Scott Kelby shared a rare moment of honesty that you don’t usually hear from professional photographers. 

“Do you know how you can take better pictures? Go somewhere interesting!” he joked during a presentation at PhotoPlus Expo. “Do you see this photo?” he said of a spectacular sunset image. “I just showed up and pressed the button.”

Of course, Scott is simplifying his role quite a bit. He’s right that travel photography is a great way to create photographs, but it requires more than showing up and pushing a button. 

Follow these 5 Ps for great travel photographs and travel photography experiences.

Planning

• Choose somewhere interesting


• Research to see what other photographers have created


• Check the light


• Look up local laws


• Create shot lists


• Decide pack light vs take everything


• Packing list


• Practice

Producing (or shooting)

• Work your shot list


• Turn around at locations


• Use EADS for complete coverage


• Use a six-shooter approach


• Situational awareness and safety

People relations

• Make friends


• Approach person to person before photographer to subject


• More important to click with people before you click the shutter

Post-production

• Edit down ruthlessly


• Group thematically & tell stories


• Crop & experiment. It doesn’t have to look like you shot it.

Presentation

• Show and share your work


• Make books or prints


• Share your best on blog & social