I recently returned from a trip to Barcelona, Spain.  You can imagine how excited I was for the many photo opps we would encounter! While touring around I took notes on things I wanted to remember about photography for my next trip. Today I want to share some of those tips with you!

Also check out my last year’s post Vacation Photography Tips: 7 Ways to Capture your Trip for additional tips.

1. Bring a point and shoot camera for active excursions when it’s not convenient to carry around your heavy DSLR. I recently purchased the Canon G15 camera, which allows me to still shoot manually, has amazing clarity and quick capture capabilities even in low light, has a hot shoe for an external flash, as well as HD video.  It performs closely to a DSLR but without the bulk and weight!

I took my G15 on a hike we did in Rupit, Spain. I knew we would be doing a lot of hiking/climbing and was grateful to not lug around a heavy camera bag. Once you learn how to shoot your camera manually you will be surprised at how great your pictures can look, even with a point and shoot! With full control over ISO, exposure and white balance you should be able to meter for challenging lighting scenerios and get similar shots you would with your DSLR. Here’s a some images from my G15.

2. When taking portraits in a scenic area, remember to include within the frame your beautiful background! If it’s just a face with nothing interesting in the background than it could have been taken in your backyard! Also, choose the appropriate aperture (f-stop) to show detail. Remember: smaller f-stop= more blur in background, larger f-stop= more detail in background. Take a moment to compose creatively. Ask yourself, “What do I want to remember later on when I look at this photo?” This seems obvious, but you wouldn’t believe how many people just aim the camera at their subject and forget about what’s around them!

We went on a sea kayaking tour along the Mediterranean coast and weren’t able to bring our phones/cameras because they could get wet. Our guide assured us that he had a waterproof camera and would take pictures of us and email them later. The beautiful homes that seemed to be hanging on the cliffs above us, the lush, colorful vegetation, the caves and caverns we kayaked through….I couldn’t wait to get our photos!

When we finally got them we were disappointed to say the least. Yes, we were in them…surrounded by the beautiful blue water…but that was all! Anyone looking at those photos wouldn’t be able to tell where we were.  Take a moment and think about how you can include your surroundings before you press that shutter! I wished I had purchased the waterproofing housing for my G15 so I could have taken better pictures. So bummed that day will only be memories in my head. :(

3. If on a tour, remove yourself from the group briefly to find the non-touristy/more artistic shots with little or no people in them. I struggled getting shots that were creative and unique when I was with a tour group. I felt rushed. And there were too many people around. Look behind you, aim your camera above the people, or hang back and find a quiet charming alley and catch up with the group after you get that shot.

If all else fails…embrace the crowds, especially if it tells a story like this beach shot. The beaches were hoppin’ in Barcelona!

4. Give yourself a creative challenge each day and think of certain images you want to capture. Otherwise you might get caught in the trap of taking the same snapshot/touristy type of pictures every day. I’m not saying there’s anything wrong with those types of pictures. But take the opportunity of being in a unique place and push yourself to capture something you can truly be proud of!

Some ideas I thought of as I was lying in bed each night of my trip…ha ha, yes that’s what I do! :)

• a Lensbaby image of some foliage
• a plate of food or a traditional dish
• a close up detail shot that tells a story
• a local person/resident going about their day
• a macro of something with texture
• a shot that shows perspective…ie. a good foreground AND background.

5. Challenge yourself to experiment with exposure, creating two different looks of the same shot. For example, take one shot exposing for shadows and one exposing for highlights. Cathedrals and stained glass windows are the perfect place to play around with exposure.

6. Don’t forget to enjoy the moment! (My husband wanted me to write this one…wink) Remember you are on vacation with other people who are not photographers who want to spend quality time with you! It’s easy to get lost in photography, especially in a beautiful place with incredible photo opps. But don’t leave your loved ones wondering if you are on vacation with your camera or them! I realized after about the third day in Spain my husband was competing with my camera for attention.

We rented scooters the last day and had a blast with our friends. I made it a goal to focus on the moment, not photography. As artists I’m sure you will agree there’s a delicate balance there. This last photo is not technically correct, but it’s one of my favorites because it shows how much fun we were having. These are our good friends Katie & Brady. We felt like kids again. Such a wonderful way to end our trip!