Dream with me here for a minute...we are all vaccinated and that nasty virus has been conquered. Travel is back on the menu. We are getting ready to start planning for our next big (I mean big) trip. What does that look like for you? How much of a planner are you exactly?

As far as travel planners go, they fall into three categories.

#1 FLY-BY-THE-SEAT-OF-YOUR-PANTS TRAVELER

You’re going to see what feels right, and stay wherever you can find a room. You’ll move from place to place when the spirit tells you it’s time.

Uh no. Just no. For me, that gave me hives just describing that kind of travel. To have no idea where I’m going from day to day, how I’ll get there, or what I’ll see? Not good for me.

This is an example of a planned photoshoot with tripod. I was in a line of other photographers that night because of the amazing moon (New York City).

#2 LOOSE PLANNING TRAVELER

This kind of traveler probably has an itinerary of at least where they will be staying and for how long. Travel method and tickets are purchased ahead of time, and reservations for hotels or Airbnb’s booked. BUT they might not have every single day planned as to what they will see, when they’ll see it, or even how much they’ll be doing.

This is me. I like to know that I have a place to stay and how long I’ll be there. But as to what exactly I’ll do every day? Eh, we’ll see. Maybe I feel like museums that day, and maybe I feel like a hop-on-hop-off bus tour. I’ll figure that all out the day before.

#3 STRICT GOTTA-HAVE-ALL-THE-DETAILS-IRONED-OUT TRAVELER

If you’re in this category you probably have a very detailed itinerary mapped out of exactly where you’ll be staying, how you’ll be traveling between destinations, and even what you’ll be doing day to day while you’re there. You might even have tickets purchased ahead of time for specific attractions. You’re a guidebook connoisseur (addict) and need to check off everything to feel like you’ve gotten the most out of your travel experience.

On one hand, I enjoy traveling with these folks. Because they can help me do more and see more that I probably would on my own. That is, if they have a bit of flexibility in that checklist of theirs. If they’re the diehard ‘we all have to see everything in this book’ sort? Don’t call me when you want a travel buddy. We’ll drive each other crazy.

Now let’s talk about planning specifically in regards to photography, shall we?

There are a few approaches to take when it comes to creating travel photos.

Unplanned spontaneous photo in front of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City.

#1 IT’S ALL ABOUT THE PHOTOS

That means you are going on this trip specifically and solely to create spectacular photos to sell or hang on your wall. You’re willing to pack a lot of equipment like a tripod, lenses, filters, remotes, etc.

Your schedule will consist of getting up at 4am (ish) and being out with other photographers lined up with your tripods, ready for the golden hour photos. After the “perfect light” you’ll pack it all up, and then rinse and repeat come sunset.

This kind of trip takes a lot of pre-planning: weather conditions, specific times of sunrise and sunset, equipment checklists and packing, a list of locations where you want to take photos, etc.

A planned photo during the ‘blue hour’ with tripod (the wine had to wait that evening)

#2 IT’S ALL ABOUT THE EXPERIENCE

This is where you want to tell the story of your adventure and experience. That might happen at sunrise, but it also happens all day long in different locations. You don’t necessarily need to have “perfect” photos but rather beautiful photos that tell a story, evoke emotion and capture details.

This kind of photography takes some planning, but really you’re all about going with the flow and capturing that flow in photos. You might have a checklist for equipment just to make sure you bring backup batteries and memory cards, but you’re not all about the equipment extravaganza.

#3 GOT PHONE, WILL TRAVEL

It’s ALL about the travel, and if you get some photos that would be nice. You take out your phone when you think about it, but it’s not the focus of your trip. It’s about the experience, and you don’t want to be distracted by taking photos.

As you can probably tell, there’s some overlap between these two lists. But just because you fall into one category in the first list, doesn’t mean you end up in a similar category on the second. You might very well be a super-detailed planner and have your guidebook on the ready...but not care so much about what kind of photos you end up with.

I mentioned that I’m a ’loose planning traveler’ on the first list. On the second? I’m more of a hybrid. I lean more towards #2 ‘It’s all about the experience’...but sometimes I really want that spectacular sunrise photo. But guess what? You can totally do both!!

You might have seen photography excursions or trips where it’s just like I described in #1. Tripods, lenses, sunrise, sunset, strict schedules. And that’s certainly an option. But here’s another. You figure out over the course of say a week in Paris, which iconic photos you want to take and when. For example, last time I was in Paris, I definitely wanted to get a photo of le Louvre at sunrise.

So I planned that particular day to start out early, bring a tripod, and get there ready to create some fabulous photos. But I didn’t do that every morning and every evening.

I chose a few mornings to get up early, and I chose a few evenings to be out late to get that golden hour on both ends of the day. BUT I generally didn’t do sunrise and sunset on the same day. I like flexibility with my travel. It’s KEY to my enjoying the trip.

So I would plan one sunrise shoot, and then I’d bring the tripod back to the room and head out for breakfast. The rest of the day I would create photos of whatever we were experiencing. Details, people, buildings…

And then a few days I would plan to be out at sunset. But I’ll be honest, some days by the time sunset rolled around I was tired and ready for a glass of wine. So I scrapped it. And I was OK with that - I gave myself permission to first experience, and second capture photos.

Paris photo during the day, while strolling about just seeing the sites. Mmmm…macarons.

I’m telling you this because I want you to know that you have options. Unlimited options. You can design your own trip, create your own kind of photos. The most important thing to remember is to stay true to what’s most important to you. And then give yourself permission to do that.

If you get TOO caught up in creating the most beautiful photos while you’re traveling, then you might end up stressed, overwhelmed, and feeling pressured (if you’re like me). And that is NOT why we travel...is it?

Travel is stressful enough on its own - trying to find the right restaurants, making sure you’re on the right train (or bus...funny story), getting to the airport on time and finding your gate...you remember.

So why add EXTRA stress by worrying about your photos? Of course you want to create amazing travel photos that tell your story. And you will! Do some light planning, figure out what you’re trying to do, and just be mindful as you go through your adventure. Trust me, the photos will happen.

If reading this inspired you to get out your camera and do some creating (I HOPE so!!) then make sure to grab my free Crazy Good Photos Starter Kit to give you some ideas.