The second is the quality of editing that goes into your video after it’s been shot. With these two points in mind, we’ve put together the following tips for making and editing awesome travel videos on your iPhone.
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Are you looking for an excellent gift to give to your friend who is a photographer? Or perhaps you want to say thank you to the person who captured one of the most important moments in your life?
Photographers make memories, so of course you want to come up with an idea for a memorable gift. But more often than not photographers already have all the gear they need, so you may be wondering what’s left to be gifted!
Well, worry not! We’ve done extensive research to find out what photographers like best, and with the help of some expert camera operators, we came up with this excellent gift list.
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If you love photography, many notable sites around the world will quench your thirst. From Paris, to Rome, there are many iconic landmarks worth shooting, though adventure photographers may have a desire to explore destinations that are lesser known.
Malta is a unique island in the Mediterranean Sea that boasts many rich cultural and historic sites. And while it’s a small island, it certainly packs a heavy punch, with plenty of opportunity for unique photography.
Keen photographers will be able to shoot prehistoric temples, some of the most beautiful beaches in the Mediterranean, fossil studded cliffs, and a food scene which mixes Sicilian and Middle Eastern flavours with local Maltese ingredients.
Both man-made and natural sites make this island a place worth visiting. The following are five locations in Malta worth shooting.
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With travel photography becoming increasingly popular, a good quality camera is now a necessity for most travelers. But the biggest question is, what kind of camera should we use?
Whether you are an already experienced photographer or a beginner looking for ideas on which camera is the best, I see a lot of misguidance when it comes to advice on travel cameras.
A of lot of the time, I see people recommend equipment that would leave any professional photographer envious. And a lot of it. But from my own experience, you don’t need a very complex setup or the most expensive gear.
I traveled with the Fuji X100F through Southeast Asia for a few months and couldn’t be happier with it. For me, this is my ideal travel camera, and I want to share the stories that I was able to capture with that one single camera.
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