Expert Photo Tips for Tours and Shore Excursions

Who doesn’t wish they could better capture the colorful and unique moments of their travels?  David Smith, a world travel & fine art photographer from Vancouver, will join Insignia as a photo coach on several segments of the Around the World in 180 Days voyage. His recent publications include the Wall Street Journal, National Geographic Traveler, Geo Saison Magazine and USA Today Travel Online. Below, he and his wife, Anna, share simple and effective tips for taking better photos on shore excursions.

As frequent guest lecturers and invited escorts on shore excursions with Oceania Cruises, Anna and I have toured extensively throughout the Mediterranean, Baltic, Atlantic, Caribbean, South America, South East Asia, South Pacific, and Australia and New Zealand. Many guided tours and shore excursions provide excellent travel photography opportunities that are frequently missed. The travel photos in this post help illustrate some of the following suggestions for taking better travel images while on tour.

1. Research your tour itinerary by reading the detailed tour descriptions and attend shore excursion presentations on board to learn planned visit locations in advance to help prepare your photography strategy and a shot list. Local tour operators can move you around quickly so always have your camera ready for those one in a lifetime photo opportunities. Practice your camera techniques before touring to avoid fumbling with your camera on site.

Scenes and activities at St. Catherine Palace in Pushkin, Russia,
near St. Petersburg (David Smith)

2. Locate yourself for uncluttered shots. If there is live entertainment or a cultural demonstration sit in the front or side of the audience to get unfettered action images. Consider walking about during the show to get different angles and distances from the action. All entertainers and presenters are willing to have their photographs taken. You paid for the tour and presenters are paid by the tour operator as well, so get your cameras out and ask. Be sure to capture locals in ethnic dress.

Tour guide Nina Kazarina in front of an Oceania Cruise tour bus in
St. Petersburg, Russia (David Smith)

3. Create a photo story of the tour to create more interest when you share your photography later. Capture your guide, the sign on the front of the bus, flags, icons and symbols as well as the typical shots. Get establishing shots (the most common type), medium range shots and close-ups to keep interest.

A shore excursion tour of the newly opened Titanic Belfast Museum
(David Smith)

4. When you come across an excellent tour guide or fabulous entertainers a tip is always appreciated and use that opportunity to get portraits of your guide and hosts with and without your travelling companions and be sure to hand your camera to someone to get yourself included in the fun and excitement of your tour photo story. Exchange contact information, be Facebook friends and send your photos to your new friends. Revisiting those magical ports of call and having new friends waiting for you makes travelling with your camera a must while on shore excursions and tours.

David looks forward to meeting many of you aboard Insignia very soon! For more photo tips, visit David’s blog. Also explore more of his stunning photography on his World image archive, along with his fine art gallery.