As many photographers know, it is important to travel around in order to get that perfect shot. That is why photography holidays are becoming increasingly popular and there are many to choose from on the market.  Some that are organised by professionals and some where you can organise everything by yourself.

We’ve come up with a useful guide, to enable you to get the most out of your trip.

Pick an area/subject of interest
Whether you are planning to visit an area for its scenery, culture or animals this should be the first step in planning a photography holiday. It will affect the area you plan to visit and the equipment you’ll need to take.  It is therefore important to research your area/subject of interest prior to your trip.  Here are a number of ways to do it:

  • Search online photography forums
  • Photography magazines
  • Photography blogs, articles and books
  • A google search of the areas you’re interested in

We’re not suggesting that you need to spend large amounts of time exploring all these research methods but the more research you do, the wider your knowledge will be on the subject.

Having collected all your information you can now start to think of the location.

Location
Using the information you collected in step one can help to pick the right location. Finding the right location can make or break your trip, that’s why researching the area first can save you time and money as you’re not wasting hours travelling around, finding to find the perfect spot.

When travelling to unfamiliar locations it is important to not put yourself in any danger and not to travel against the foreign office advice.  For more information visit the foreign office website on https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice

Having found the best area to base yourself you can then start to look at accommodation. Hotels and B&B’s can be good idea, however it’s worth checking beforehand as some won’t like you coming and going at unsociable hours. An advantage of self-catering accommodation is you aren’t as restricted and can come and go as you please.

Equipment
From your research of the area/subject of interest and the location you’ll now have a good idea of the type of equipment you’ll need to take.

A good idea is to put together a kit list, this will help to prevent you from taking too much equipment and can be used as a checklist for future trips.

Insurance
This is often forgotten about or left as a last minute thought but is arguably one of the most important things to consider as it can potentially save your shoot should anything go wrong.  Here at Infocus we can offer you a wide selection of insurance, whether you’re travelling to somewhere in the UK or worldwide.  Visit our website at https://www.infocusinsurance.co.uk/ for exclusive online offers.