5 tips on how to take amazing travel destination photos

Tip one: Research

Once you have decided when and where is your next desired travel destination

Hand holding a compass with Australia on a globe

start your research by searching the stock agency’s collection that you associate with to see what they have. Find out what types of images and locations are popular at your desired travel destination and where are the content gaps in your agency's collection.

Tip two: Preparation

Break your travel destination itinerary

New Zealand Emergency mobile phone alert test

down by day, location, and sites you plan to visit. Create a list of specific scene that you want to capture at each location. Include a selected photo thumbnails and sketch in a carry on visual diary.

Try to plan on visiting some locations in different times of the day when the light is the most flattering for that location according to the local sun path.

Tip three: Shoot Wide, Medium and Close-Up

Shoot wide, medium, and close-up photos of your destination. Wide or long shots are great establishing shots.

Panoramic landscape view of Muri lagoon at sunrise in Rarotonga

Avoid shooting logos or modern artwork which requires a property release signed by the creator of the piece of art and if your photos including recognizable people ask them to sign a model releases. Also zoom in and focus with macro lens on little details and interesting textures, such as food or architectural elements.

Tip five: Shoot different and unusual angles

Get creative and take the time to experiment, walk around and get a feel for your subject place. Photography clients are always interested to see a

Blurry taxi new york

Famous landmarks or location photographed in a new way.

Tip six:Tell a Story

Do not just take random photographs of a location, think about the people and the place that you see unfolding before you and try to pass the feeling of them through your images and to your potential clients.

On Location Travel Photographer

Photos with concepts and ideas are much more compelling than those that don’t and they are the one that will sell, cover your trip expenses and gives you a steady income for years to come.

2018 © Rafael Ben-Ari Photojournalist and Travel Photographer http://www.rafaelben-ari.com/

Photo credits: Rafael Ben Ari.
Rafael Ben Ari
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  • Lucidwaters
  • Perth, Australia
Rafael Ben-Ari is an Israeli-born international independent content creator master photographer and filmmaker, specialize in photojournalism and travel photography, known for his war and combat zone photos and on location travel photography from around the world. In 2019 he was named one of the top 10 Best Stock Photographers in the world by Pouted Magazine.

Rafael's photography work is well recognized and his images appears in a large number of publications, magazines and websites on a daily basis all over the world. Among them: Time Magazine, The National Geographic, Travel + Leisure, Lonely Planet, The New York Times, NBC News, The Washington Post, Rolling Stone, Newsweek, The Guardian ,The Telegraph, Rough Guides, DK Eyewitness Travel Guides & Travel Books, Encyclopedia Britannica. Rafael Ben-Ari has exhibited his photography work in Israel, Australia, New Zealand, France, Mexico and Italy.

Awards
2016 Awarded 3rd Place for Nikon Photo Day New Zealandr
2014 1st place Crowd vote and 2nd place Expert’s choice in "Crowds" photo contest by Nikon N-Photo magazine and Photocrowd
2007 Photo published in Doubletruck Magazine "World's Best News Pictures"
2006 Excellent Artist in photography Grant from the Ministry of Education and Culture of Israel Government
Exhibitions
2011 "Unexpected Israel" - Milan, Italy
2010 "Tel Aviv: The City that Emerged from the Dunes" - Mexican Senate Headquarters, Mexico City
2008 "During the 60 years of Israel

Education
2003 - Rescue diving and underwater photography from Padi Bay of Islands New Zealand
1999 - Studies Bachelor of fine arts (B.F.A) in Bezalel Academy of Arts and Design - Jerusalem
1995 - Professional photography and Photojournalism in New York Institute of Photography - New York USA

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