DON'T MISS A THING

After what felt like a lifetime of sideways rain, nearly-snow and generally inclement weather, the skies are starting to lift – and temperatures with it, too. Not a moment too soon! And a welcome herald of the season for which we’ve all been impatiently waiting: holiday season.

With the summer months fast approaching, it’s time to put some serious thought into where best to travel. Not only that, but it’s also time to think photos. Don’t you always wish you got better snaps as soon as you land back on home soil? If you want to level up your holiday snaps, you’re reading the right words; read on, and your Instagram will thank you endlessly.

Master the Basics of Smartphone Photography

Now, it’s practically guaranteed that you’ll be taking the vast majority of your holiday snaps on your smartphone – which, I can guarantee, has a much better camera than you might initially think. Poor smartphone snaps are a victim of two key things: poor composition, and automatic settings.

Let’s start with composition, though. The way you set up and frame your snaps matters a lot; from lighting to framing, there’s a lot to cover. At its most basic, though, keeping your horizons straight, and applying the rule of thirds, will instantly improve your photos. Your phone will have many settings to help you, from grid overlays to ISO settings.

Harness the Power of Lighting

Lighting is the most important consideration of the lot. Poor light means your camera’s sensor needs to work harder for the same results – meaning graininess and issues with white balance. You can use natural light to your advantage, especially if you avoid backlighting yourself with the sun. If you’re wanting flattering photos of yourself, you’ll want to shoot during golden hour – either just after sunrise or just before sunset – which creates the most flattering and vibrant images.

Plan Your Shots with Inspiration from Instagram Trends

There’s no good pictures without good subjects and backdrops; we’ll assume you’re chic enough with your holiday outfits, so let’s look at destination. UK and Irish travellers are increasingly choosing holiday packages based on Instagram appeal, not that it’s hard to find the photogenic in popular resorts and retreats. Still, seeing what works online can be a good place to start with respect to inspiration!

Edit and Share Like a Pro

The final piece of the puzzle is the editing process! Getting good shots makes editing all the easier, but it’s truly the edit that makes your holiday pictures pop. Instead of relying on Instagram’s built-in features, try a third-party app to get finer control over balance, saturation, and even touch-ups. 

All that remains, then, is to use your best instincts with respect to caption and post time to let your pictures fly. When you post depends a lot on the average app usage times of your target audience; this matters less if you’re just showing them to family and friends, but as a budding influencer, timing is everything.

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