A Summer Holiday Photo Guide
Photography can be fun for most but also leads people to want more from their photos next holiday. There is nothing worse than going on an amazing trip & not having the incredible photos to remind you in years to come. With smartphones having incredible capability today, we are focusing on making the most of what you have to hand along with tips/tricks to get the best photos of your summer holidays.
TL;DR
Basics: Charge your phone, make sure you have enough phone storage space available & back up your photos to the cloud.
Rule #1: Get familiar with your phone's native camera app, use this
Rule #2: Check the focus and exposure of your subject.
Rule #3: Composition: Try the rule of thirds. Check your perspective when taking the photo.
Rule #4: Posing: Relaxed, comfortable, natural. If you’re unsure beyond this, seek inspiration.
Rule #5: Variety: Don’t be afraid to try something new. Do not take 100s of photos of the same subject in the same way.
Rule #6: Editing: Use photo editing apps like Adobe Lightroom, Snapseed or in-built tools for minor edits.
Rule #7: Sharing: A smaller number of photos for social media posts, and albums for larger quantities.
Rule #0: The Basics
They are crucial and ruin everything else about your phone photography if you do not first have the basics.
Charge your phone (and a portable charger if you have one), make sure you have enough storage, and decide which phone to use if you’re taking group photos. Finally, use a photo backup service so if the worst happens, you’re prepared (Google Photos, iCloud).
Rule #1: Getting the photo
Getting the photo regardless of settings & anything else is the priority. Missing the moment is the worst thing to happen in photography. Familiarise yourself with your phone’s quick capture shortcuts for photos & video from the Lockscreen or anywhere else on your phone. We recommend this over using a third-party app due to reliability issues, freezing & updates which may be required without warning to continue using the app causing you to miss the moment you want to capture. Check inside of your camera settings if you can set default settings for those you access most often & highest quality (if you have sufficient storage).
Rule #2: Focus & Exposure
What is the focus of the photo? Decide & fill the frame with this without cutting off people’s heads, feet, hands etc. If you can use an optical zoom, great! If the zoom is digital-only, it may be better not to use this & crop the photo afterwards instead. If your phone isn’t focusing on the subject of the photo, tap on the person/object on your phone and the camera should autofocus to this area. If the subject is too bright/dark, you can tap on the subject & drag it up/down to adjust the lighting of the photo.
Top tip: If you are taking a portrait, focus on their face & particularly their eyes if possible.
Rule #2.5: Portraits in direct sunlight
The classic Instagram holiday carousel cover photo of you in the sun during golden hour can be hard to get quite right. Golden hour is the hour of sunlight before sunset which has warm tones while blue hour is the hour afterwards. There are apps you can use to find these times for your destination however, the default weather app will have information about sunset for you to plan accordingly. Both of these times are fantastic conditions for dynamic lighting. This lighting can be harsh, the shadows can fall weirdly, and it can be difficult to see people’s faces properly. To fix these issues:
Hold out your hand pointing upwards to the sky, palm towards the camera. Use this as a guide to show how the shadows will fall on the subject’s face.
Aim not to photograph the subject looking directly towards the sun to avoid squinting eyes (even through sunglasses). Also, try to avoid the sun being in the background near the subject as this will wash out the photo resulting in less contrast, saturation and haze in the final image.
Take the photo using a high dynamic range (HDR) setting.
Tap on the face of the subject in the photo and reduce the exposure of the image slightly so the background isn’t over-exposed.
When editing, increase the exposure of the shadows (the subject’s face).
Rule #3: Composition
The rule of thirds divides an image into nine equal parts using two horizontal and two vertical lines. Placing key elements along these lines or at their intersections creates a balanced and visually appealing composition. This grid can be enabled in >99% of native camera apps: check yours, and turn it on to help keep this rule in mind. Aim for at least 2/3 of the subject focus to fill the frame using this guide. Other settings to experiment with using include the levelling guide found on iPhone which will help keep your horizons straight. Avoid taking photos of people from below them, photos like this are very difficult to be flattering for the subject as they create harsh shadows and angles up their nose. Perspective can be a great tool to experiment with, such as height. Taking the photo at different heights can change the apparent size of the subject (great for all those where height is a concern).
Top tip: This rule can be used to get that Pinterest-worthy art gallery photo by filling the frame with 2/3 of the artwork & 1/3 the person. Alternatively, this is a great tip for food photography by keeping the edges of the plate in the centre third with stylised surroundings. Other composition styles such as Golden Ratio, leading lines, framing, negative space and more can be used. These alternative composition tools may need more refinement and practice to master.
Top tip: Landscapes. These can be more difficult as they don’t have clear boundaries. Panoramic photos are fantastic but very difficult to share online due to their dimensions. Try using a foreground element as well as the landscape or utilising sections of the landscape to align with the rule of thirds (for example 1/3 ground, 1/3 horizon, 1/3 sky).
Rule #4: Posing
Posing for a photo can be daunting for some & myself included. Looking natural, relaxed & comfortable is the easiest way to look your best in a photo. Don’t try to fake this look, do it! If you’re sitting or standing, do not change from a relaxed position, & try to laugh/smile towards the camera. If you are unsure and want some starting points, we highly recommend looking at David Suh on his social media platforms (Instagram: @davidsuhphoto & TikTok: @davidsuh) who is a posing expert. He has lots of examples of posing for different outfits, individually, couples, groups and heights of people.
Top tip: You do not need to look directly into the camera all the time. Laughing makes the most natural and fun-looking smile. If you’re the photographer, crack a joke (a good one) and wait until your comedic genius makes the most amazing smile for you to capture.
Rule #5: Variety
Variety is the spice of life - your photos should be different & varied! Experiment with all of the above, follow the rules or don’t! Once you’ve tried them, try something new. Try a new pose or a new perspective. Mix up your photos with lots of candid photos rather than posed. Candid photos are far more natural & capture moments your subject may not remember so clearly in the future. Remember to enjoy your holiday!
Experiment! Do not take 10 photos at the same angle of the same subject, it wastes your time, phone storage and battery life.
Rule #6: Editing Your Photos
Post-Processing: Editing your photos can enhance their quality and bring out the best in each shot. Use photo editing apps like Snapseed, Lightroom, or even the built-in tools on your phone to adjust brightness, contrast, saturation, and sharpness. Don’t overdo it; aim for a natural look.
Cropping and Straightening: Crop your photos to improve composition and remove unwanted elements. Straighten the horizon if it’s tilted to make the photo look more professional.
Filters: While filters can add a creative touch, use them sparingly. Opt for subtle enhancements rather than dramatic changes to maintain the authenticity of your photos.
Rule #7: Sharing and Storing
Sharing Wisely: When sharing your photos on social media, pick your best shots and avoid flooding your feed. Create albums or stories to give your audience a curated experience of your holiday.
Backup Regularly: Besides using cloud services like Google Photos or iCloud, consider keeping a physical backup on an external hard drive. This ensures your memories are safe even if something happens to your primary storage.
Final Thoughts
Capturing your summer holiday through photos is a wonderful way to preserve memories. By following these rules and tips, you can ensure that your photos are not only technically sound but also reflect the moment. Remember, the best photos are the ones that tell a story and bring joy whenever you look at them.
So, charge your phone, clear some storage, and get ready to take some stunning photos on your next holiday. Happy snapping!
Written by Emma Barker & Kieran Zhané