10 Travel Photography Tips

Dear friend,

Here is a list of all my travel clothing and equipment, hacks, and practical insights I wish I knew when I started traveling and shooting photos.

If you’re about to go on an epic travel photography trip, make sure to check out the new Lifestyle Guide Series on Travel Photography by ANNETTE KIM.

SEE UPCOMING ERIC KIM TRAVEL PHOTOGRAPHY EXPERIENCES >

1. The best travel clothing

For clothes, the newest discovery I have found is Merino Wool. Merino wool is phenomenal — it is lightweight, doesn’t stink, and is cool in hot weather, and warm in cold weather. Only downside of Merino wool is that it is expensive, but worth every penny.

What I currently have:

Merino Wool T-Shirt (Minus 33 Merino Wool Black T-Shirt Crew) and Outlier NYC Merino Wool Black T-Shirt (thanks to my friend Kevin who bought it for me as a gift)
Minus 33 Merino Wool Leggings: Way better than traveling with bulky and heavy jeans. I pair these with polyester black gym
shorts, and the leggings allow me to do yoga, and workout when on the road. They essentially look like Yoga Pants– the best new discovery I have had.
Merino Wool socks (2x), Darn Tough Socks: stay warm/cool — and don’t stink. Every evening, I wash them in the shower with shampoo, and hang dry them for the next day.

For boxers, pick up 2x pairs of the Exofficio boxer briefs.

2. Shoot at night

Silhouette. Kyoto, 2017

Generally I’ve found that at night the real locals come out. Visit local restaurants, and shoot people through windows.

3. Shoot inside restaurants

Woman with vent on head. Kyoto, 2017. Reflection of flash against metal.

Some of my best photos I’ve shot during travels is inside restaurants. Don’t only think you can make good photos outside.

4. Shoot inside coffee shops

Use a flash, and pretend like you’re shooting something inside the coffee shop, like the decor — to be more stealth.

5. Shoot at the mall

Shot inside a mall, store front. Hong Kong, 2014

You will see lots of great street photography opportunities inside the mall — and it is good, because you look like a tourist.

Also this is good when the weather is bad outside.

Ginza Six mall. Tokyo, 2017

Make photos going up and down the escalators.

Off center composition of woman on far right of the frame. Shot on an escalator at the mall. Tokyo, 2017

Cindy going down escalator. Shot from higher perspective, looking down. Mall, Kyoto 2017

Also make photos inside elevators.

Layers of people in elevator. Tokyo, 2017

Elevators are also good, because the background is clean.

Woman in elevator. Tokyo, 2016.

6. Photograph in the neighborhood where you’re staying

Kyoto, 2017

I think it is better to get to know one neighborhood really really well, instead of seeing lots of different neighborhoods superficially.

Walking woman. Kyoto, 2017

For example when Cindy and I were in Kyoto, I took most of my photos within a 20 minute walking radius of our Airbnb. This helped me get to know the streets better, in terms of the flow of people, the size of the sidewalks, as well as finding good backgrounds to shoot street photography.

Man in suit. Kyoto, 2017

7. Travel with a bag of coffee beans, grinder, and “Clever dripper”

Clever dripper in our Kyoto Airbnb.

For the true coffee addicts — travel with a small coffee bag of whole beans, and a small grinder and a “Clever dripper”. This will allow you to have a great cup of coffee to get you going in the morning.

Also, if you are like me and like to find cool coffee shops, you can take photos on the way to the coffee shop, and on the way home.

8. Make photos inside your Airbnb or hotel

Cindy organizing medicine. Inside our Airbnb in Kyoto, 2017

Photograph your partner, or your hotel room bed. This is a good form of personal photography documentary.

Onigiri rice triangles. Convenience store, Kyoto 2017

At work in our Airbnb in Amsterdam, 2017

9. Shoot inside grocery stores

One of the best ways to learn about a foreign culture — photograph their grocery stores or convenience stores.

Beer. Kyoto, 2017 convenience store.

Payment slot. Kyoto, 2017

10. One camera, one lens

Selfie in Amsterdam with Ricoh GR II.

I only travel and shoot with the RICOH GR II When I’m on the road. Less weight, less stress, and more opportunities to make photos.

Amsterdam sunset, 2017. Shot on Ricoh GR II.

Hand tattoo. Amsterdam, 2017

Eyes. Amsterdam, 2017

ERIC KIM abstract selfie, Amsterdam 2017

Conclusion

Amsterdam, 2017 #cindyproject

I used to fantasize about photography and travel. I used to think that once I was able to finally travel, I’d have unlimited inspiration, and make the best photos.

But — the last lesson is this:

Don’t expect to make good photos you travel, or else you will be massively disappointed.

Silhouette of Cindy. Prague, 2017 #cindyproject

More important than the travel photos is the travel EXPERIENCE.

How will travel give you the opportunity to reflect on life, and distance yourself from the stresses and anxieties from home? And when you go back home — what are the massive changes you can make in your life, to transform your life for the positive?