Thinking of traveling soon? If you’ve ever wondered “how can I take pictures like that?” when scrolling through Pinterest, look no further! This guide will help you spice up your NYC travel photos with effective posing techniques.
Living in the concrete jungle of New York is a never-ending opportunity to take travel photos. By having so many photo locations, I felt that I needed to step up my game for the ‘gram. One can feel easily overwhelmed by having too many options and end up doing the same poses over again. However, with these simple and effective techniques, you can achieve any corner of New York look absolutely stunning.
Like anything in life, the more you practice these tips, the better you’ll get! You’ll master this in no time!
Before we take our best NYC travel photos:
There are important key elements we need to address in order to compose our stunning NYC travel photos!
- Plan ahead with your pictures! This will save you the trouble of where you want to take photos. This is a great time to dust off your Pinterest board filled with inspo pics and use them to your advantage!
- Avoid taking outdoor pictures during midday or from 11 am-2 pm. Instead, try to go very early to your desired spots. By doing this, you’ll get little to no crowds in your pictures.
- Lighting can make or break a photo! To know more information about having great illumination in your travel photos, head to my recent blog post on How to Get Good Lighting for Pictures.
- These tips all apply to camera and iPhone users! If you don’t have someone to take your pictures, invest in a tripod with an iPhone mount. If you’re on the hunt for a tripod that’s suitable for you, check out these Essentials Tools for Content Creation 2022.
1. lOOK AWAY FROM THE CAMERA
This is one of the most simple yet effective poses that will spice up ANY travel picture. Although it sounds silly to look anywhere else besides the camera, it may look repetitive (smiling to the camera) if you’re planning out your photos. By doing this, you’re achieving a natural/candid look without feeling forced to pose. This is an excellent pose for people who are a bit camera-shy as well!
2. MOVE YOUR HAIR (WHIP IT GOOD!)
Feeling shy? When in doubt, add movement to your pictures! My favorite pose to add some movement is by flipping my hair from side to side and moving my skirt. Just a quick tip for all my camera users to shoot motion pictures at a shutter speed of 1/500 and higher to get a crisp shot of that hair flip. Feel free to use this photo as a reference!
3. Search FOR SYMMETRICAL BACKGROUNDS
Having symmetrical or architectural backgrounds can make a photo look well-composed. My rule of thumb is to take pictures where your subject (or you) is not always in the center of the photo. Or, if you’re in a big empty space like the photo above, the subject would look best in the middle. Places like The Vessel, New York Public Library, Oculus, Bethesda Terrace, or anything with straight/diagonal vibes can elevate any travel photo. I found this spot on my way looking for a bathroom at the New York Public Library. To this day, it’s still one of my favorite pictures because of how everything looks aesthetically pleasing to the eye.
4. SHOOT AT A LOWER ANGLE
In NYC, you’re bound to have crowds at any time of the day… Especially in Times Square! But if you really want a picture in this spot without having people in your background, aim the camera at a lower angle. Or if your friend/photographer can’t get at a lower angle, try standing on a chair or anything that can allow you to look taller.
5. INTERACT WITH A PROP
I think the prettiest pictures are the ones where you’re not looking directly at the camera but rather interacting with a prop. Something as simple as a book, scarf, hat, sunglasses, or purse can add a lifestyle element to your travel photos. If you’re at a coffee shop, like in the picture above, grab a newspaper/magazine or book and pretend you’re reading it or skim around the books.
rEADY TO SPICE UP YOUR TRAVEL PHOTOS?
Now that I’ve given you a crash course on how to spice up your photos, which tip will you apply to your next pictures? If you’re planning on going to NYC, don’t forget to check out my Instagram Spots in Manhattan, Soho, and Brooklyn.
I hope you find these tips helpful and can step up your Instagram game! If you have any advice or questions regarding travel photos, let me know in the comments below.
Remember to have fun in the process! If you’re not having fun, you’re not doing it right!
