Upgrade Your Travel Photo Game
Every traveler wants photos that feel just as magical as the trip itself, yet so many images fade into the same predictable patterns. The truth is, your camera can tell a better story than that random selfie ever will. In the following list, we will explore how to move past cliché shots and find fresh ways to capture the energy of each destination. Let's begin with the shots you should finally give up.
1. Overdone Landmark Perspective Tricks
It usually starts with someone pretending to hold up the Leaning Tower of Pisa or push the Great Pyramids. From there, the magic of the site fades as views get blocked and the scale feels off. Even worse, the background fills with others doing the same thing.
2. Mid-Air Jumps In Front Of Iconic Sites
The idea sounds fun until you see the results—a distorted landmark, a badly timed leap, and a landing face you’ll regret. Some places have also banned it for safety, so maybe keep both feet on the ground instead.
3. Copying Famous Statue Poses
Mimicking a statue shifts attention away from the art and meaning. The scale never lines up, and in some places, it can come across as culturally insensitive. More often than not, the result is just plain awkward.
4. Hand-Heart Frames Around Monuments
This pose had its moment when Instagram was new, but now it hides landmark details and invites random photobombs. It feels more like a tired trend than a creative shot, which doesn’t do justice to the place you’re visiting.
5. Ground-Level Flat Poses With Art
Stretching out beside murals or street art might seem like a quirky idea, but it flattens the depth and clogs busy walkways. Onlookers can even think that you’ve collapsed. Though street artists might play along, it still pulls focus from the artwork.
6. Overused Sky Manipulation Shots
The concept of holding the moon or pinching the sun is tempting. In practice, the light overpowers the shot, and the pose feels strained. What you imagine as whimsical often ends up looking like a staged attempt at creativity.
7. Humorous Landmark "Eating" Poses
Tourists sometimes pretend to bite the Eiffel Tower or lick the Leaning Tower, but the joke rarely lands. The landmark gets lost, and the pose feels forced. Back home, the image gains a new purpose as entertainment for your most sarcastic friends.
8. Selfies During Fireworks Displays
The mix of low light and moving sparks is tough for a selfie. The flash brightens your face but kills the background, and without it, you disappear entirely. And during the many attempts, you might end up holding a video clip instead of a single shot.
9. Overly Staged Shots With Street Performers
Street performers create their own rhythm, and staged photos can break it instantly. Some expect a tip before posing, and others might respond with exaggerated expressions. Occasionally, you can even be pulled into the act.
10. Cheesy Signboard Poses
The novelty signboard has been overused to the point of losing charm. It pulls focus from the surroundings, feels manufactured, and rarely captures the spirit of the destination. In the end, it's a snapshot of a prop, not the trip.
Now that we've cleared out the travel photo clichés, let's swap them for ideas that actually capture the moment and make your shots worth showing off.
1. Pose With Local Culture
A market stall spilling with spices or a festival garland overhead can turn a simple portrait into a slice of local life. These details frame the subject naturally. Sometimes, locals also tweak their displays, so your shot comes out just right.
2. Capture Candid Moments
Unplanned moments tell the best stories. A shopkeeper laughing with a passerby or kids darting through a narrow alley can show a city's heart better than any postcard. These snapshots feel real because they're never staged—they just happen.
Vidar Nordli-Mathisen on Unsplash
3. Frame Reflective Images
A puddle can hold a skyline. A glass wall can double the story in a single glance. Even a polished metal bench can turn ordinary streets into a mirror, giving you a fresh angle that most travelers never think to capture.
4. Aim For The Right Food Shots
Street food has a way of performing for the camera. Oftentimes, the food is new to you, and the vendors toss ingredients like they're putting on a show. You end up getting a picture that looks as good as it smells and sounds.
Vernon Raineil Cenzon on Unsplash
5. Tell The Story With The Foreground
Sometimes, the magic of a photo hides right at the front. A flower, a railing, or a splash of street art can pull the eye in and lead it through the scene. This creates depth without anyone even realizing it's happening.
6. Take Close-Ups With Specific Details
A cracked pavement or peeling paint on the walls can reveal more than you think. These small details in your frame carry the weight of history and give your shot a sense of location that random selfies cannot match.
7. Window Frame Portraits
Using a window as your frame pulls the viewer straight into the scene. It sets a natural border, adds layers to the shot, and suggests the world beyond the glass. Each frame, whether carved or simple, carries the character of its setting.
8. Capture Aerial Or Elevated Perspectives
Higher views change the entire story of a scene. Rooftops form geometric patterns, rivers carve their own paths, and crowds turn into colorful dots. So, hop on a hill or a skyscraper—the aerial angle will reveal unexpected details.
9. Frame Architectural Viewport Shots
There's something satisfying about spotting a landmark through an arch or a doorway. The frame feels intentional, like the view was designed for you. It can also block the crowds, leaving the photo looking calm in a place that's anything but.
10. Aim For Live Performance Candids
A musician's rhythm or a dancer's movement can draw a crowd without warning. Capturing that moment means holding onto the feeling it creates. In a single photo, you can carry the spirit of a place long after you leave.
