1. Plan Your Shots

Though a little spontaneity will definitely produce amazing photos, planning in advance can help guarantee that you capture the famous ones. Do some legwork on where you are going prior to going and see what places or scenes you must photograph. Seek out areas that will be busy but also locate off-the-beaten-path places that won’t be crawling with tourists. Visit local photography blogs or Instagram pages for inspiration regarding creative angles and locations.

2. Capture the Right Light

Light is the life of photography. The best time to shoot is usually the “golden hours”—that hour post-dawn and pre-dusk. During these times, light is soft, warm, and tender, producing flattering and more dramatic photographs. Steer clear of midday sun whenever possible because it creates hard shadows and blown-out highlights. Cloudy days are wonderful for softer, more even light.

3. Apply the Rule of Thirds

One of the simplest photography tips is the rule of thirds.  Have your frame be a 3×3 grid of boxes in your mind. That gives you an interesting and balanced photo which takes your viewer’s eye on a tour of the picture. Most phones and cameras also have a grid mode which will give you the rule of thirds when you are composing your picture.

4. Focus on Details

While panoramic shots of famous landmarks are wonderful, don‘t neglect to concentrate on the details that give a place character. Whatever it is — a close-up of vibrant local cuisine, ornate architecture, or a work of street art — shooting these details gives an added depth and originality to your travel photo archive. Move in close to your subject and employ a macro lens (where possible) to shoot textures, patterns, and tiny objects within your surroundings.

5. Add the Local Culture

Photography isn’t landscape; it’s capturing the essence of a place using people, customs, and way of life too. Don’t hesitate to place local culture into your photos—if that means a person in the market, street performer, or local festival. These kinds of shots are usually really great and will help you get a better sense of where you are headed. Always ask first when you are taking someone’s picture, especially in a sensitive cultural environment.

6. Experiment with Points of View and Positions

Be creative with your position and vantage point to make new and compelling shots. Experiment with shooting at eye level, from really high up (a balcony, vantage point, or aerial drone), or really low down for effect, or shooting through objects like windows or flowers to place your subject off-center in an interesting manner. Take multiple shots from different angles to see which one best tells the scene. Don‘t hesitate to experiment!

7. Edit Your Photos

Post-processing is one of the key elements in digital photography. With programs like Lightroom, Snapseed, or even the ones that come pre–installed in Instagram, you can process your photographs by adjusting exposure, contrast, and color balance. Don’t overprocess; attempt to uncover the natural beauty of your images and not manipulate them. Tone to bring out the light and add depth to the colors, but avoid overuse of filters making your photos artificially enhanced