Remember the last time you skimmed through your family vacation photos? Which ones made you stop and reminisce, taking you back to that time and place? Were there images that made you laugh…or sigh? Those were the awesome, memorable shots. The ones you look at most often.

If those memorable shots are few and far between, we can help. We have a few tips to help you take awesome shots on your next family vacation.

Include People in Photos

Go back through your photos from years ago and see which ones you skim over quickest. Can you guess? Yep. Those are the shots of buildings, mountains, etc…..without people in the picture. Unless you are planning to sell your vacation photos as artwork, make sure to include people in the shots.

Vacation photos capture the ages of both kids and parents along with where you have been. With awesome shots, parents and grandparents will wax nostalgic at how the kids have grown. Kids may not remember the trip or the place but will definitely be interested in what everyone looked like.

Here are a few examples to get this point across….

Example 1

These images were taken at the same place, same time, and same day. The first one is a great photo of a beautiful beach. Second photo is a memory of youth, family togetherness, and skills in action.

Example 2

You can take the “postcard shot” any time but how long will the kids be small? The 2nd shot captures more than period hairstyle. It captures brothers as friends.

Example 3

Beautiful sunset shot worth printing…..but does it bring back memories of scavenging for shells with your son? The 2nd photo definitely brings back memories of childhood.

Get Action Shots

Unless your family is ultra boring, there will be moments of silliness and stunts during your vacation, all filled with laughter. Not every family photo has to be posed. Catch them doing! As a rule, the action shots get the most attention in your book or album.

Traveling with kids? Keep your camera ready to catch those moments where personalities shine through. Those images are a story in itself. In those cases, “a picture is worth a thousand words” has even greater meaning.

Close-ups Instead of Selfies

What is the difference between a close-up and a “selfie?” First, you get more than the face with close-ups. With a selfie (of more than two people), you will get partial heads. Of course, that will depend on the arm length of the one holding the camera.

Second, close-up shots of you can still show the full expanse of an amazing background. Not so with selfies, unless you crop the face to show stuff behind you.

Third, you can actually pose for close-up shots. With selfies, the only pose is the head tilt to make sure you are in the frame. Hand your camera or phone to a passerby and have them take a close-up, unless them walking (or running) away with your camera has you worried. Then a selfie will do just fine.

When taking family vacation photos, have a good balance of printable art-worthy images, action shots, and close-ups. After all, your vacation photos are not portrait photography. With a little effort, they can be better than snapshots and definitely much better than selfies.