Photography Road Trip – Ten Essential Tips

Get Great Photos On Your Photography Road Trip

What’s better than a road trip?

A photography road trip of course!

So you’ve spent hours planning the perfect road trip. But are you sorted to get the best photos of your adventures?

I’ve done this and came home with less than disappointing photos. Surely I took better photos of that!?!

With a little planning and organisation you can make sure you’re at the locations at the right time. Let this next photography road trip be a success so you come home with images you are proud of. And show off all the wonderful places you’ve visited.

“The greatest part of a road trip isn’t arriving at your destination. It’s all the wild stuff that happens along the way.”

~ Emma Chase (American Author)

I’ve now done several photography road trips and learned some simple tips. Maximise the time you have and come home with images to showcase your journey.

First up is, yes you guessed it, planning …

1 – Planning

Just like planning your road trip, you need to start planning your photography before you go.

The best photography really does come from having a plan. That’s especially the case when it comes to landscape photography. You need to be at the right place at the right time to get the right conditions, particularly for golden hour photography.

Yes, sometimes the most amazing photo opportunities do lie just off the road where you’re driving but don’t solely rely on this.

Once you’ve mapped out the route of your photography road trip, it’s time to research the potential photo opportunities. Checking out photo sharing sites like Flickr and Instagram can give you some great ideas you might not have known about otherwise.

There are many other tools and tips to help with this so to plan your next photography shoot. So check them out to make your planning so much easier.

2 – All The Gear

One of the fabulous things about a photography road trip, is that you can take as much gear as you want. No weight or bag restrictions in your own vehicle!

This is a personal choice, but I would rather take something and not use it, than not have it when I want it. Having a packing checklist really helps to not forget anything crucial. Download my free Road Trip Essentials packing list. Print it and use it!

To save unpacking and packing everything I use several smaller bags. Things that I’m not sure I’ll need go in separate bags and stay in the car unless needed. That way I’m not lugging any more than I need but have it if I should need it.

For example, my newly added kitchen kit. This includes a chopping board, cutlery, plate and bowl. I was recently caught out with accommodation that included a microwave and toaster but no crockery or cutlery. This all fits in a small bag that I tuck away and store in the boot. It stays in the car mostly but it is there if needed.

These are the basics that I suggest go on every photo shoot – 

In The Bag

• Camera and Lens. I recommend at least two lenses, a wide angle and telephoto. My go to’s are my 24-70 and 100-400. There’s nothing worse than getting to a location and not being able to compose the shot you want because you’ve brought the wrong lens
• Tripod. This is essential for nearly all landscape photography shoots, regardless of the conditions. This will ensure you get nice sharp images every time, particularly when shooting long exposures.
• Filters. These are always worth taking – they take up very little space but can really enhance your long exposure photos.
• Remote. This allows you to take photos without touching the camera, hence removing the chance of camera shake.
• Torch or Headlamp. An essential for both sunrise and sunsets.
• Cleaning Cloths. We’ve all got home and found smudges or water drops on our photos. Don’t do it again!
• Spare Batteries and Memory Cards. Usually two of each mostly in case of failure and they take up hardly any room.

You may have noticed that there are two cameras in the above photo. This is mostly because I can. I leave that camera and lens ready to go so I can zoom in anytime that I spot something interesting.

I kept this camera as a back up and figured that seeing as I have it, I may as well use it when I can.

It’s definitely not essential, but it does come in handy.

In The Car

• Rock Shoes – these really are essential if you’re shooting seascapes and any kind of rock scrambling is required.
• First Aid Kit. It’s also good to keep a basic one of these in your bag.
• Insect Repellent and Sunscreen. Never leave home without these.
• Spare Clothes and Shoes. For me this also includes an umbrella and towel. At least if you get soaked on the shoot you can get dry feet and a jacket to warm yourself up again quickly.
• Snacks and Water. These are often also in the bag depending on the location.

3 – Stay Organised On The Road

Staying organised really can be a challenge on a photography road trip. But with a simple routine it soon becomes a habit and saves time in the long run. And you don’t want to go to take a photo and your battery is flat!

My routine is to unpack and set up the laptop as soon as I’m back at the accommodation.

I keep the battery (and phone) charger in the laptop bag so it’s always easy to find. Putting things in the same place consistently means you don’t have to think about it.

Upload your photos to your laptop (or portable hard drive) and charge that battery.

Personally I copy them to both so there are two copies. Alternatively, have several memory cards that can be changed regularly and not deleted until safely backed up once back home.
I really can’t stress the importance of having a photography workflow on the road.

Although I’ve not experienced it, I’ve heard stories of photographers who’ve lost all their photos of a trip. Hard drives and memory cards can fail at any time. If you’ve at least saved them in two places, it’s unlikely both will fail at the same time.

While that’s happening I can sit back and enjoy a cabernet (or two) in peace.

Oh, and don’t forget to give your lenses and tripod a quick clean if needed.

While you’re out and about, take snapshots of the signs at all the locations you visit. This will give you an accurate record when you get home. This is particularly important on a long photography road trip.

All those lookouts, or even waterfalls can too easily blend in. Trust me on this one.

I usually just do this with my phone – way more useful than a selfie! Although, don’t forget to have some fun and take selfies if that’s your thing. You do you …

The other thing is keeping a copy of your itinerary, whether it’s on paper or computer. Sometimes it can be months (or longer) before you look at editing your photos. And I’m not sure about you, but I’d rather rely on that than my memory.

4 – Always Have Your Camera Handy And Ready To Shoot

I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve driven past a lovely scene and not pulled over!

Sometimes just the thought of sorting through the boot to get to the camera bag seems too much effort.

So, having your camera easily accessible removes that barrier.

Next up is to have some basic settings already set before you leave home. A backup to this is just put your camera on auto (shock horror I know) so that at least you get the shot.

Stop and take the photo. 

The best piece of advice I can give you on a photography road trip is to stop, turn around, and go back to what you saw originally. 

It’s more than likely that you won’t see that same sight again. Dangerous words are ‘we can come back’, yet somehow that very rarely happens.

This is why it’s important to allow plenty of time between destinations. If you are so caught up in where you’re headed, you miss the fact that the journey is the destination.

These special moments are always worth stopping for so you have the images to remember.

5 – Take More Photos Than You Think You Need – Photograph Everything

If you’ve done the planning for your photography road trip you will have your main locations mapped out. But don’t forget to make memories along the way.

Shoot the grand scenes, and then – look for smaller detailed scenes. This is what will make your photos uniquely yours.

The iconic shots are iconic for a reason, so absolutely shoot them and then make the effort to notice the other sights around you. The details, the people (did I just say that?), the food, where you stay. All these are great subjects for photos, and you’ll have the memories for years to come.

Don’t rely on your memory – take the photo. Take more photos than you think you should. Your camera has a much better way of making memories than your mind does.

6 – Take Your Time and Allocate Enough Time for Taking Photos

Always remember that a road trip is not just about your destinations, it’s also about the journey. This starts with the initial planning on what you want to get done each day. If you schedule too much in, you’ll be rushing and end up exhausted.

Try to plan less where possible. This way you’ll get it all done, and enjoy documenting your travels as you go.

Stopping to take photos is what makes your journey unique and an incredibly rich experience.

If you’re asking yourself ‘should I stop?’ – the answer is yes. It should always be yes. If you can’t stop because you don’t have enough time, you are possibly trying to fit too much in. Slow down and capture that scene.

Don’t rush while you’re taking your photos once you do decide to stop. It really doesn’t take a great deal of time to scope your composition. You already saw it. Then grab a few from different angles and perspectives while you’re there. Remember, there is no such thing as too many photos.

You may never have the chance again to capture this exact scene. So keep that in mind and do your best to capture what you see before getting back in the car.

7 – Start a Series

By the sheer nature of a photography road trip, you will spend a lot of time driving. And yes, that can get boring at times.

By pricking a theme or creating a series, you can alleviate a lot of this on your long driving days. Think of it as a photography “I Spy” game to keep things fun and interesting.

I don’t usually plan these in advance. They tend to happen organically along your drive, and once you start noticing common things it tends to snowball. You will notice more of them and you’ll come home with a nice, unique collection of images.

Themes I’ve used in the past include lighthouses, letterboxes, and even the roads themselves. Have fun with it.

Bonus Tip: Include the Road

Well, it is a road trip after all – photos of the actual open road are such fun.

A stretch of lonely roads can really portray the essence of your photography road trip like no other.

Of course, only pull over when it’s safe and make sure there’s no traffic!

8 – Take the scenic route

While it can be tempting to take the efficient freeways, try and take the slower but more scenic routes where possible.

This is not only more interesting and prevents driver fatigue, they give you enormous photo opportunities.

These back roads will take you through the towns that are bypassed by the freeway. You will have the opportunity to see these often forgotten places and local icons that you would otherwise have missed.

You could also just find a cute cafe to stop for a well earned coffee or snack. And don’t forget about the obligatory toilet breaks!

9 – Finding balance between taking that photo and savouring the moment

Yes you are on a photography road trip, but don’t forget to stop and take your surroundings in.

It is just as important to be present and admire where you are as it is to capture that amazing scene or location.

It can be tricky to find the balance of just enjoying the scene with capturing it with the lifetime memory of a photograph.

This is where a well-timed coffee or snack can come in. Sit back, fuel up and soak it all in. It helps to build your memory bank, and you’ll be refreshed to hit the road again.

10 – Don’t Forget About Your Photos When You Get Home

To be completely honest, this is something I am still actively working on, and I’m sure I’m not alone.

It’s so easy to neglect all those wonderful memories you’ve created on your photography road trip once you get back home and into your routine.

Make your photos a priority as soon as you can, and start going through them. You spent all this time carefully creating them, so don’t forget to do something with them!

Go through your usual photography workflow like with every other shoot. Save, edit, share and print.

Hang some on your wall as a reminder of your epic trip and consider making a book or gifts for others. Here are some really great ideas to creatively print your photos.

You will definitely make mistakes along the way as I have. The main thing is that you get out there, document your trips with your camera and enjoy the journey.

Now pick a destination, get planning and let me know what adventure you’re heading out to next! Just comment below and add any tips you think I’ve forgotten.

That’s it for now – Keep clicking and stay caffeinated

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Here’s some more articles and resources I think you’ll like:

• Planning Your Landscape Photography Shoot
• Packing For Your Next Photography Trip: How To Decide What To Take
• Sunrise and Sunset Photography Guide
• Essential Packing For a Photography Road Trip
• Planning a Road Trip
• Create a Travel Photography Shot List

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Note – This post does not contain any sponsored or affiliated links. All suggestions and opinions are mine. Unless otherwise stated, all photos are mine and remain my copyright images – Sam Wilson Photography.