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A woman uses her iPhone to take a photo of the Brooklyn Bridge.
Seth Mourra/Stocksy

Lifestyle » Travel

Travel Photos 101: Blogger Tips for Insta Success

Authored by Iman Balagam
Iman Balagam
August 18, 2020

Getting the perfect travel photo can feel like an impossible task. So, we had three bloggers break it down — including their go-to camera and best lighting tip. Never walk away from a trip disappointed again.

Betsy Newman

@betsnewman

https://www.instagram.com/p/BSZ-sikgGfK/

Favorite Camera: Canon 5D Mark IV

Best Lighting Tip: I love to backlight, I think it’s the most flattering. That works really well on the SLR.

Inside of Travel Bag: I would put my gear, which is my camera body [and] two lenses because any more than that would weigh you down. Extra batteries, memory card, all that good stuff.

Crazy Story: Shooting on stage behind Maroon 5. Just being there was insane — the energy of thousands of people.

Coolest Place to Travel: Capri, Italy

Instagram Husband: My boyfriend hates photos. We’ve had several arguments about it, but it is good because it balances me. And honestly, if I had a boyfriend that loved photos, I probably would be annoyed. 

Kim Genevieve

@kimgenevieve

https://www.instagram.com/p/BuNPgYGFlEA/

Favorite Camera: Canon 5D Mark IV

Best Lighting Tip: Because I like to consider myself a photographer of sunshine, I do love to shoot in bright lights. I think that comes from having lived in Canada and going through long, harsh winters where the sun never came out. So, I take full advantage of shooting in the sunshine and in the middle of the day.

Inside of Travel Bag: On a trip, I try to keep it light and bring two lenses and one body. I’ll bring extra batteries, CF cards, maybe a small tripod if there’s room, but I try to not bring too much.

Crazy Story: I’m not a super daredevil type of person. I won’t climb very high to shoot, maybe a ladder. Does laying on the ground on Hollywood Boulevard count? Because that’s really messy and dirty.

Coolest Place to Travel: Palm Springs, California

Instagram Husband: I do have a husband, but I wouldn’t consider him my Instagram husband only because I don’t post a lot of photos of myself. And honestly, some of the photos I’ve posted of myself I’ve taken myself.

Riana Singh

@rianasingh_

https://www.instagram.com/p/Br8pke9nrOT/

Favorite Camera: iPhone!

Favorite VSCO Filter: Generally, I stick with A4 — it’s a little bit more white and brown — and then from there I’ll customize a few of the other settings like exposure, contrast, sharpness.

Best Lighting Tip: I am really obsessed with natural lighting so when it comes to taking photos of things, I think capitalizing on morning light or golden hour light is really key. Whether it’s shooting something right next to a window and getting that contrast with the light as well as shadows.

Crazy Story: In New York City, I met up with an Instagram photographer and we pretended we worked in the building and had to give our IDs to the security guard. We went up to the 50th floor and climbed up five staircases to get to the top and then I dangled my feet over the edge of the skyscraper to get a photo of my Nikes over the cliff. It was so scary, the shot is super cool, but I definitely would not do it again.

Coolest Place to Travel: Positano, Italy

Instagram Husband: My sister takes all of my photos. I literally just tell her to stand somewhere so I can take a practice shot of her, and then I ask her to replicate that of me.

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