While we don’t live our day-to-day lives through the lens of a camera, our holidays can easily become dominated by a never-ending search for the perfect travel photos or unique experience. There are new places to visit, sights to see, people to engage with and new flavors to taste; all of which we have an increasing desire to photograph and share. There is often the rush to get to the next place, take a photo then rush off to another site. We travel so quickly from place to place without truly experiencing the places we visit. So how can you slow it down a little, see all the things you want to see and turn your travel photos into travel memories. These four simple tips will make your travel photos memorable and your travels rewarding.

Tip 1. Know what’s in your travel photos

We’ve all seen groups of people taking photos of something, stopped, joined them, taken a photo then wondered what it was that we’ve just captured. This photo is unlikely to bring back memories when you scroll through your photos later. When you’re taking a photo, know what it is you’re photographing. Ask someone why everyone is there. It could be a famous historical something or it could just be something that someone took a photo of and everyone else copied.

Not everything you take a photo of will be so easy to identify. Learn what you are taking a photo of to help jog your memory.

Strike up a conversation, learn about it and discover its importance. If it wasn’t actually something, you’ll have a laugh and maybe even take a photo of everyone taking a photo. If it was, you will have learnt why you bothered to photograph it.

Tip 2. Take your time

We’re all in a hurry, but if you’re on a holiday take the time to take a good photo. You don’t need to be professional, but fast photos out of the bus window never turn out that great or rekindle any memory other than ‘we drove past something that I wanted to learn more about’. So stop, look at the light, shadows, foreground, people moving around and what you are actually taking a photo of.

While you’re looking for all these things you’re actually taking in the surrounds of the shot as well. The quick snap and go photo rarely lets you notice the locals buying food from a market next door or the inviting smells coming from a nearby café. The stuff around the great photo might be just as exciting and interesting as the photo itself. This brings us to the next tip.

Tip 3. Turn around

The Sacré-Cœur Basilica in Paris isn’t the only place in the world where you want a photo of the attraction and what’s behind you. You’ll often hear people say things like “we found this great place just around the corner from…” and hear them talk at length about that little place and barely mention the attraction that brought them there. So turn around, look around you and explore the areas near these photo opportunities. You’ll find you remember the destination much more once you start finding these out of the way places that no-one seems to visit.

It’s not just attractions like the Sacré-Cœur in Paris that you want to remember, so turn around and explore.

Tip 4. Forget about the perfect travel photo

Do you find you always find what you’re looking for the moment you stopped looking for it? The same applies when travelling. Spending all day looking for hidden secrets or that great photo often leads to disappointment. Allow yourself time to relax, explore and stumble across things naturally. Go to the main attractions, they’re generally popular for good reason but also allow yourself time to wander somewhat aimlessly.

Talk to people; ask them where they’ve been. Talk to locals; ask them where they go. Once you stop looking for that perfect photo, that perfect memory, you’ll find you stumble upon them and create photos and more importantly memories that last much longer.

This could be a great photo, but finding out why the Vancouver Fire Brigade put on this show is much more memorable.

Using these four simple steps you can go from taking thousands of photos of anything in front of you to exploring and finding memories that will last much longer.

For more travel tips and advice try our blog at YourTrip Tours – Our tours (and advice) is all about you and making your holidays more memorable.