Have you ever heard the phrase, "Pic or it didn't happen?" We are so obsessed with capturing the daily minutia of our lives to share across social media! I find that as we share our lives more and more online, we tend to forget to bring our vacation memories into a lasting, physical form. When we travel, it's certain that we will share our adventures and vacation experiences on social media, but I want to remind you today that capturing those memories shouldn't stop with our Instagram accounts. By using these Tips for Capturing Vacation Memories, you'll not only be able to share amazing travel photos instantly through social media so that your friends and family can follow along in real time, but create real photo albums, home decor and gifts that will serve as a constant reminder of all of the fun you had during your travels.
Invest in a Quality Smartphone
Because the ability to share our adventures in real time is a priority for many — we want to bring friends and family along as we travel to and explore new places, as it happens — first and foremost, you'll want a great smartphone with a high quality camera. There are smartphones on the market with up to 41 megapixels, which provide amazing clarity and definition! Photos taken with a smartphone with a high number of megapixels give you the ability to capture photos that hold up well to printing, blowing up into posters, and turning into artwork for our homes (or to give as gifts).
I personally use a Lumia 1020, which has a 41 megapixel camera, Carl Zeiss lens, full HD image quality and Xenon flash. It takes amazing photos "out of the box" but also has an array of manual settings similar to what you'd find on a DSLR camera.
Get Creative With Photo Editing Apps
While many photos will be stunning simply because the subject itself is stunning, photo editing apps are a great way to turn mediocre shots into powerful visual displays and give already-beautiful photos a little extra "oomph."
My favorite photo editing app for smartphones is the Aviary app, which is available for iOS, Android and Windows operating systems. Aviary offers your basic photo editing tools like cropping and adjusting exposure, but also has a wide selection of filters that can enhance your travel photos and really bring them to the next level.
This is a photo I took while in Victoria, British Columbia on a shore excursion on the Carnival Miracle this summer. I used the "scenery" enhancement in Aviary app to simply make the colors pop in this photo.
I also love the Hipstamatic app, with its bevy of filters, lenses and film types - if you're using a smartphone with a not-so-great camera, an app like this can really help you take great photos!
Snapseed is another great photo editing app that gives you the ability to adjust contrast, colors and HDR like no other. With the Snapseed app, you can turn every day photos into works of art!
Before - a plain shot using a Lumia 1020
After - edited using the HDR function in Snapseed
Sometimes It's Worth it to Bring the DSLR
As a frequent traveler, I rely on my smartphone for the majority of my travel photography. It's lightweight, takes amazing photos and I can always share them instantly using wifi or a cellular connection. That being said, there are some places that make carrying around a DSLR worthwhile.
While cruising with Carnival in Alaska, I brought along my DSLR and zoom lens and put it to good use while on a Glacier excursion. I would have never been able to capture this adorable little Harbor Seal pup without the DSLR. Look at those little whiskers!
I travel quite often and when I've brought my DSLR with me, I've never regretted it!
Prepare for Longevity
While you are traveling, you're likely using your smartphone to stay in touch with family and friends back home, look up directions, search for nearby restaurants and, of course, take photos. Before you know it, your battery is drained! Invest in a back up battery charger so that you're never left with a dead smartphone. You can also find portable battery chargers that can charge tablets as well!
Take Amazing Underwater Photos
While there are many waterproof cameras on the market, I find that buying a waterproof camera bag or waterproof phone case is a more economical choice. There's also the benefit of being able to use the same camera for the entirety of your vacation, with the same quality of photos.
I recently purchased a Dipac waterproof camera bag for my DSLR and I am so happy with it! With a waterproof camera case or phone case, you can capture your adventures under the sea too!
Make Your Vacation Memories Part of Your Home
My daughter and I spent 14 days in Europe last year while taking a Mediterranean cruise on the Carnival Sunshine. It was one of the best summers of my life, and the memories we made while gallivanting across Europe together, just mom and daughter, will last a lifetime. When I returned home, I knew that I wanted to bring those memories out of the computer and into my home, so I turned some of those memories into wall art! I did the same thing with a great photo taken while Chris and I were vacationing in the Dominican Republic.
I love walking past these photos; each time I see the photo of Chris and I on that sandy beach, I catch a whiff of the salty air and the ocean breeze...
You can bring your vacation memories to life in so many ways! In addition to creating wall art, you can create photo albums full of photos from your travels, wall calendars, personalized mouse pads, coffee mugs, key chains - the sky is the limit!
Keep a Travel Journal
I received a special gift from a friend last year in the form of a travel journal. Keeping a journal is such a wonderful way to record our travel memories, but many don't think to do so because they share everything via Instagram. I love the idea of having a written record of where I've gone, what I've seen and experienced; a travel journal is also a great place to stash all of your ticket stubs and small mementos from your journey!
How do you capture your vacation memories?
This post was created as part of my collaboration with Carnival. As always, all of the opinions, thoughts, and ideas in this post are my own.
Heather
Your pictures are beautiful! I need to invest in a better camera. I just have a point and shoot right now. I'd love a new one!
Jenn
I've been eyeing the Sony a6000 - it was on sale last weekend for just $499 with the kit lens!
Tania B
I am terrible for taking photos on vacay but I will have to try to keep these tips in mind next time I'm away.
HilLesha
One of my favorite ways of capturing and preserving memories is using my camera. I also have a travel journal that I bought at Barnes & Noble. 🙂
Nicole Dz
Taking pictures for us anytime is a must, we love keeping the pictures in the house up to date and changing them out all the time, we have so many photo books too, we love capturing memories.
ellen beck
Fantastic tips I think my main problems is remembering to take a camera. I have a digital camera but not one on a phone. I like the effects.
TerriAnn @ Cookies & Clogs
I agree with many of the points you brought out. Smartphone with a good camera, good editing tools, and sometimes you just can't get a shot with out the power of a DSLR!
Colleen
Great post! I love the looks of your photos in your home. I have a Lumina 1020 I'm reviewing right now.
Tammy Litke (@threedifferent)
Oh the extra battery charge..completely agree. All too often I've been left with a dead phone or camera battery just when I want it the most for that shot you have to have!!
Raijean
Yes, I agree... If you didn't take a pic it didn't happen...lol Great tips.
Elena
the HDR function in Snapseed is awesome, I love how the photo looks at the end! I have an old photo and it takes terrible picture, maybe if I had a smartphone with a good quality camera I would take more pics! Anyway, thanks for these tips, loved them!
Rachel
Great photos. I usually just use my iphone... because it is light/small and convenient. BUT I love when I do break out my DSLR because the photos are SO much better! 🙂
one modern couple
Hey great post!
Wonderful tips! We need to get ourselves a better phone!! 41 megapixles sounds amazing!!!
megan b
Thanks for the tips. Can you recommend any good apps for those of use with an Iphone 5? No matter what i do my pics are grainy.
Anne - Mommy Has to Work
I am getting an underwater camera this summer. Can't wait.
lara r
Thanks for showing me the Snapseed app! I've been looking for a great app to get my pictures to "pop".
Brandy Hebden
I try to capture memories with my handy dandy digital camera or phone. I have never heard of Snapseed but definitely want to check it out now after seeing your photos! Thanks for sharing!! 🙂
Jenn
You're welcome! I hope that you find it useful and create some fun pics!
Donna
One of my dreams is to see harbor seals (especially pups) live! I'm going to download the Snapseed app!
Jenn
Have fun with it, that one app can do so many things!
vanessa: thequeenofswag
These are some great tips. I love the flamingo picture. So awesome.
Jenn
That was one of my favorites from the trip because it looked like they were making a heart with their heads. LOL!
Holly E
Great tips! I love trying new apps when taking pictures. It's a lot of fun.
Jenn
Thank you! I hope that they help you get some great shots! 🙂
Crystal
It's so fun to relive vacation memories throughout the year. I'm glad you suggested displaying them. It's so much nicer than just leaving them in a book no one looks at (or worse, on the computer).
estherjulee
i'm really curious how the Dipac waterproof camera bag works. i've looked into getting underwater housing, but it's always a couple thousand dollars, and since i'm not an underwater photographer.. i decided it's too big of an investment to get. i really love being able to capture most of my day to day with my phone.. but we usually bring our dslr with a few lenses on every trip.
Jenn
I have this Dipac: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00B8L05Y6/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
I used it while snorkeling in the Keys and it took really good underwater photos - it actually took that one of the jelly fish. I just have the Sony Alpha a5100, and used it with the 18-55m lens, so I didn't need to use the extender on the lens. I just recommend buying some of those silica packs and make sure that you take the time to water test it empty in a tub before using it in the real water.
Yona Williams
The Harbour Seals look gorgeous - I love animal shots. You take great pics! Every time we are on vacation, we visit something animal-related...usually a zoo. I have a digital camera that I love, and haven't even scratched the surface of all its features. Its in my purse 24-7. I've only recently started using different editing software to make my images look better. I really want a DSLR...the possibilities are amazing with that type of camera.
Jenn
You really don't even need a FULL DSLR anymore! My Sony Alpha a5100 is a compact, mirrorless camera and while it has a lot of the functions and features of a DSLR, it's much lighter to carry around and it's less expensive too! 🙂
Aisha Kristine Chong
thank you for these wonderful tips - very helpful guide. It would be nice if people won't forget to bring a camera first hand first, lol. My mom tend to forget it but thankfully me and my brother don't usually forget those so we can take photos, photos and many photos in all our travel trips!
Jenn
Your mom sounds like my dad - he even forgot to bring his camera to my wedding. ha ha!
Fi Ní Neachtáin
These are great tips. I had a penpal who kept a travel journal of all her trips and they were amazing to look at! This summer I took all our holiday pictures on my phone, it was so much easier then dragging the camera around with me 🙂
Jenn
Thank you! I love taking photos on my phone, it makes it so easy to just whip it out and capture the moment! 🙂
Roch
Whoa - 41 MP camera? That's really so clear and high-end. I'll check out the Aviary app for photo-editing. I've been using only Snapseed to adjust the brightness and contrast. Hipstamatic app is cool as well!
Lauren Paints
Such great tips and I am absolutely envious of your phone, it sounds so nice - I can't even imagine having a phone that captures 41 megapixels! I bring my DSLR with me on trips and always forget to use it or it's too bulky so I end up getting annoyed with it. I'll definitely have to check out the phone you have! You are an amazing photographer so I'm super thankful for these tips! 🙂
Grace | A Shutterbug's Lair
As a photographer, I always bring with me my DSLR, but when it comes to trips with family, I always prefer the lighter camera. 🙂
I tend to have an aching shoulder due to heavy camera. But yes, it's true that it is always nice to have a hd camera. 🙂