Hey Traveller,

Most people want to take at least a few photos on their trip, to immortalise those special moments, but not everyone wants the fuss of packing and keeping track of an extra piece of electronic equipment.

I remember a time when a disposable camera, or a decent camera and some spare film, was at the top of every traveller’s packing list. Some people keep a diary or collect mementos for scrapbooking, but for me photo albums were my way of reliving treasured memories – especially travel memories.

Then came the advent of digital cameras, be it high-end DSLRs or cheaper portable digital cameras, and spare film was replaced with extra memory cards and batteries or a charger - but a dedicated travel camera was still a constant companion throughout any trip. I’m sure it’s the same for you, but have you considered leaving your digital camera at home and simply using the built-in camera on your smartphone? 

I bought my first portable digital camera in anticipation of my first trip out of Europe, and my first long-haul flight. It was a fancy new 8 Megapixel Canon (far from state-of-the-art but it was all I could afford), and although digital cameras had been around for decades, ones that produced good enough quality pictures to rival film had really only become affordable in recent years. Ironically, I was on my way to Japan and should’ve waited until I got there as I would’ve been able to buy a much better one for much cheaper.

Unlike my father’s trusted film camera that he’d had for almost 30 years, my digital camera became obsolete within a decade. Not only that, but by then most decent smartphones took better pictures! That’s when I made the switch, and I haven’t looked back. This is what I use to this day, and here are a few reasons why using your phone might be the best thing that ever happened to your travel photos. (I took the pictures below in 2019 on my iPhone 11 - that's 4 generations behind what is currently available)

It takes surprisingly high-quality photos. Lots of people are shocked by this, but most recent models of the top smartphones now have a 12-megapixel (or higher) camera. That’s more than high-resolution enough to get a clear 20” x 24” print! It’s certainly enough to meet most people’s photographic needs, and way better than that camera I bought back in 2006!

No messing around with memory cards or spare batteries. You probably always keep your phone charged, and you still have the option to upload your photos to your computer at any time. But with your smartphone, you can also instantly upload images to Facebook, send them in an instant message, email them to yourself or others, or back them up on the Cloud or directly to an external hard drive - no cords or plugins required.

It’s always with you. Always. When you travel, your smart phone is likely already serving several purposes beyond just being a calling device. It’s a watch. A GPS and Satnav. A weather-checker. An email and social media connector. A music library. A translator. It’s unlikely you go many places without it, and it’s second nature to just have it on hand. (If you’re like many people, the challenge of owning one of these devices is actually limiting how much time you spend on it.) How many times have you gone somewhere and accidentally left the camera in the hotel room or in the car? Using your phone can help ensure that you’ll have a great camera handy when those moments-to-remember come up.

Interesting apps galore can make your images look pro in no time. Free and/or cheap apps are used by millions of hobby and professional photographers every day. You can crop, add frames, apply filters, and share your photos right from the app itself, plus edited photos are automatically added to your phone’s photo library. There are hundreds of photo editing applications available. You never know: you might be inspired to get more into photography through your mobile device than through an actual camera!

A 21st-Century take on the “wish you were here” postcard. You can send personalized postcards to friends and family in less than 30 seconds – without stamps or trying to find a post office. Postagram is a free app that that I’ve mentioned before. I use it regularly, it lets you upload vacation images from Instagram, Facebook, or your phone’s photo library and then add a short personal note. You enter the recipient’s address, and voila! — Postagram prints your photo and message on high-quality glossy paper and mails it directly for you. It is a fast, convenient, and personal way to keep in touch with those you love while you’re away.

Gone are the days of grainy, tiny images on small screens. Today, even those who consider themselves photo enthusiasts love the convenience and creative challenge of using their phones to capture their most treasured photographic moments. With all that your smartphone can do, maybe this is the year to take your vacation photography to new heights!

The reality is that unless you are an already experience amateur photographer, DSLRs are not a good pick for travel. They are cumbersome and you really need to already know how to use them well to get the most out of them – you don’t want to be in the middle of that steep learning curve when you are trying to enjoy your travel moments. As for point and shoot portable digital cameras, the top phones rival all but the best of these - but with added benefits. So, what do you use to take your holiday pics?

When you are ready for your next adventure I can help you design your trip down to the last meticulously managed detail; recommend the best tours with the most experienced and knowledgeable guides; access great deals on the most amazing cruise destinations with fantastic lectures and authentic encounters; and offer itineraries that will provide the most meaningful journeys, enriching experiences, and memorable stories to share. Give me a call and let’s get started! Or click here to contact me now!

And remember:

It is said that a picture paints a thousand words. So, we could say that a video shows a thousand pictures. But, neither words nor pictures, nor even a thousand videos, can ever come close to the first-hand experience of being there "in person" to Witness the Wonders of Our World - while we still can, and because we still can... You still can!

Have a wonderful day,
Best regards

Nic

Your Personal Travel Manager

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P.P.S. If you are ready to start planning your next WOW trip, please reach out to me or click here to schedule an appointment.