The lifestyle of road trips, beautiful sights and rural towns is intriguing to many content creators. (How could it not be?!) Being an explorer or ex-pat with landscape and
travel photography to show for it sounds like a dream.
Before you opt in for this experience, short-term or long-term, be sure to brush up on some skills so you’re prepared for anything. Whether it’s VanLife or backpacking through foreign lands for the summer, document your travels thoughtfully and sustainably with these tips.
What content can you create while travelling?
Creating photography and videography pieces for sharing can be anything from tourist attractions, hikes, photojournalism, climate change issues, street photography, and portraiture of strangers. Simply documenting your time as a traveller is highly popular content on platforms like TikTok and YouTube. Think outside of the box and strategically about how to optimise your time and content. Life’s an adventure on the road! Challenge yourself and create something totally new.
1. Be ready for any weather
On the road, anything goes. Weather reports aren’t as accurate months out, so you might just get stuck in a storm. Be prepared for inclement weather and any odd, unexpected situations. Get comfortable with the unknown before you embark. Keep covered and consider investing in waterproof gear, bags and backup sports cameras.
2. Pack light
When you’re traveling and hiking, you can expect a lot of walking on foot, exploring and waiting. Make sure your gear doesn’t slow you down. Optimise your kit bag by replacing bulky lenses with lightweight options. Also, trim down the kit you probably won’t use often. If you have multiples of a certain focal length, whether zoom or prime, compare them to see which you’d prefer. A multipurpose zoom lens and a few super special primes will get you in good shape.
3. Respect different customs and cultures
We are all different, which makes people and places beautiful. As a tourist, it is your responsibility to be aware of the social and political states of the places you visit. Practice self-awareness and courteous communication in new places. Respect the land like it’s your backyard and practice cleanliness everywhere.
4. Get a range of frames
Travelling for content is a big undertaking—make sure you get variations of the amazing spectacles you see while on the road. Don’t just get close-ups and typical wide shots. Grab a few variable shots of every interesting angle and crop you can just in case.
5. Master settings straight-out-of-the-camera
Streamline your photo editing process by making all your photos similar in exposure straight out of the camera. Capture details with precision. The goal is to always take fewer photos better, and improving sometimes means knowing your camera and its settings best, understanding light and shadow and honing in on what makes a final product your favourite..