Summer Holiday Photography Tips: Capture the Moments, Not Just the View

There's something rather lovely about looking back through old holiday photographs. A couple of weeks ago I was searching for one particular picture and ended up spending a happy hour revisiting holidays I'd almost forgotten. As I scrolled through the photos, I realised that the real goal of holiday photography isn't simply to record where you've been and the people you were with. It's to capture what made that holiday special.

Whether you're heading abroad, spending a week in Cornwall or camping a little closer to home, here are a few simple ideas that I hope will help you come home with photographs that tell the story of your holiday.

And if you're still getting ready for your trip, you might find these pre-holiday photography tips helpful too.

Photograph the moments you'll want to remember

It's easy to spend a holiday photographing places. The beach, the hotel, the mountain view or the famous attraction all deserve a place in your album because they help tell the story of where you've been.

But whenever I look back through my own holiday photographs, it's the ones of people that I treasure the most. One of my favourite holiday photos is simply my daughter having a quiet moment hugging her unicorn toy from Disneyland. Every time I see it I'm transported straight back to that warm evening in Florida and how excited and entranced the kids were by everything.

The same is true of photographs of the children building sandcastles, laughing together in the water park or proudly holding a giant Butterbeer at Harry Potter World. None of them are iconic holiday images, but every one of them captures a memory I'd never want to lose.

As well as photographing where you are, remember to photograph what everyone is doing. Those are often the pictures you'll treasure most.

Look beyond the obvious

Every destination has its postcard view, and there's nothing wrong with photographing it. But once you've taken that picture, look around.

Some of my favourite holiday photographs are of things I almost walked past. A dragonfly resting beside the swimming pool. Washing drying on the balcony of our apartment (dramatic in black and white). A pelican on the shoreline in Florida. An old American school bus on the freeway.

Years later, it's those little details that transport me back to a place far more quickly than the famous landmarks.

Ask yourself, "What would I never see if I was at home?" That's often where the best photographs are.

Make the most of summer light

If you've ever wondered why your beach photos don't look quite as beautiful as they did in real life, you're certainly not alone. The middle of the day can be surprisingly difficult to photograph. Bright sunshine creates harsh shadows, everyone starts squinting and landscapes can look flatter than you remember.

Instead of battling the harsh light, use it. Photograph sparkling water, colourful inflatables, children splashing in the sea or an ice cream that's already starting to melt. Save the sweeping landscapes for later in the day when the light softens and everything feels a little calmer.

Instead of fighting the light, think about what it does well.

Give your sunset a story

We've all photographed a spectacular sunset only to find the picture doesn't quite live up to the memory. It's often because a photograph needs more than beautiful sunset. It needs a subject and a story.

In this photograph, the sunset and the sky are stunning. But the people gathered along the pier tell the story of that spectacular evening when everyone stopped to watch the sun go down.

Next time you're photographing a sunset, don't just look at the sky. Look for what completes the scene. A pier, a sailing boat, children playing in the waves or someone simply enjoying the view can transform the photograph.

A beautiful sunset catches your eye. A beautiful sunset with a story holds your attention.

Don't be too quick to delete

When you get home, it's tempting to go through your holiday photos and immediately delete any that aren't perfect. I'd encourage you to pause before you do.

This photograph of dolphins isn't technically perfect. They were moving quickly, the boat was moving and the focus isn't sharp. But I still love it. It captures the excitement of seeing dolphins swimming alongside the boat and, somehow, the slight softness almost adds to the feeling of movement. It feels quite artistic (accidentally!).

Before you press delete, ask yourself one question: does this photograph make me feel something? If it does, it's probably worth keeping.

Come home with the story of your holiday

When you unpack your suitcase this summer, I hope you also unpack a collection of photographs that makes you smile. I hope there's a beautiful landscape that reminds you where you stayed, a favourite family photograph that captures a special moment and a sunset that takes you straight back to a warm evening by the sea.

But I also hope there are photographs of the little things. The unexpected wildlife, the sandy feet, the melting ice cream, the quiet moments and the details that nobody else would have thought to photograph. Those are the images that tell the story of your holiday. Those are the photographs you'll treasure.

And if you'd like to become more confident with your phone or camera, I'd love to help. Whether you prefer learning in a small workshop or with individual tuition, you'll find friendly, practical photography training designed to help you take better photos without making things complicated.