It’s the difference between sharing a series of akwardly posed photos and photos taken in the moment that can take you back to a moment.

That’s the difference between a snapshot and a story and it’s a shift anyone can make, with any camera, including the one in your pocket. It is something I work on constantly and today I’m sharing some of the things I keep in mind to move my photos into a story.

1. Think in chapters, not shots A great travel photo story has a beginning, middle, and end just like any good story. Before you start shooting, ask yourself: what is this trip actually about? The chaos of a street market? The quiet of a mountain sunrise? Once you know the story, you’ll know what to look for.

2. Mix your shot types Single-location photos feel flat. Stories have variety. Think across different types of shots: sweeping landscapes that set the scene, candid portraits that capture emotion, close-up details that add texture, and action shots that bring energy.

Together, they give the viewer a full experience of the place.

3. Let people anchor the scene Landscapes are gorgeous. But people make them feel real. Adding a person in brightly colored clothes to a landscape shot provides perspective and depth, and is often the difference between a photo you delete and one you frame. The person doesn’t need to pose: in fact, it’s better if they don’t.

I aim to have people in most of my shots

4. Chase candid over posed Candid photos tell a story and evoke emotion in ways that posed shots rarely do. Instead of asking people to stop and smile, learn to anticipate the moment: position yourself, then let the action continue naturally. Genuine emotions like laughter, surprise, or curiosity make for far more compelling images than any posed shot.

5. Don’t overlook the small details The big vista is obvious. But the details are what make a place specific. Look for small, unnoticed moments the way light reflects off a cobblestone street, a vendor’s hands passing over change, the texture of an ancient doorway. These are the photos that transport someone back to a place.

6. Use light to set the mood Light is the emotional undercurrent of every great photo. The warm light of golden hour, just after sunrise or just before sunset — can turn an average shot into something magical, casting long shadows and enhancing colors with a soft, ethereal glow. If you can plan just one thing on a trip, plan to be outside with your camera at golden hour.

Looking for more actionable tips for taking better photography?

My guides on Travel Photography

Beginner Guides

• Composition Techniques for Stunning Travel Photos

• Why Your Smart Phone is the Best Travel Camera

• Types of Travel Photography

Intermediate & Advanced Techniques

• How to Take Better Travel Photos

• Exploring Light in Travel Photography

Planning & Gear

• Best travel lenses and Camera Gear

• Editing on Your Phone Like a Pro

Courses & Challenges

• How to Overcome Common Travel Photography Challenges

• Travel Photography Courses (this is FREE for paid members or you can purchase the course on it’s own)

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Travel Tools, Gear and Deals

As a travel agent, writer, photographer and active traveller, I often come across amazing deals and resources and share them here. Last month I launches a course to share my top tips of budgeting for Adventure Travel - I put all my top tips into this course for saving money.

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Your Travel To-Do List

Before you go - shop our favorite outdoor gear.

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The Best Resources to Plan Better Travel - the tools we actually use to plan travel.

Viator – this has lots of tour options often run by local guides.

Get my Guide – I usually search both viator and Get my guide for tours

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Have fun out there,

Gretchen

3 Links/Substack

• How to set a few simple photo intentions before your trip

• When to take photos (and when to put the phone away)

• How to batch your shots to stay present

• Easy ways to make the most of your phone’s features without overthinking it

Whether you're capturing everyday moments or once-in-a-lifetime views, this episode will help you return home with photos that actually mean something—and memories that feel even richer.

Want to take better travel photos on your next trip - join as a paid subscriber to get phone travel photo course.

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Before we jump into big surprised, I want to share the biggest thing you can do to improve you travel photos. It’s not a filter or an app - it’s learning the basics on photo composition.

For years I took the same basic photos of my family on vacation. OK - everyone look, smile, snap - photo.

After investing in learning a few basic photo tips, my photos began to improve dramatically. Today I take and share my travel photos in many different ways and I want to share my biggest composition lessons to help you capture better moments on your next vacation.

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Rule of Thirds & Leading Lines

Rule of Thirds: Make Every Photo Feel More Balanced
Imagine a tic-tac-toe board overlaying your camera (you can actually put lines on most camera screens to show these grid lines). By placing key subjects (like a person, mountain peak, or building) along those lines, or where they intersect, you create a photo that feels more natural and pleasing to the eye.

Why it Works:
✔️ Keeps your subject out of the dead center
✔️ Creates a sense of space and movement
✔️ Helps guide the viewer’s eye

How to Apply It:

• Align the horizon with the top or bottom third, not the middle

• Place your subject on one of the four intersection points

• Have people in the shot looking or moving into the frame, not away from it

Pro Tip: Instead of putting a lighthouse dead center, place it on the left third and balance the right with open sea. It tells a stronger story.

If you have a person moving on one of these lines - make sure they are moving towards the center of the photo.

Leading Lines: Direct the Viewer’s Attention

Leading lines are natural or man-made elements that draw the viewer’s eye into the scene or toward your subject. Think roads, rivers, bridges, or even a line of trees.

Where to Look:

• Winding roads leading to a mountain

• Train tracks fading into the distance

• A hallway pulling you toward a grand cathedral

• Shorelines curving toward the sunset

Pro Tip: When photographing a city street, use the lines of buildings or sidewalks to lead the viewer’s eye to a person or landmark.

In nature, the leading lines are often the flow of a river, a path, a shoreline.

Framing & Perspective: Tell a Better Story

Framing: Use What’s Around You
Framing your subject with elements in the foreground adds depth, draws attention, and adds context.

Where to Find Natural Frames:

• Doorways and windows

• Tree branches or archways

• Railings, fences, or rock formations

Pro Tip: Frame the Eiffel Tower through a bridge’s ironwork for a more layered, storytelling effect.

Capture a beach from inside a cave or a scene through a doorway.

Perspective: The Angle Makes the Photo

The angle you choose changes how your viewer feels. Get low, get high, move to the side, don’t just take every shot from eye level.

Try These Angles:

• Low-Angle: Makes monuments feel grand and powerful

• High-Angle: Great for crowds, markets, or looking down into a valley

• Over-the-Shoulder: Adds narrative—show what someone’s experiencing

• Lateral Movement: Don’t shoot everything head-on—come in from the side for depth and energy

Pro Tip: Skip the standard gondola pic—shoot from water level at an angle to immerse the viewer.

The image below taken from above adds to the drama of this scene.

Capturing Movement: Bring Your Photos to Life

Travel is full of energy, markets, performances, waves, kids on the move. Capturing motion helps tell the full story of your adventures.

Ways to Capture Movement:

• Freeze the Action: Use burst mode for crisp, clear motion

• Motion Blur: Try a slow shutter (via app) for dreamy water or car trails

• Panning: Move with your subject for a blurred background and dynamic shot

Best iPhone Tools:

• Burst Mode: Hold the shutter for quick series of shots

• Live Photos: Capture motion before and after the main photo

• Slow Shutter Apps: Try apps like Slow Shutter Cam for creative blur

Pro Tip: Use burst mode to capture a street performer mid-jump or panning to follow a tuk-tuk zipping through Bangkok.

Add Depth & Creativity

Flat photos feel lifeless. Great photos pull you in. Add depth by including a foreground element or choosing angles that show layers of the scene. (some of the methods above also help to create depth)

Ways to Create Depth:

• Include a person or object in the foreground

• Let the ground or path lead toward your subject

• Use light, shadows, and layers to separate elements

Play with Creative Angles:

• Get low to highlight texture (think cobblestones or sand)

• Use puddles, sunglasses, or mirrors for reflections

• Shoot into strong light for silhouettes or dramatic shadows

Pro Tip: Capture a camel silhouetted against the sunset for maximum visual impact.

Want to Dive Deeper?

If you loved these tips, there’s more waiting for you. HERE’S MY EXCITING ANNOUNCEMENT!

I created a full course designed to help travelers take better photos using just your phone.

It includes short videos, text guides, and examples to help you master your phone, improve your composition, and start capturing memories you’ll love for years. This isn’t a course for becoming a better photographer exactly, but becoming a better travel photographer for capturing photos in the go!

This is not a course for photographers looking to improve their photos, but travelers looking to capture better shots.

Ready to level up your travel photography?

Next week - I’m launching this course - you can purchase it directly in the newsletter, or it’s included for free (no additional cost) for all paid subscribers.

You can also participate in the 7 Day Travel Photo Challenge.

Don’t just take pictures tell stories.

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See the world differently, and capture it beautifully.

Happy travels,

Gretchen