For those who are passionate about photography and travel, becoming a travel photographer could be the ideal career path. However, getting started with photography as a traveller often raises many doubts and fears.

The cost of equipment, travel, and competition in the industry may appear intimidating at first, but don’t let that hold you back. This article will guide you through ten simple steps that are sure to kickstart your career. Keep reading to learn how to overcome obstacles and turn your passion for photography and travel into a profession.

Who is a Travel Photographer and What Exactly Do They Do?

A travel photographer is a professional who specialises in capturing images that showcase different geographic locations, cultures, and customs. Their task is to transport viewers to places through the power of their lens.

A travel photographer’s job often involves travelling locally or to far-off places. All in order to take shots for travel magazines, websites, tourism boards, photography competitions, or various creative projects.

Travel Photography Types

Travel photography is one of the many types of photography covered in this Depositphotos blog article. Here, we’ll list a few popular types of travel photography to give you an idea of the diverse subjects and styles within this genre:

• Astrophotography;
• Landscape photography;
• Wildlife photography;
• Architecture photography;
• Portraiture photography;
• Food photography;
• Street photography;
• Night photography;
• Event photography;
• Underwater photography.

10 Top Tips for Becoming a Travel Photographer

1. Set Manageable Professional Goals

Becoming a travel photographer requires not only dedication but also a clear vision of what you want to achieve. Ask yourself why you’ve chosen a travel photographer career, what your ultimate goal is, and what steps you plan to take to achieve it. However, make sure your goals are manageable by breaking them into smaller, more achievable tasks. Setting manageable professional goals will help you stay motivated throughout your journey.

2. Master Your Photography Skills

To be on the list of the world’s best travel photographers, one must learn about travel image quality standards, the settings needed to achieve them, composition, and lighting techniques for different environments and conditions.

From photography terminology to understanding camera settings, it’s important to continuously educate yourself. Along with learning, continuous practice will help you master travel photography and earn a living selling photos.

3. Get the Right Equipment for Photography Travels

In order to make money selling photos from your travel adventures, it’s also essential to invest in the right equipment. Professional travel photography requires high-quality cameras, a variety of lenses for different shooting situations, a sturdy tripod for stability, rain covers, and portable lighting equipment for capturing pictures in any lighting situation.

4. Learn to Tell Stories Through Your Images

Visual storytelling is an essential component of any kind of photography. With this skill, you’ll be able to take pictures that are not only visually appealing but also communicate emotions and create a connection with viewers.

For starters, analyse the works of renowned travel photographers. See how professionals like Steve McCurry or Alexander Ladanivskyy capture the essence of a place or moment through their images. Once you see a pattern in their work, learn to incorporate similar techniques into your own photography.

5. Find your Niche in Traveller Photography

Travel photography offers many diverse subjects and styles to capture. It is okay to try them early in your career. However, if you want to advance in this field, you must find a niche. Developing a niche can help you focus on your business goals, deepen your expertise, and establish yourself as a professional in the industry.

6. Understand the Business Side

As with any profitable endeavour, you should learn the basics of running a photography business. Most importantly, learn how to price your work, negotiate contracts, and protect your intellectual property rights. This will keep you from being taken advantage of and ensure that you are properly compensated for your skills and effort.

7. Build a Strong Portfolio

If your goal is to build a personal brand and market yourself as a professional, a strong portfolio is a must. Once businesses recognise your potential, they will start asking for a portfolio to make an informed decision about your services.

Before creating a portfolio, choose the right format for it. It could be in the form of a website, an online page, or a PDF presentation. Then select the best travel photography projects and organise them from newest to oldest. Make sure your portfolio reflects your photography style and the niche you specialize in.

8. Establish Online Presence

A personal website, travel blog, and social media can help promote one’s work. That’s why it’s important to develop an online presence to attract customers. It’s equally important to provide up-to-date contact information. However, avoid the common mistake of neglecting to regularly update and maintain your online platforms. From time to time, it’s worth posting your work, as well as responding to comments and messages.

9. Find Clients

Travel photographers can find clients in many ways, from selling images on stock content platforms to entering photo competitions and contacting local travel businesses. If you’re just starting out, don’t be afraid to reach out to various hotels, tour operators, or travel magazines to offer your services.

10. Plan your Travels Strategically

No matter how you travel, locally or internationally, it’s best to research travel destinations. In the end, it will save you tons of time, money, and stress. When travelling abroad, carefully research travel permits, local customs, the best spots for travel photography, and whether they are open to tourists.

Final Thoughts

Traveller photography opens up exciting opportunities to explore new cultures, meet fascinating people, and capture breathtaking pictures. So, if you dream of becoming a professional in this field, pursue your dreams. Go the extra mile, take risks, and don’t stop after a few failures.