Avoid police lineups

I've seen too many travelers make a classic mistake in photographing people. They take police lineup style pictures of their companions standing erect with straight faces or forced smiles.

Be a Hollywood director
Make your photos come alive by having your traveling companions do something. For example, instruct them to examine a local curio. Or. ask them to lean against a railing and chat among themselves. Possibilities are endless.

Relax your subjects
Encourage them to smile by telling them something funny. Or, simply talk with them.

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Don't keep
people waiting

Many people fidget and lose their smiles if the photographer takes too much time fiddling with his camera settings. Do as much of the camera prep work as you can before people assume their posing stances.

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Tell a story

An effective travel photo should tell a story. Taking a picture of your companions stiffly posing at a table in a nondescript restaurant that could be anywhere doesn't convey much of the trip.  Showing them enjoying each other's company as they dine at a table laden with ethnic dishes does do it because it captures a travel-related experience.

The same philosophy is true when taking, for example, a picture of a seller in a marketplace. The photo should show the merchant in the midst of a transaction rather than sitting idly staring at your camera.

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Click PAGE TWO and PAGE THREE for

more advice on photographing people

People

Composing

Flash

Using no flash

Landscapes

Other situations

After your trip

SLR or compact?

Lens

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Memory

Features

Tripod

Other accessories

Photo tips - home page

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