We all know the different types of trip planners, the ones that plan every minute, the ones that only have a plane ticket (and that’s the extent of their planning) or even the ones that seem to have everything planned but everything seems to go wrong.
Planning a detailed trip ahead of time may seem extremely important for some and not as important for others but if you are a photographer having a detailed plan is a must.
We’ve created a list of different ways you can make your photography trip a smooth sailing experience!
Here are our top 5 tips to plan the perfect photography trip
1. Research Your Desired Location
We all know how fun it can be to bring our camera along with no exact destination except what we’ll find along the way. Even though this is a great thing to do for a couple of days, it is important to research places so you can maximize your time during your trip. One of the main things to have a successful photography trip is to research the locations you want to hit while keeping in mind some key points:
How do I get there?
Make sure you have budgeted enough time to get there - will it be rush hour traffic? If you don’t want to miss sunset, plan ahead! Are you assuming you can catch an Uber? This isn’t always an option… plan your route and transportation ahead of time.
Do I want to be there at a specific time of day?
Maybe your location is better at sunrise than sunset - what direction is it facing? Is there a time of day that will be less busy? Planning around the light can make a big difference in your photoshoot.
Are there any off-road trails?
Ensure you have an appropriate vehicle, a spare tire, warm clothes and water and snacks if you’re going off-road. Also, sometimes off-road trails require a permit - you will want to check this ahead of time and purchase the permit if required.
Tell someone where you’re going in case you run into trouble and you lose service. Having a printed or downloaded map is important if you are in a spotty service area or remote area.
Some of the best tools to research locations are apps that are already on your phone:
Instagram
Pinterest
Google Maps
All these apps combined help you find the place you want to shoot, how to get there, the locations at different hours of the day and even if there are some available off-road trails.
2. Make A Custom Google Maps
As we’ve listed above, Google Maps is an amazing tool for any photographer’s trip. It allows you to pin multiple locations you want to visit/shoot before even leaving your home.
You can create a custom Google Map that allows you to find the locations you have pinned easily, and add names/descriptions to these places that will remind you what you wanted to shoot there. An example: if you’ve scouted out a perfect location that deserves a sunset shoot, you can write this in the name description.
How to set up a custom Google Maps:
In the option, menu click on “Your places”
In the “Your Places” menu that appears on the left, click the “Maps” tab.
At the bottom of the menu, select the “Create Map” button.”
In the “Edit map title and description” menu, add a name and description for your map and then click “Save” to save it.
Once you’ve created the map, a default layer is created. To add more layers click “Add layers”
For example, the layers can be days with “Marked pins” for the day.
Creating your own Google Map layer is not only convenient to find and pin the perfect shoot spots, but it’s also extremely convenient if you are road tripping as it allows you to create a map specific for gas stations, supermarkets, hotels and anything necessary on the road.
3. Look for Inspiration
Inspiration and creativity are at the center of any photographer’s mind, where can this inspiration be found?
Some of the ways to find inspiration are by:
Looking at blogs by other travelers who have gone to the same destination.
Saving any photo of a shot location that you find creative/inspiring.
Looking up itineraries from photo tours previously offered in the area.
Spending a lot of time on apps like Instagram and Pinterest that allow you to see different compositions and styles.
4. Pack Appropriate Gear
Gear is a very important part of the before-trip madness especially if you are limited on the amount that you can bring with you. In other words, having enough equipment to get the shots you aspire to get without breaking your back.
You will want to choose lenses based on the types of shots you plan to take and the type of trip you are having. For example, if you are doing a trip centralized around hiking you will want to travel with a lot less gear than if you were doing a trip around cities where you can leave things in your accommodation for weight purposes.
Regardless of which gear you choose to take, challenge yourself with it and try not to mourn the one you had to leave behind!
5. Allow Flexibility
We know how important planning is but allowing room for flexibility is still important. When photography is a priority, it’s usually best to slow down, visit fewer places but allow enough time to do each place justice. This will allow you to take a couple of days with no set plans except your camera and the wonders of the unknown!
Hope this helps you on your next adventures roaming our beautiful earth! There's much more on Creator Circuit, where you can get insights into travel photography, photography techniques, and other ideas to plan your perfect trip.
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