iPhone Hacks for Less Boring Travel Photos
Guest Blog Written By: Heather Kincaid
I think we can all think back to a time we went on a trip, had the best time doing all the things just to come home and all we have to show for it is a handful of selfies (and half of them probably aren’t really that great).
As a photographer I’ve picked up a few hacks for taking less boring travel photos of you and whoever you’re traveling with. Here are a few of my favorite tips (these are the same ones I give Amber because she asks every trip)!
ALWAYS HAVE YOUR CAMERA SET TO LIVE MODE
This is one of my tried and true hacks. Having the live mode on in your camera settings can save a photo. Hit edit and use that little slider and select the exact moment you want from any image!
Pro tip: if you’re in low battery mode, your phone might automatically switch live mode off. If you go below 20% while you’re out, make sure you turn live mode back on in your camera settings before the photo is taken!
USE A TRAVEL TRIPOD WITH A BLUETOOTH REMOTE
There are so many good travel tripod options! Some of them even double as a selfie stick (which can be super fun for landscape photos shot with the wide angle mode!). This is one of my favorite ones. It’s lightweight for travel and hardly takes up any space when set up. The bluetooth remote clicks into the base for easy storage and has a very long battery life.
Pro tip: when setting up your tripod, have someone stand in place where you want to take the photo (if you can!) to understand what the composition of your final image will be and adjust your tripod height and angle before taking the photo. This will keep you from running back and forth from the photo spot to make sure you “got it”.
WHEN IN DOUBT, TAKE A VIDEO
If you find yourself in a situation where you want an image, but don’t have a tripod, can’t find the courage to ask someone and have to use the self timer function on your phone, take a video instead!! The self timer is super frustrating and really annoying to deal with if you’ve got more than one person in the photo (and just in general). Record a video instead, move around and make different facial expressions and then go through and screenshot your favorite moments to save as photos!
Pro tip: use the back facing camera and tap the top right corner of your camera settings on your iphone to shoot in 4k 60 for highest quality! If you want to know more about optimizing the camera settings and features on the newest iphone, check this article out!
DON’T LOOK AT THE CAMERA
Okay so maybe take a couple “say cheese” photos to show your mom. But otherwise, try looking literally anywhere but straight into the camera. If you’re with people, make them laugh and look at each other! If you’re by yourself, look off in every direction possible (even up!) and choose the photo you like the best.
Pro tip: cell phone cameras capture golden hour (aka right before sunset!) light in a really beautiful way. If you’re taking pictures during the sunset hour, try looking directly into the sunshine instead of into the camera!
DO A LIGHT SPIN
A lot of what makes a photo less boring comes from the lighting. To find the proper lighting, turn your phone into selfie mode and with the camera facing you, spin in a slow circle. Take note of how the light changes and where it’s most flattering! Set up your photo to be taken in that light instead of just guessing where the light is.
Pro tip: some of the best lighting for cell phone cameras will be what’s called direct light. This can be harsh and cause you to squint if you’re taking photos during the middle of the day. Try to adjust to take photos farther away during those hours where the sun is blinding you so that no one can see your squint or wear sunglasses!
Did you find these tips helpful? Let us know! Tag us in all your less boring travel photos so we can see!
Written By Heather Kincaid
MEET MY GUEST.
Meet my bestie Heather. We met each other in college and have been attached at the hip ever since.
She’s a mom of two boys who have stolen my heart! And she’s an AMAZING photographer (shoutout @kincaidphotoco). She has taken a lot of my promotional pics and has given me (and now you) some of the best photo taking tips that are a direct result of some of the ones you see on here.
Before she started a family, her and her husband did the Italian honeymoon 10 years ago BEFORE it became the thing to do. Trendsetter, am I right?
Now, being a military family, they have the privilege to travel all over and they (all earth signs + 1 water sign baby) are lovers of the outdoors. So stay tuned on future blogs where she will also give us some great travel tips for traveling with kids and where they go on their outdoor adventures.
But if anything, you should really check out her photography and give her a follow - it’s incredible.
