Special interest guide
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Photography vacation tips & advice
Take nothing but pictures, leave nothing but footprints.![]()
Responsible Travel’s advice for photographers
This oft-repeated saying is understood by many to be the ethos of responsible tourism, but at Responsible Travel, we’re not quite so sure this is the case. Snapping and leaving is not what our photography vacations are all about; ideally, as well as a photograph of someone you should have learned a bit about them and their life, their family, their job. In return, you may want to share with them something about your own life, or to purchase their flatbread or pho, or send them a copy of their portrait once you have printed it out back home.
Part of being on a photography vacation is learning how to take photos of people respectfully and ethically. Ultimately, the happier your subject is, the better the final shot will be. Always request permission before taking someone’s photo; if they are unsure, just thank them and don’t try and change their mind. And, just as back home, never photograph a child without their parent/guardian’s permission.
Even better, strike up a conversation – about the produce they are selling, the food they are cooking, the artwork they are creating. If you don’t get a photo, you’ve still learned about the local culture (and local people are encouraged to see tourists as people they can engage with, not just people who come along, take a photo and leave). And if you do get a photo, you’ll have a lovely story to accompany it as well.
Except in certain circumstances (Ethiopia's Omo Valley being a notorious example), you shouldn’t offer money for photographs, or give sweets or trinkets to children. Sometimes it may be appropriate to give gifts to a village elder or local guide to distribute later on. However, if you are taking a photo of a stallholder or craftsperson, for example, it’s a nice gesture to purchase something from them. Alternatively, in more remote regions where people rarely have the opportunity to take pictures of themselves or their families, you could offer to send them the printed photos, but only do this if you are sure you are going to follow up on your promise.
Except in certain circumstances (Ethiopia's Omo Valley being a notorious example), you shouldn’t offer money for photographs, or give sweets or trinkets to children. Sometimes it may be appropriate to give gifts to a village elder or local guide to distribute later on. However, if you are taking a photo of a stallholder or craftsperson, for example, it’s a nice gesture to purchase something from them. Alternatively, in more remote regions where people rarely have the opportunity to take pictures of themselves or their families, you could offer to send them the printed photos, but only do this if you are sure you are going to follow up on your promise.
Research your vacation
Geraldine Westrupp, from of our supplier Wild Photography Vacations:
“Check out the people who’ll be working on the trips, have a look at their website thoroughly and see if you like the style of images that the tutors are putting out. Phone the people up and talk to them – ask them questions and really find out what you’re getting into before you pay you money. Make sure it is a proper, committed photography learning vacation because a lot of companies nowadays have jumped on the bandwagon of saying ‘photo tours’ – and they’re just glorified bus trips where you hop out and take photographs. So ask hard questions of what you learn and how it’s structured.”
“Check out the people who’ll be working on the trips, have a look at their website thoroughly and see if you like the style of images that the tutors are putting out. Phone the people up and talk to them – ask them questions and really find out what you’re getting into before you pay you money. Make sure it is a proper, committed photography learning vacation because a lot of companies nowadays have jumped on the bandwagon of saying ‘photo tours’ – and they’re just glorified bus trips where you hop out and take photographs. So ask hard questions of what you learn and how it’s structured.”
Lesley Schofield, from our supplier All Points East, shares her photography vacations advice for those going solo: “Most people come on these tours on their own – even people who are not single. Sometimes they say it’s their husband or wife’s idea of hell – but they want to come on this tour. A lot of people choose it because it’s their hobby – and one doesn’t always share one’s hobby with their other half. This makes them quite nice tours to meet people. Typically, they’re not going away to meet other people in a social way, they’re going because they’ll want to talk to other people about photography. And most of our travelers have a wide interest in other places – so they’ll look at other photography they’ve done, or wildlife for example, and discuss that in the evenings. There are other likeminded people there, people that have gone off to pursue an interest rather than just going off on vacation.”
Geraldine Westrupp, mountain guide, photographer and founder of our supplier Wild Photography Vacations, says safety is as important as photography: “Most of our staff have an impeccable mountain background. They’re excellent photographers, but they also know how to look after people. And that’s prime, because the environments we’re operating in are wild and remote and we need people who are used to dealing with groups in wild places. Because of my background, I know a lot of photographic people who come from that background so all these guys that you see are used to looking after people, and that is important, especially when you’re standing on a glacier or an icy beach, you’ve got to know how to take care of broken legs and all sorts.”
Nathan Horton, our photography vacations supplier in Southeast Asia, recommends thinking about the words you use: “You’ve got all these words about how to 'capture' images, how to 'shoot' photographs. These all sound a bit like hunting: capturing images and shooting people. One of the first things I try to teach people is how to get that language out of their heads, to try to talk about creating images or making pictures rather than taking them. Don’t 'shoot' people; try and engage with people. Unfortunately, a lot of the language we learn as photographers makes us sound like hunters, and we don’t want to come across that way.”
Northern Lights photography vacation in Iceland, coast & ice
Photographic trip in the stunning west and southeast Iceland
From
£4100 to £4400
10 days
ex flights
Ladakh photography tour in India
Photographic journey through the most remote part of India.
From
US $6950 to US $7250
13 days
ex flights
Winter photography tour in Iceland
Little-visited East Fjords and iconic southern locations
From
£4600
10 days
ex flights
Assam and Nagaland photography tour, India
Tribal life and festivals of Nagaland & tea gardens of Assam
From
£5000
16 days
ex flights
Iceland Southern Highlands photography vacation
Photograph Iceland's remote, striking highlands
From
£6100
11 days
ex flights
Bulgaria photography tour, Surva festivals & traditions
Ancient traditions and festivals of Bulgaria
From
€3750
7 days
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Photography vacation tips
At Responsible Travel, we think the best people to advise our travelers are often... other travelers. They always return from our tours with packing tips, weather reports, ideas about what to do - and opinions about what not to.
We have selected some of the most useful photography vacation advice that our guests have provided over the years to help you make the very most of your vacation - and the space inside your camera bag.
We have selected some of the most useful photography vacation advice that our guests have provided over the years to help you make the very most of your vacation - and the space inside your camera bag.
Make sure you get enough sleep before coming - the opportunity to capture fantastic landscapes will keep you busy!![]()
- Nicola Heffernan
"Weatherproof cameras are advisable and photographer's gloves are useful. Your hands will definitely get cold. Silica gel can be handy as an additional method of protecting equipment from moisture after use." – Tania Skye, Iceland
"Specific camera insurance might be a good idea. Stand by your equipment, one of the group lost his camera when his unattended tripod fell over into the water." – Eileen Young, Iceland
"Make sure you take your thermals and good footwear! Remember, you're at the mercy of Mother Nature and Lady Luck." – Kym Barlow
"Maybe do not weigh yourself down with too many lens, comfortable shoes and make the most of the review sessions." – Rob Innis, Andalucia
"Traveling in a small group offers the opportunity to take nice pictures." – Robert Hoorn, SE China
"Approach with an open mind to cultural differences. Be prepared for some potentially long days on your feet, with your camera gear!" – Garron Hilton, SE China
"Specific camera insurance might be a good idea. Stand by your equipment, one of the group lost his camera when his unattended tripod fell over into the water." – Eileen Young, Iceland
"Make sure you take your thermals and good footwear! Remember, you're at the mercy of Mother Nature and Lady Luck." – Kym Barlow
"Maybe do not weigh yourself down with too many lens, comfortable shoes and make the most of the review sessions." – Rob Innis, Andalucia
"Traveling in a small group offers the opportunity to take nice pictures." – Robert Hoorn, SE China
"Approach with an open mind to cultural differences. Be prepared for some potentially long days on your feet, with your camera gear!" – Garron Hilton, SE China
Even if you are a photography beginner, go for it… you'll learn very fast.![]()
– Mary Gledhill
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