We have partnered with Olympus® to bring you this post. All information and opinions are mine and I’m happy to share with you!
As a traveler you see and experience amazing things, people, and places. I love to dip my toes in the sands of beaches, play in waves, and sip on an exotic drink. You’ll also find me talking with locals to find hidden treasures. Although, the beach is my favorite, I’m a lover of adventure and will be the first in line to climb a mountain, go dog-sledding, or try something out of my comfort zone. It’s important we capture all these moments to share. 
I usually anticipate to take between 200 and 500 pictures. I plan out what my topics will be and concentrate on making sure my photos represent them. It can get overwhelming and time consuming when going through all your photos. I love to share my journeys with friends and family when they visit but I also don’t want to bore them with 20 shots of what I had for dinner. I also want my readers to see the best of the best. I want them to really see and feel where I’ve been and give them a reason to want to go there too.
I start off with thinking about the different articles I can write. I also take photos that I’d like for my own personal albums at home to share with family and friends.
- Food – Everyone loves food and when on vacation you love to try different places. Food is naturally colorful and doesn’t need added props.
- Locals – To truly capture the spirit of my destination, I like to include locals. To be respectful, I talk with these people first and ask permission to take the photo. I like to show them the photo which is easily done with a SLR. Talking with the people before and after adds more to the story around that photo
- What To Do- Whether it’s a wine tasting in Italy, lobstering in Maine, or fly-boarding in the Keys, a photo of the adventure in action can give the reader the desire to try it.
- Inspiration – Scenery and nature can set a mood. I love to show the natural beauty in the landscape of the area. Sunrise and the hour after and sunset and an hour before is usually the best lighting for landscape pictures. Don’t let this stop you because the sun my be in the perfect spot of hat you’re setting up at that moment. You may also capture surprises.
I was totally surprised when I got back to the hotel and was going through my pictures. A I was shooting this bird as it was catching a fish, it started walking out of the frame and I kept snapping. While viewing the photos I saw dead center, fins of a shark! I’m so happy I was busy taking photos from the shore! 
You don’t have to be a professional to get beautiful shots. The Olympus® OM-D E-M5 Mark II has features that will make any novice take beautiful photos that you can add to your wall gallery! My tip: Read about the camera and it’s features, practice at home before you go on vacation.
Let us help you with your first destination! “Olympus Takes You There” is giving you a free domestic U.S. flight offer with purchase of the E-M5 Mark II digital SLR.
**rules and entry details: www.FlyWithEM5.com
Where would YOU go if you had a free ticket anywhere in the U.S.?
I’ll be heading to Long Beach, California. You’ll find me capturing the perfect wave, not with my board but with my Olympus® OM-D E-M5 Mark II digital SLR!!!
Great tips! I always have a difficult time trying to figure out my pictures. I’ve never had an eye for the really dramatic like some do.
I love your pictures- they always make me want to go where you were!
This is a great resource for anyone looking to up their photography game. It can be extremely difficult to get good pictures no matter what you’re doing.
Photography was never a strong subject for me, but if I’m at least organized and willing to keep learning, I’ll get there
These are great tips for planning vacation photos. I like to take photos of just about everything so I can remember it!
My personal albums do have everything lol
These are all really great tips! There are so many things happening when you’re on vacation that it can be hard to capture it all.
Great pictures! I have gotten lazy the last few trips and left my dslr at home and just stuck to my iPhone. One of these trips I’ll get going with the digital again.
I think I would pick Hawaii! That has always been a dream of mine!
I think nature and landscape photography is always my favorite. I’m not the greatest at it but I love it!
That is such a cool shark fin shot. I would go to Hawaii if I had a free ticket. I could get so many lovely snaps there, I am sure!
I love all your tips here! Sometimes I don’t plan ahead about what kind photos to take but I guess having a list will make everything better and easier!
Taking pictures of the locals is something I need to do more of. You get a great feel for the destination through the experiences of those who live there, and I want to capture more of that.
I never thought about planning what photos to take. I like to just take pictures of what moves me.
We leave on vacation tomorrow. I love that I found this before I went!
Oh, this is very sweet and timely. I am planning on having a vacation in the province this November.
I never thought of this when I am on vacation. I will take notes of these tips, very informative.
These are great tips for travel! If I could go anywhere in the US… I’ve always wanted to visit Montana.
Hokey smokes you got fins!! Pretty sure I’d have freaked out if I’d have seen them during or after, lol