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If you’re considering getting into travel photography, then there’s no time like the present. Many people are trying their hand at amateur travel photography. But, that doesn’t mean that there isn’t a place for you.

Whether you’re planning to get into travel photography as a hobby, or to take things further, here are some reasons why you can take up travel photography.

It’s a great way to record lasting memories

One of the biggest benefits of travel photography is that you’re recording your memories. Every place you visit, every holiday you go on, will be captured and immortalized. You don’t have to do travel photography for the benefit of anyone else. Sometimes, the joy is simply in getting that perfect photograph or filling a family album. Then, perhaps, sharing your work with your friends and loved ones.

It’s a chance to improve your skill

Taking photographs whilst travelling is one of the easiest and quickest ways to learn photography skills. You’ll have to adapt quickly to a wide range of different lighting styles and colours, as well as all types of subject matter. In no other situation will you learn so much about composition and narrative. Photography courses can teach you a lot about the science behind the perfect shot. But, only real-life experience will take your work up a notch. Learning to take great photographs takes time. You can speed the process up by using your camera in all sorts of different locations.

You’ll gain a new appreciation for travel destinations

Where other travellers appreciate the biggest landmarks and attractions, you’ll be the one to notice all of the beautiful details. You’ll take note of an unusual house that others simply walk past, or a local villager that’s sitting on a wall in their culture’s traditional fashion. You’ll think about things that other people don’t, like how different the sunset can look from two different beaches. Become the type of person to ‘stop and smell the roses’, and perhaps to snap a picture of them, too. As a travel photographer, you’ll learn more than most about the culture, history and beauty of the many places that you visit.

You can make money from your hobby

How would you like being paid for your shots? It’s possible to earn a living as a travel photographer and selling your images to magazines. You can also sell your photographs for calendars, books and websites. To make it as a paid travel photographer, it’s good to build up a vast portfolio of images. You’ll want to add these to image libraries. In order to have your photographs chosen, they’ll have to stand out from everyone else’s. Here’s where your travel photography hobby begins to turn into a job. Suddenly, you’re not just thinking about capturing beautiful images. You also need to take photographs that nobody else has already taken. That means stepping away from the landscape photographs and pictures of world-famous landmarks, in favour of those locations off the beaten track and those once-in-a-lifetime moments.

Did you know?

In a survey, 30% of employees said that they would take a lower wage if it meant that they had more access to business trips. Travel is important, and it’s worth some financial sacrifice, but wouldn’t it be better to earn an income doing what you love?

Though most travel photographers earn very little, the best can fund their travel lifestyle with the money that they make from your photographs. At the very least, earn a bit of pocket money by uploading your photographs to leading stock image websites.

Becoming a travel photographer doesn’t take much initial investment. Nowadays, you can capture good images with a high-quality smartphone camera.

If you decide to make a career of travel photography, or if you’re simply getting into it as a long-lasting hobby, then you can slowly invest in new equipment. Spending a lot of money is not immediately necessary, though you will want a professional camera and sturdy tripod if you’re going to sell your work.

Don’t forget to look for unique opportunities to stand out as a travel photographer. Could you get the best shots aboard a hot air balloon, or hike for hours to reach the perfect vantage point? You’ll see the world in new ways, and can share your perspective with others.

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