Why Traveling is Important For Your Photography

Visiting Charleston, SC

(More photos below) I recently spent a weekend in Charleston, South Carolina catching up with an old friend and his family. My friend Steve did such a great job of showing me around. I’ve known Steve since we were 13 years old. He’s one of those friends that really make sure you have a great time if you visit. Steve had lots of plans for us and even loaned me his car while he was at work. You’ll see him in some of these photos I’ve shared.

I had a very good time in Charleston. I ate at about 5 different establishments and each time I was served some excellent food. My dishes included salmon croquettes, fish & chips and a burger that was topped with an egg and bacon jam. Found a local authentic Mexican taco stand as well.

We started the trip off with a bang. As soon as Steve picked me up from the airport he took me to do my 2 most favorite things: go to the beach and take photos. My creative energy was running on high and I could hardly put my camera down while at the beach. The rest of the trip included lots of photos and lots of laughs and drinks with friends.

Check out my Travel Portfolio to see more of my travel photos.

Check out other blogs including one from Cuba and Colorado.

Prints available upon request.

Improve your photography by traveling more

Part of my philosophy is that a photographer should travel to a new city several times a year with the main purpose of capturing portfolio worthy photos. That means you must dedicate specific hours of your trip for actual photo taking. Make a plan. Google is your friend. Check the weather. Wait till golden hour for that perfect shot whenever possible.

I can only really speak for myself but I think traveling has given my photography a huge push. I don’t get the same inspiration in my own city even though it’s one of the biggest cities in the world. My eyes open up in new cities and I see so much. Sometimes I can hardly put my camera down.

Travel photography has helped my compositions, my camera work, my speed and more. If you want to be a great photographer you need extreme creative stimulation. It reminds me of going to cross country camp when I was 16. You might wonder ‘what’s the point of traveling 2 hours upstate just to run 8-10 miles a day?’ It’s the creative stimulation, it’s the motivation, it’s the spontaneity, it’s not knowing what’s going to happen next, it’s the experience. We all need that to inspire us.

Keep it simple

Travel photography does not mean you have to wake up before the sun rises and travel to some remote photography location with big hiking shoes and a giant backpack. For me, that stuff is overrated. Many of my portfolio images were captured without hardly deviating from a more casual itinerary. I guess I think the experience is just as important as the photo. And for some, waking up at the crack of dawn is part of the experience. But I prefer a more casual approach to my photos. My approach includes visiting local tourist sites or photo spots but also local restaurants and eateries. And I often go to the local art museum. Don’t beat yourself up because you didn’t go during the perfect time of year. Colorado is best photographed in the fall. But do you think it’s gonna slow me down if I go in the dead of winter? No, it wont. And I have the pictures to prove it. Yes, I plan my trips and consider some very popular photo spots. But you can capture just as much life in a busy street as you can in a secluded mountain top.