It is easy to get swept up into trying to take the perfect “insta-worthy” photos when we travel. However, the best photos for Instagram, might not be the best choices to make if you want photos to help you record your travel memories. In this article, I outline some of the best photos to take while on vacation with an eye toward telling the story of your travels.
I take tons of photos when I travel because I have long been a scrapbooker. I make either a paper or digital scrapbook after every trip. I do not spend much money on souvenirs because my photos and the albums I create after are my souvenirs.
I also wrote an entire dissertation on scrapbooking while working in a scrapbooking store and earning a PhD in sociology. I know a lot about scrapbooking and memory keeping in general.
Therefore, I have a lot of tips on what kinds of things to photograph with an eye toward memory keeping.
You should take all kinds of photos while you are on vacation — and not just the ones that look good on Instagram. You should also take photographs that will help spur your memories of your trip and help you tell your travel stories.
Photos to Take While on Vacation
1. Food
I take photographs of nearly everything that I eat while I am on vacation — especially when I travel internationally. Part of what I love about travel is experiencing a new culture, and one of the best ways to do this is through food.
2. Menus
However, even with a photo, I do not always remember what it was that I ate or where I ate it. That is why I also take photos of menus when I travel.
Menus sometimes have descriptions of the item. Other times, they list just the name of the item and the price. My delicious dish of vegetable couscous, for example, was 75 Moroccan Dirham (or US $7.43). A menu photo records the cost, too.
A menu will also have the name of the restaurant. If not, be sure to snap a photograph of the outside of the restaurant so that you remember the name. Having the name is helpful if you plan to return to your destination and want to eat there again or to recommend to fellow travelers.
3. Signs Showing That You are Someplace Different
Taking photos of things that show you are someplace different is fun. I love seeing how different cultures address the same basic issue.
For instance, I happened upon the mailboxes used by the postal services in Spain and Iceland.
The Spanish mailbox looks nothing like a U.S. mailbox. I only knew what it was because our tour guide pointed it out. However, the Icelandic mailbox is very similar to a U.S.-style mailbox.
4. Signs at Destinations
I like to take photos of signs at my destination because signs also show you are someplace different. However, signs also help remind me how we navigated our destination.
In international destinations, sign photos allow you to capture how languages are used. The stop sign in Morocco was in Arabic and English. I was surprised that it was not in Arabic and French (and maybe also English) because both Arabic and French are widely spoken here.
Directional signs like those in Europe are uncommon in the United States. In my photo, the signs are in a touristy area of Spain. However, in some nations, directional signs are used on major roadways, too.
5. Signs That Give Context
You should take photos of signs that give context while on vacation.
For example, I took photos of the temperature signs at the geyser in Iceland to help remind me of just how hot the water was. Though I did not touch the water, you could sense the heat.
Photos of signs can also help you jog your memory of what you were looking at. In my photo folder on my computer, I have a photo of a building next to a photo of a sign that tells me what the photo was.
An added bonus is that contextual sign photos may include the languages spoken or units of measurement used at your destination — more signs that show difference.
6. The Mundane
Take photographs of the mundane, everyday parts of life.
I usually end up in a grocery store when I travel and take photos of the things that are distinct compared to a U.S. grocery store. In the case of Spain, I had to get a photo of a display of all the ham along with the prices.
Other food photos, include the hotel breakfast. I try to reserve hotels that provide breakfast.
Even when most of the foods are familiar, how they are presented may be different. For example, European hotels will have whole loaves a bread available complete with sharp knives for guests to use.
The third photo is of the basketball court and motorcycle parking near the train station by our hotel in Barcelona. I took this photo for two reasons.
First, the basketball court was also for soccer or handball (or both) because it had a goal post under the basketball hoop. Second, this shot captured the motorcycles behind it, which were plentiful in Barcelona.
7. Hotel
Your accommodations are where you lived while on vacation. Sometimes I am in a room for a single night and other times, I’m there for a few days.
Having a photo of my hotel room helps remind me of what my stay was like. I often try to snap a photo of the hotel exterior, and any other places I spent time — like wherever breakfast was served.
8. Transportation
I take photos of all modes of transportation while on vacation. This includes photos of our rental cars, trains, subways, and so on. I might get a photo of the outside of the vehicle or of us on the inside.
You should also take photos of the experience. If you had dinner served on your flight, snap a photo of it. If you played games on a long train ride, be sure to take a picture.
Another favorite photo option, is photos from the windows of our transportation. I have photos of the wings of the airplane over water, land formations, and cities.
9. Maps at Destination
Taking a photo of any maps that are displayed at your destination serves a couple of purposes.
First, now you have a detailed map of your location to help you navigate.
Second, a map gives you a sense of where you are in a larger area.
Lastly, a map can help jog your memory of your destination — the things you did, saw, tasted, and more.
10. Distance
You can use photographs to help get a sense of distance. For example, the next photo shows the distance from our hotel to the mosque in Tangier. The call to prayer occurs five times per day (yes, including overnight). We could hear the call to prayer from our hotel room, but I slept through it at night.
My photo also shows how close our hotel was to the water. Though we did not take time to do a beach day, we were close to a beach.
11. Yourself
Take selfies. Selfies do not have to be perfect “insta” quality. Selfies can be for you and only you.
Be sure to also ask other people in your group (or strangers) to take your photograph. What matters is that you are in some of your photos.
12. Your Group
You can take group selfies or hand or camera to someone else to take a group photo. I am a fan of both. Be sure to recipricate any photos taken by others.
Screenshot Photos to Take While on Vacation
Screenshots are a newer addition to my memory keeping. There are several kinds of screenshots that I make a point of taking when I travel.
13. Google Maps
Take screenshots of your location using whatever map app you use. I take a screenshot of the map each time we stopped on our bus tours so I could get a better sense of how much ground we covered.
14. Weather
Everyday, open up your weather app and take a screenshot. I like to keep track of any weather contrasts between my destination and home.
15. Tickets
In the past, I would save paper tickets for flights, trains, admissions, and more. Today, the majority of tickets are digital only.
I do not screenshot every ticket, but I do save those that are particularly special. For instance, I took my daughter to see Inside Out 2 in Barcelona. This was her first time seeing a movie outside of the United States. Plus, this ticket shows how Spain uses assigned seats, which is different from where we live.
16. Clock
Whenever I travel to a new time zone, I like to occasionally screenshot the time difference between home and my destination.
17. Fitness Tracker
You should take screenshots of your fitness tracker app each day or save a copy of the weekly report emailed to you.
If your destination involves a lot of walking, you know you are walking a ton because you feel it. However, seeing the counts in your fitness tracker really reminds you of just how far you went (and what you are capable of doing).
If you told me that I could walk nearly 60 miles in a single week, I would not believe you. However, my fitness tracker shows that I covered nearly 60 miles in one week of our vacation.
FAQs
Can I take photos of people?
Legally, if you are in public (in the United States), then you usually do not need the person’s permission to take their photo. I do not know the laws of every country, but tread lightly.
However, I try to avoid taking photos of people (especially if they are identifiable) because I believe people should be able to maintain some level of privacy even in public.
Further, depending on where I am in the world, I have a great deal of privelige (as an U.S. American and as a White middle-class American) than most of the people I come into contact with.
Therefore, even if I ask permission, the person is unlikely to be in a position where they may feel that they can easily say no.
Some travelers and tourists will insist that if you pay the person or buy something from them in the market, then it is (more) ethical. Perhaps it is, but again, can the person refuse your purchase? Even your eager tour guide may agree to a photo to get a positive review left for them or a bigger tip.
Finally, there are many, many ways of taking photographs that illustrate cultural differences that do not involve photographing people not in your group of travelers (food, signs, transportation). The average tourist (including travel influencers) usually has no need to photograph other people.
What camera gear do I need to take the best photos while on vacation?
You need whatever camera you have with you. When I travel, I vary in which camera or cameras I use. I have a DSLR camera, a Sony Cyber-Shot, and an iPhone 13 pro.
1. A DSLR Camera
I use the Canon EOS 80D when I want to have the most control over my photos. I swapped out the camera strap for an ergonomic quick release cross-body strap. The strap I use is unavailable, but this one has the same features. Buy one with an underarm strap for greater comfort and stability. I also like this tripod.
2. A Point and Shoot Camera
When I need a better camera than what my iPhone offers and I do not want to carry around my bulky DSLR, I use the Sony Cyber-Shot.
Be sure to also get a screen protector, grip, strap, spare battery, and a case. The camera is compact, but these items will make it a bit easier to use.
3. A Smartphone
I buy the second best iPhone available whenever I upgrade. I am currently using an iPhone 13 pro.
I highly recommend getting a grip a (like a popsocket) and a a cellphone lanyard strap. Both items make your smartphone easier and more convenient to use when traveling. The lanyard also offers some protection from theft.
You might want a remote shutter, which will make it easier to get group photos with you in them. Another upgrade is a lens kit. The lens kits are tricky because you need to be sure you are purchasing one that is compatible with your phone and its case.
Conclusion
You are likely already taking a lot of photos when you travel. However, it is important to take specific kinds of photos while on vacation with an eye toward memory keeping. The kinds of photos covered in this article will help spur travel memories for you.
Read More About Travel Memory Keeping
12 of the Best Travel Things to Save for Travel Scrapbooks
Travel Resources
🏨Accommodation: Booking, Hostelworld, Vrbo
🚗Car Rentals: Rentalcars.com
✈Flights: Expedia, WayAway (save 10% on membership)
🎫Tours and Activities: Viator, Get Your Guide, Go City, Big Bus Tours
🚅Trains: Rail Europe, Omio, Trainline
🏥Travel Medical Insurance: SafetyWing
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