{"id":8710,"date":"2016-04-20T11:56:15","date_gmt":"2016-04-20T10:56:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/walks.friday.ie\/?p=8710"},"modified":"2026-01-18T21:36:45","modified_gmt":"2026-01-18T21:36:45","slug":"take-better-travel-photos","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/travel-tips\/take-better-travel-photos","title":{"rendered":"Travel Photography Tips: 5 Secrets that Travel Photographers Use to Take Better Photos"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><em>Travel photos are one of the most difficult styles of photography to shoot. No matter how much your equipment costs or how beautiful your subject, you&#8217;ll never capture the essential moments of your vacation unless you have the right knowledge and plenty of practice.\u00a0<\/em><em>Luckily, we can help. We asked one of our professional photographers to provide some travel photography tips so that you can take your vacation photos to the next level.<\/em><\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_24162\" style=\"width: 910px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-24162\" class=\"wp-image-24162 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/05\/bigstock-female-tourist-taking-mobile-p-253657390.jpg\" alt=\"A photo accompanying an article about Travel Photography Tips. A female tourist on a rooftop taking a photo of Piazza di Spagna at sunset, with a mobile phone.\" width=\"900\" height=\"600\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/05\/bigstock-female-tourist-taking-mobile-p-253657390.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/05\/bigstock-female-tourist-taking-mobile-p-253657390-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-24162\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Follow these travel photography tips to capture the moment in a more creative and interesting way<\/p><\/div>\n<p><em>The following are some of the secrets that photographer <a href=\"https:\/\/samuelwebster.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Samuel Webster.<\/a> and his colleagues use to capture the shots of Italy (or anywhere) that fire the imaginations of their fellow travelers. <\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>So, without further ado, we pass you over to Sam&#8230;<\/em><\/p>\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_80 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/travel-tips\/take-better-travel-photos\/#Travel_Photography_Tips\" >Travel Photography Tips<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/travel-tips\/take-better-travel-photos\/#1_Stop_taking_photos_of_art\" >1. Stop taking photos of art<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/travel-tips\/take-better-travel-photos\/#2_Dont_take_so_many_selfies\" >2. Don&#8217;t take so many selfies<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/travel-tips\/take-better-travel-photos\/#3_Stop_taking_selfies_the_old-fashioned_way\" >3. Stop taking selfies the old-fashioned way<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/travel-tips\/take-better-travel-photos\/#4_Instagramming_your_food\" >4. Instagramming your food<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/travel-tips\/take-better-travel-photos\/#5_Dont_share_your_photos_as_quickly_as_you_can_take_them\" >5. Don&#8217;t share your photos as quickly as you can take them<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/travel-tips\/take-better-travel-photos\/#FAQ%C2%B4s_%E2%80%93_Travel_Photography_Tips\" >FAQ\u00b4s &#8211; Travel Photography Tips<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/travel-tips\/take-better-travel-photos\/#Do_I_need_expensive_camera_equipment_to_take_good_travel_photos\" >Do I need expensive camera equipment to take good travel photos?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/travel-tips\/take-better-travel-photos\/#Should_I_ask_permission_before_photographing_people_while_traveling\" >Should I ask permission before photographing people while traveling?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/travel-tips\/take-better-travel-photos\/#Is_it_better_to_use_a_camera_or_a_mobile_phone_for_travel_photography\" >Is it better to use a camera or a mobile phone for travel photography?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Travel_Photography_Tips\"><\/span>Travel Photography Tips<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>A good travel photo is a precious thing, but anyone who has ever tried to quickly capture a beautiful view or a magnificent cathedral knows just how hard it can be to translate what you see into the photo you take. That&#8217;s where I come in.<\/p>\n<p>As\u00a0a freelance photographer\u00a0it&#8217;s my job to travel the world on assignments capturing stunning images\u00a0quickly and comprehensively. I&#8217;ve seen many mistakes while watching travelers try to capture their journey in photos, and it might surprise you how many of them are easily corrected.<\/p>\n<p>You won&#8217;t become the world&#8217;s best travel photographer\u00a0two weeks before your trip but regardless of age, ability, experience or camera model, there are a lot of little things that you can do to take better photos of your travels.<\/p>\n<p>For the first installment of these photography tips, I&#8217;ll\u00a0start with some of the most common mistakes\u00a0I see travelers\u00a0making and teach you how to avoid them.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"1_Stop_taking_photos_of_art\"><\/span>1. Stop taking photos of art<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<div id=\"attachment_9030\" style=\"width: 1010px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/walksofitaly.com\/blog\/art-culture\/take-better-travel-photos\/attachment\/_15_3616-copy\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-9030\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-9030\" class=\"size-full wp-image-9030\" src=\"https:\/\/walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/15_3616-copy.jpg\" alt=\"A Walks of Itay guide poses with her camera-phone-picture of Michelangelo's David. \" width=\"1000\" height=\"667\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/15_3616-copy.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/15_3616-copy-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-9030\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Taking pictures of art is human. Taking pictures of pictures of art, divine.<\/p><\/div>\n<p>Don\u2019t get me wrong: Italian statues are marvelous subjects for photography, so are monuments and all those grandiose, cavernous churches. It\u2019s the paintings you should avoid.<\/p>\n<p>A few months ago, I was taking photos in the <strong>Uffizi Gallery<\/strong>\u00a0for Walks of Italy&#8217;s <a href=\"https:\/\/walksofitaly.com\/florence-tours\/florence-tours-full-day\"><strong>Florence in a Day tour<\/strong><\/a> and a group of 25 tourists descended upon a Botticelli en masse! The few photos I saw on the backs of their cameras were dark and blurry, not to mention full of other people.<\/p>\n<p>What they didn\u2019t seem to grasp, or perhaps didn\u2019t care about, was this: You\u2019re just not going to get an original or memorable shot if you walk up to a famous painting and snap it.<\/p>\n<p><strong>What to do instead<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Take photos of details \u2013 the strokes of paint on the canvas, the gold frames, and the parts of the painting that strike you the most. A photo of the artwork in full can almost always be found on Google, but the small details that say &#8220;I was there&#8221; will make for much more special photos.<\/p>\n<p>Depending on the gallery, you are usually free to take photos of the space itself. Enjoy the long walkways of the Uffizi, or the wide-open spaces of the <strong>Pinacoteca di Brera<\/strong>. Try to capture how a statue sits within a space, surrounded by traveling art lovers.<\/p>\n<p>The arrangement of the space doesn\u2019t happen by accident. Those photos are so much more interesting, and they tell a story in a way that a facsimile of a masterpiece never will.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"2_Dont_take_so_many_selfies\"><\/span>2. Don&#8217;t take so many selfies<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<div id=\"attachment_9031\" style=\"width: 1010px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/walksofitaly.com\/blog\/art-culture\/take-better-travel-photos\/attachment\/_web2869-copy\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-9031\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-9031\" class=\"size-full wp-image-9031\" src=\"https:\/\/walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/WEB2869-copy.jpg\" alt=\"A couple takes in the view inside the Colosseum with a Walks of Italy Tour.\" width=\"1000\" height=\"666\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/WEB2869-copy.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/WEB2869-copy-768x511.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-9031\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Instead of taking a shot of yourself in the Colosseum, turn your camera on those traveling with you &#8211; you won&#8217;t regret it.<\/p><\/div>\n<p>It has become de rigueur to complain about people taking selfies in famous places but, personally, I think they can work in the right time and place. Unfortunately, in front of famous monuments is almost never the right time, nor place. Even monuments like <strong>the Colosseum<\/strong> will usually look small\u00a0and cramped in a corner of the frame next to your head.<\/p>\n<p><strong>What to do instead<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Instead, I suggest you turn your camera on your family and friends. Catch them talking in a piazza, or underneath a statue. Volunteer them to be part of a show in <strong>Piazza Navona<\/strong>, and go crazy with your camera.<\/p>\n<p>If you have to take a selfie, try to get as much of your surroundings as possible in the photo with you (more on this in the next point). If you have friends who can\u2019t shake their selfie habit, take photos of them taking selfies in beautiful places \u2013 your photographed memory will outlast theirs, I promise!<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em><strong>Capture memories, not things. Tell stories, not histories.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Which leads me to the next of my travel photography tips\u2026<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"3_Stop_taking_selfies_the_old-fashioned_way\"><\/span>3. Stop taking selfies the old-fashioned way<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<div id=\"attachment_8713\" style=\"width: 650px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/walksofitaly.com\/blog\/art-culture\/take-better-travel-photos\/attachment\/16235557282_1d0243728f_z\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8713\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-8713\" class=\"size-full wp-image-8713\" src=\"https:\/\/walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/16235557282_1d0243728f_z.jpg\" alt=\"photo by Michele M. F. https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/e-coli\/16235557282\/in\/photolist-qJFtxq-qmhjdQ-rmJNK3-qpcoJo-qzpYUH-rrPjfQ-rswyP6-EbohME-rjjD6Z-qtLBpm-rnwrrZ-xgZ99W-r7b88a-ts9T2s-qrZ1SQ-nwLoCv-peEBSg-CAR7iY-vizewK-CuogQg-BJRLZy-pFYJt6-Cn9NiK-r4ZqEC-rGEPQE-q9BjGa-BYhBs1-qSPKmC-v1Mqi3-rNeoiG-qZfWCK-qyfYTy-CfAYSy-C8jR4N-rnRrdu-xfshwj-qiWsJZ-yBaHVm-u2PQvp-tuuLpe-qRfECc-wnTyst-wsrKJJ-r8acPA-s2QMPb-pYEMHt-tQm8Qy-Dn2VB6-rwUMFw-9ctBgB\" width=\"640\" height=\"427\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-8713\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Selfie sticks are widely available for purchase from street vendors. Photo credit: Michelle M.F.<\/p><\/div>\n<p>I know, I know, selfie sticks aren&#8217;t cool, even if they\u2019re popular. Also, you <em>absolutely <\/em>need to leave them at home when you go to any gallery or very crowded place (museums in Italy are starting to ban them because of the damage people have done to works of art in the past year or so).That said, when you\u2019re out \u2018in the wild\u2019, you have my permission to pull out the selfie stick!<\/p>\n<p>Ignoring the fact that selfie sticks have a reputation for being a bit tacky and &#8220;touristy&#8221;, I promise you that real photographers only care about one thing: does it take a good photo?<\/p>\n<p>A selfie stick distances you from the camera and thus allows you to take better photos. Not only is it more flattering and natural, it lets you get the background in the shot. Without the background, you may as well take the photo in your bedroom at home. They also offer a really great way to take a video message to send back to family and friends.<\/p>\n<p><strong>What to do instead<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Don\u2019t angle the camera at 90-degrees to the stick. Go for 110 or even 130 degrees (so the camera is closer to being parallel than perpendicular). That way, you can hold your hand down by your side and get a photo without the stick in the shot.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"4_Instagramming_your_food\"><\/span>4. Instagramming your food<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<div id=\"attachment_8826\" style=\"width: 1010px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/walksofitaly.com\/blog\/art-culture\/take-better-travel-photos\/attachment\/firenzefood-20-copy\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8826\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-8826\" class=\"size-full wp-image-8826\" src=\"https:\/\/walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/FirenzeFood-20-copy.jpg\" alt=\"A ripe Italian tomato is definitely worthy of a photo!\" width=\"1000\" height=\"667\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/FirenzeFood-20-copy.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/FirenzeFood-20-copy-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-8826\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">A ripe Italian tomato from the Campo de&#8217;Fiori is definitely worthy of a photo!<\/p><\/div>\n<p>My normal policy when traveling is designating <em>just one<\/em> food photographer per group of travelers. But if you <em>must <\/em>capture every amazing Italian dish and risk it getting cold in the meantime, try to move quickly and reserve your camera for only the special moments.<\/p>\n<p>Last week in Rome, I tried <em>Meloncello<\/em> (like <em>Limoncello<\/em>, but made from cantaloupe) and I\u2019m not ashamed to say I\u2019ve got a photo of the glass full of orange liqueur. But I didn\u2019t shoot the <em>Limoncello<\/em> I had afterward\u00a0because it wasn\u2019t the first time I had tried it.<\/p>\n<p><strong>What to do instead<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Try to focus on the things that startle you, interest you, or can be counted as &#8220;travel firsts&#8221;. Just because it looks great doesn\u2019t mean it needs to be captured. After a few days, the photos won\u2019t seem so special. Nevertheless, if it\u2019s your first taste of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/food-and-wine\/best-carbonara-in-rome\">homemade carbonara<\/a>, go crazy!<\/p>\n<p>However, this tip goes further than that. I love food as much as the next slightly-overweight traveler, but the reason I return to certain places is only partly to do with the food. My favorite Roman restaurant has a waitress with the sunniest disposition you can imagine AND they make a great plate of spaghetti.<\/p>\n<p>If you\u2019re taking photos of your food, the restaurant that serves it to you deserves a mention too. Take photos of the menu (steal the Italian one, even if you don\u2019t use it to order!), the tables set for guests, and\/or the rustic interior. Take photos of the restaurant from the street, with people passing by. Is this the third time I\u2019ve written it? <em>Capture the experience alongside the details.<\/em><\/p>\n<p>And now for the last of my travel photography tips. It\u00b4s not just what you take, but what you do with them after too&#8230;<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"5_Dont_share_your_photos_as_quickly_as_you_can_take_them\"><\/span>5. Don&#8217;t share your photos as quickly as you can take them<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<div id=\"attachment_8714\" style=\"width: 1010px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/walksofitaly.com\/blog\/art-culture\/take-better-travel-photos\/attachment\/wofi_150526_0840\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8714\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-8714\" class=\"size-full wp-image-8714\" src=\"https:\/\/walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/WofI_150526_0840.jpg\" alt=\"Candid photography of people is a mixture of luck and patience. Sam got this shot by hanging around an area with a perfect column of light and waiting for the right subject to wander through. | Photo by Samuel Webster\" width=\"1000\" height=\"667\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/WofI_150526_0840.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/WofI_150526_0840-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-8714\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Candid photography of people is a mixture of luck and patience. Sam got this shot by hanging around an area with a perfect column of light and waiting for the right subject to wander through. Photo by Samuel Webster<\/p><\/div>\n<p>Being a professional photographer teaches you to lose the idea of <em>immediacy<\/em>. If you\u2019re serious about documenting your travels, whether for an audience or just your own enjoyment, you don\u2019t have to do it in real time.<\/p>\n<p>This means sharing, at most, one or two photos a day on social media &#8211; enough that people see you\u2019re doing well, and no more. Why? Because time spent editing and posting photos is better spent taking photos, at least while you\u2019re away. Empty your telephone or camera before leaving home, and fill it before you return.<\/p>\n<p><strong>What to do instead<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Take lots of photos and back them up. With a little time and space between the vacation and the return, the things that stand out about the trip will become clear. Your favorite places will <em>want <\/em>to be seen again.<\/p>\n<p>When my friends ask me why I spend time in post-production instead of using automatic settings I reply that a photo that isn\u2019t worth 10 minutes of my editing time is not worth showing to someone.<\/p>\n<p>By allowing yourself time to focus on simply capturing photos, you will have more to see when you return home and can make a better photographic memory for your family and friends.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"FAQ%C2%B4s_%E2%80%93_Travel_Photography_Tips\"><\/span>FAQ\u00b4s &#8211; Travel Photography Tips<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Do_I_need_expensive_camera_equipment_to_take_good_travel_photos\"><\/span>Do I need expensive camera equipment to take good travel photos?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>No. While professional cameras offer more control, great travel photos are far more about light, composition, and timing than price tags. Many modern smartphones are more than capable of capturing excellent images, especially in good lighting. Learn your device\u2019s strengths, practice using it confidently, and focus on storytelling rather than specs.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Should_I_ask_permission_before_photographing_people_while_traveling\"><\/span>Should I ask permission before photographing people while traveling?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>If someone is clearly identifiable and the photo centers on them, asking permission is both respectful and often leads to better photos. A smile, a gesture toward the camera, or a simple question can go a long way. For candid street photography, keep scenes public and non-intrusive, and avoid moments that could feel embarrassing or exploitative.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Is_it_better_to_use_a_camera_or_a_mobile_phone_for_travel_photography\"><\/span>Is it better to use a camera or a mobile phone for travel photography?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Both have advantages. A dedicated camera gives you more creative control and performs better in low light, while a mobile phone is discreet, lightweight, and always ready. The best choice is the one you\u2019ll actually use. Many travelers find that a phone captures more authentic moments simply because it\u2019s always to hand.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_11934\" style=\"width: 1210px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-11934\" class=\"wp-image-11934 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/Visiting-the-Vatican-e1733992627141.jpg\" alt=\"Visiting the Vatican Museums\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-11934\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Looking up at centuries of art, one ceiling at a time, sometimes the best camera is the one already in your hand!<\/p><\/div>\n<p><strong>Feeling inspired to turn those snapshots into unforgettable memories?\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Join an <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/\">award-winning Walks of Italy tour<\/a> <\/strong>and discover cities like Rome, the Vatican, Florence, Venice, Pompeii, Milan, and more through the eyes of expert local guides. With thoughtfully designed small-group and private experiences, you\u2019ll skip the lines, uncover hidden stories, and enjoy a deeper, more meaningful connection to Italy\u2019s most iconic places.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Choose your city, pick your passion, and let the journey begin &#8211; with your camera at the ready, of course!<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Travel photos are one of the most difficult styles of photography to shoot. No matter how much your equipment costs or how beautiful your subject, you&#8217;ll never capture the essential moments of your vacation unless you have the right knowledge and plenty of practice.\u00a0Luckily, we can help. We asked one of our professional photographers to [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":8716,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[81,63],"ppma_author":[155],"class_list":["post-8710","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-travel-tips","tag-photography","tag-trip-planning"],"authors":[{"term_id":155,"user_id":3,"is_guest":0,"slug":"walksofitaly","display_name":"Walks of Italy","avatar_url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/9f4cd4dd0c5ab4b4bae57f3500298e23?s=96&d=mm&r=g","user_url":"http:\/\/walksofitaly.com\/blog","last_name":"of Italy","first_name":"Walks","job_title":"","description":"Walks began life as the passion project of two guys with one simple mission: To share their love for, and knowledge of, the city of Rome. Since then, Walks has grown into a team of over 100 ground staff and at any time up to 600 guides, operating across 13 of the world\u2019s most exciting cities (and counting!)\r\n\r\nToday we provide some of the most exclusive and beautifully designed small group tours in the industry through Italy-based Walks of Italy and around the world at Walks, where we offer special access to some of the world\u2019s most iconic landmarks and attractions as well as unique cultural experiences."}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8710"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8710"}],"version-history":[{"count":13,"href":"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8710\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":24661,"href":"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8710\/revisions\/24661"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/8716"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8710"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=8710"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=8710"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/ppma_author?post=8710"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}