This is the most important travel photography tip you’ll hear today

Travel photography is often as much about the journey as about the photos themselves. But when you just can’t seem to get the shot, it can get frustrating. In his recent video, Brendan van Son shares an important lesson: don’t judge your photos in the field. He takes you on an adventure to Sisimiut, Greenland, demonstrating how to shift your mindset and make your photography journey more enjoyable and less stressful.

As Brendan explores Sisimiut, he recalls a Hemingway that I absolutely loved: “Write drunk, edit sober.” Though Ernest Hemingway said it about writing, Brendan finds it applies perfectly to photography. Mind you, it’s not about literally getting drunk, I don’t promote that. It’s rather about being “drunk” with the beauty around you and the moment you’re experiencing right now.

From his experience, judging your images while you’re still surrounded by the experience often leads to stress or misplaced disappointment. While in Greenland, Brendan admits to moments of self-doubt. He stresses over harsh light, cloudless skies, and photos that feel “lazy” or “flat.

However, when he looks back at his photos later, Brendan sees the art within them. Many of the photos he didn’t like reveal their beauty—subtle colors, quiet reflections, and compositions that felt uninspired in the moment but shone later.

This reflective approach frees you from the pressure of creating masterpieces on demand. As Brendan says, “Photography is about being in the moment, not about worrying if the photo is great or what others will think.” For him, the magic lies in the process: walking along the rugged coastline, scouting waterfalls, and even laughing at the quirks of a handmade suspension bridge. The photos are a bonus, but the memories of making them are what truly endure. And I couldn’t agree more!

Brendan’s takeaway is simple yet profound: photography isn’t about always producing gallery-worthy images. It’s about the joy of capturing moments, the stories behind the lens, and the reflections that come afterward.

In his words: “I freaking love photography. I love it so much. But my love for it has always come down to the making of the photo rather than the photo itself. Art is in the experience—everything else is a bonus.”

So next time you’re out shooting, take Brendan’s advice. Embrace the experience. Let go of the pressure to be brilliant in the moment, and enjoy the journey instead, both literally and figuratively. And when you get home, look back with fresh eyes—you might just find that you’ve created something beautiful after all.

[The Most Important Photography Tip: You (Don’t) Suck | Brendan van Son]