Over the years we’ve taken lots of family vacations. Some trips I have come home with the most amazing pictures, great shots of our family enjoying our time together… other times not so much. Here is a little of what I’ve learned along the way to help simplify the job. Pictures are important, but it is just as important to have fun and enjoy yourself along the way!
- Let them be kids. My favorite part of exploring new places is to see the reaction on my kid’s faces when they experience something new! I always try to catch their reactions or catch them in action while they are having fun. That’s what vacation is all about right? Try to just hang back and really focus on your kiddo enjoying the moment.
- Pack only the equipment you will use for the day. The last thing you want is to spend the whole day lugging around a heavy camera bag, and a bunch of accessories you aren’t going to use. All you really need is your camera and your favorite lens. You want to spend time with your family making memories, not fighting with your equipment.
- Include all of the behind the scenes details. Try to include lots of detail shots from your vacation. The background, the landscape, the colors, the people, the treasures your kids find. All of these elements help to tell the story of your trip.
- Make sure someone includes YOU in some of the photos. I seem to find myself behind the camera more often than I’m in front of the camera. I always joke that our kids are going to grow up and wonder where I was all those years, during all those amazing vacations! That is why even though I don’t enjoy being in front of the camera I make it a point to have my husband capture a few images of the kids and I together. There have even been times when I have gotten the kids in on the action and had them take pictures of my husband and I!
- Change your perspective. Try changing the way you normally photography your children. Leave them with your hubby for a minute and scope out an area to photograph them from a far, include the whole picture. Think above, below, or behind. Or instead of letting the kids go first, you go first so you can capture their reaction as they enter. Out of the norm is always fun!
- Only bring the equipment you need. One of the biggest mistakes I’ve made is insisting on only using my big camera on vacation. I think it was sometime this past year in NYC that I realized I was being ridiculous! On top of the constant walking in New York, I was carrying my heavy camera and only using my phone to take pictures. I was missing out on moments with my kids because I was too worried about my camera! The rest of the trip I left my DSLR in our hotel room, and only took pictures of our trip on my phone. The photos came out great, and I’ve never looked back. I would recommend packing your big camera just in case. However, if it means more time with your kids, phone pics are just fine!
- Be patient. This is a big one for me! I tend to be in a hurry a lot of the time, and I like to move from one activity to the next pretty quickly. I want the kids to see as much as possible when we’re visiting someplace new. However, I’ve learned sometimes you just need to be patient. If there is a spot you’re scoping out, and you really want your kids picture taken there you may have to wait it out. If there are a lot of people around, just wait your turn, so you don’t feel rushed when you finally get the chance. Or find something else to do in the same area and revisit the spot for a photo a little later.
- Be prepared. Last summer we braved the Road to Hana in Maui. It was our first time in Hawaii, so I had read too many blogs to count just trying to learn as much about the area as possible. One thing I learned was that the Road to Hana was going to get busy, but if you start early you just might beat the crowds. So that was the plan, we were on the road to Hana at least an hour ahead of crowd. In return I ended up with some great photos of the kids exploring some popular tourist spots on the Road to Hana, without a lot of people in the background. In fact, some of our stops were almost private excursions because we were so early! Do your research and be prepared for great photo opportunities to arise.
- Know when to put the camera down. This is my favorite tip! I love, love, love, everything about photography and documenting my kids’ lives. But, sometimes you just need to put the camera away and focus on your family. Take in the moment, hold your kiddos tight, and enjoy being mom.