Travel Photography Tips for Richer, More Meaningful Photos

Travel photography is more than packing your camera and booking flights. How you plan your trip and what you focus on once you arrive can significantly affect the quality of your images.

Coming to you from Sean Dalton, this practical video shares essential lessons Dalton has learned over a decade of travel photography. One standout tip he emphasizes is bringing less gear. He discovered the hard way that lugging heavy equipment around airports and streets drained energy and distracted from actually capturing the moment. By narrowing your kit to just a versatile zoom and maybe one prime lens, you save yourself from unnecessary hassle. Sure, there’s always that one shot you might miss because the perfect lens is back at the hotel—but Dalton argues convincingly that lighter gear leads to more creativity and ultimately better photos overall. He also provides helpful gear tips, recommending air tags for tracking luggage and using step-up rings to reduce the number of filters you need to pack.

Dalton also suggests connecting with local photographers. Reaching out via social media platforms like Instagram before your trip can lead you to hidden spots tourists rarely see. More than just location tips, local photographers can offer valuable cultural insights and fresh perspectives on photography. Shooting alongside someone familiar with the area lets you see how they approach the same scene differently, providing an opportunity to learn something new. This kind of collaboration makes your trip more meaningful and your images richer.

A key part of Dalton’s advice involves balancing planning and spontaneity. While popular photography spots can be visually appealing, they’re often overly photographed, resulting in the same predictable images. Dalton recommends using these popular spots as a starting point rather than an endpoint. Once you’re there, move beyond the obvious shots. Take the extra time to explore nearby areas and discover unique compositions others overlook. He shares an example from Vermont, where venturing just slightly beyond the iconic viewpoint allowed him to capture images that felt new and fresh, despite the area’s popularity.

Dalton stresses shooting in sets rather than focusing on a single perfect image. By consciously photographing two wide, two mid-range, and two close-up shots, you build a collection that tells a deeper story. This strategy encourages you to notice small details—the texture of a wall, a unique burst of color, or the way light moves through an alleyway—elements often missed if you chase only big, iconic scenes. Sets convey richer narratives and give your photography more depth. That’s just the start, so check out the video above for the full rundown from Dalton.