Grab your carry on, it’s time to take off! Traveling has always been one of my favorite hobbies. Warmer weather, snowy ski slopes or a poolside paradise are my love language. One of the trickiest parts of my career with social media is finding the perfect balance of leisure and capturing picture-perfect photos while on-the-go. Today I’m talking through a few tips on how to make the most of your travels and capturing content while you’re on vacay!
KNOW THE PURPOSE OF YOUR TRIP
If my objective is to showcase where we’re traveling, going with my blogger pals makes it seamless. We go in with the same goals – putting together gorgeous content. Of course we enjoy our trips, but don’t be fooled – it’s a lot of work. The dreamy beachside photos are one of 100 nearly identical options that won’t work because of minute details. Hair blowing out of place, kids running through the background, all of those fun distractions. It sounds small and silly, but my job is to showcase the most beautiful aspects of the trip.
When traveling with my husband or family, I don’t aim to get tons of curated content. Mario is actually great behind the lens, but could you imagine taming our two toddlers and trying to get “the perfect angle” while exploring a new city? Family trips don’t mean I unplug, but it’s not centered around content. I do my best to be present and collect candid content along the way. Sometimes these come together as my favorite roundups because they’re less planned and very in the moment.
UTILIZE ALL SOCIAL MEDIA OFFERS
Social media is such a killer resource when it comes to planning trips these days. Hashtags and location check in’s have become a massive resource when planning out spots to grab planned out content. I’ve found some of my favorite spots thanks to geotags and hashtags! You can also utilize socials to find more in-depth blog or vlog posts with travel guides. I have saved blog posts from other bloggers and utilize them for mapping out everything from meals to murals!
SCHEDULE TIME ON A SET DAY
Batch content is your bff. “Batching” refers to knocking out your top outfits, locations and concepts in a set timeframe. I use this method when creating content at home and have found it to be essential when traveling. I gather content the entire trip, but putting a set amount of time on the calendar dedicated solely to content creating ensures I don’t miss a “must do” session if our schedule or the weather changes. Plan as geographically smart as possible, meaning go from one spot to the next closest until you knock out your list. Have outfits pre-planned and lined up for each location, coordinating with your travel bff if you’re taking photos together. Oh, and don’t be shy about changing in the car or a nearby restroom!
KNOW YOUR VISION
Alright, I’m going to be a Negative Nancy for a second: There’s nothing more annoying to the person behind the camera than you walking up to the location and saying “well, what should I do?” Come on sis, you’re wasting time! A few starters: Are you creating content for a campaign? Is it to note this location in a travel guide? Did you find a dive spot that deserves some praise? Keep those questions in mind and communicate your vision so you’re able to knock out content and move to the next location. While visions can change, you need to have something in mind prior to arriving.
DON’T BE BASHFUL
I’ve noted this before and I’ll say it in most every blog post – don’t worry about onlookers. If I cared each time someone gave me a funny look for posing in public, I wouldn’t have a career. Think how sad you’ll be if you skip out on the dream photo opportunity because you were worried what someone else was thinking. (This philosophy kinda works for all aspects of life, but that’s a conversation for another time!) Who knows when you’ll be back? You’ll regret 100% of the photos you don’t take. Knock it out and give your onlookers a “hey there!” wave while you’re at it!
Last but not least – you won’t ever see it all. There will always be spots you don’t get to visit, photos that don’t work out as planned or weather issues throwing off your schedule. That’s okay. Celebrate the quality content you’re able to gather and make the most of your vacay!
Content creators, what tips am I overlooking? How do you nail the shot while on vacation? Let us know below!
