How To Combine Luxury Getaways With Stunning Photo Ops

Luxury vacations are the ultimate break from your daily life and the mundane that come with it. Dishes? We don’t know ‘em. Laundry? There’s a service for that! Not only are you pampered like royalty when you’re on a luxury vacation, but you also get to spend time somewhere you may never have been before and see historically significant sites or natural beauty so pristine you can’t believe it’s real. Combine the experience of traveling to amazing destinations with accommodation that caters to everything in the comfort and convenience departments, and you’ve got a perfect experience. The only thing that could make it more perfect is having some keepsake to memorialize the occasion — something that you can look at for years to come and relive the experience of this luxury escape — something like a photograph. Since vacation photos are a must for memories and some incredible social media content, you’re about to learn how to combine your well-deserved vacation with photo opportunities that will preserve the memories for a lifetime.

1. Travel Well

For many vacationers, the actual travel part of the experience is a means to an end, not a part of the luxury. Long airport lines, flights at awful hours, and bus trips surrounded by strangers — it’s not fun, but it’s necessary. If you’re booking a luxury vacation, the thing to do is to start indulging in that luxury from the outset. Why not book a car service instead of taking an Uber to the airport? Instead of booking a commercial flight, look into private jet hire. Treat yourself to a helicopter ride to an especially remote destination, or charter a yacht from one location on the coast to another.

Not only will the travel portion of the vacation become something you love thanks to plush, comfortable surroundings, attentive and immaculately trained staff, beautiful decor, and incredible cuisine, but you’ll also open up many photo opportunities you can enjoy in relative privacy. Imagine yourself on a pristine white and wood deck with the ocean’s deep blue fading out of focus behind you — the breeze in your hair would make for an excellent reel! 

Picture yourself boarding a private jet for the first leg of your trip. You could bring along your tripod and get a few snaps of you reclining in the lap of luxury, watching the world roll by beneath you. The crew on a private yacht or jet, and your party, are the only people around to see the content creation process.

2. Visit Remote Destinations

This tip comes with many benefits. To begin with, the more remote a destination is, the less likely it is to be overwhelmed by crowds of tourists. This means you get better, calmer, and more enjoyable access to the location and significantly fewer interruptions or limitations on taking beautiful souvenir photos. Remote locations are often more undeveloped and, as a result, more naturally beautiful and generally untouched by human interference. This means you get to enjoy a place that’s probably been more or less the same for hundreds, if not thousands, of years. 

Remote locations also make for more interesting and unique photographs, as fewer people can access them. Machu Picchu is a much less photographed destination than Rome, for example. Whether the image is of you and the scenery or just the scenery, it’ll be something to treasure.

3. Plan Ahead and Do Your Research

There are some moments when “winging it” is the best way to get a dynamic image or snap something you may never see again. That said, if you’ve gone into trouble planning a luxury vacation, you should make the most of your gorgeous accommodation and surroundings by researching and planning to get the most iconic images you can.

• What times are sunrise and sunset? One of the most important things a photographer can understand is what light is best to shoot in. That light is always early morning or late afternoon/ early evening, including golden hour. If you have this information, you can make time that works with the light in your day.
• Will the sun rise from or set behind mountains or any kind of cityscape? This will affect the amount of light you can access right after sunrise and before sunset, as shadows will be far more excessive.
• Where are the most touristy locations around you? If you want to shoot some images in these locations, find out how early they open and how late they close, so that you can avoid the crowds.
• Observe the tides: If you want to enjoy the deliciously warm sun and refreshing waves at the beach, take a few seaside photos, and check the local tide charts. You don’t want to run out of beach when you’ve just started shooting.
• Explore your resort or hotel: Find beautifully decorated, calm, and quiet places that scream for a selfie moment. You’ll avoid catching other guests in your images and ensure that you aren’t standing in the way of staff doing their jobs or other guests being able to relax and fully enjoy their surroundings. Again, it’s a good idea to check out what times and places are busiest and quietest to get the most uncluttered shots.
• Inform yourself about the safety of the areas you are traversing: Are there unsafe areas that you and your camera should avoid? This is a critical point, as travelers don’t always understand their surroundings, and you must be aware so to stay safe. Ask the staff at your accommodation, as they will likely be local and able to fill you in.

4. Keep Your Eyes Peeled

Not only will this keep you safe and your camera intact, but it may also make you privy to intimate moments, cobbled alleyways, or a flock of birds you may otherwise not have seen. 

Luxurious Memories

Nothing takes you back in time like a great photograph, and your luxury vacation is the perfect time to take gorgeous pictures and make memories that will last a lifetime. So don’t forget your camera — every moment is a chance to capture something unforgettable.