As a hobby landscape photographer, it’s not easy when it comes to holidays. We would like to spend much more time travelling or pursuing our passion for nature photography on holiday. On the one hand, we usually have a main job and only have a limited number of holiday days available, or the family would like to travel to completely different destinations than we have planned for photography.
But holidays are also leisure time and hobbies are something you do in your spare time, so it’s legitimate to want to go photography, isn’t it? I think so. To help you out with this mess, and to save you from a family quarrel, I’ve put together some tips on how you can combine a holiday and the hobby of landscape photography without the family having to cut back and maybe still get some portfolio-ready pictures.
This article is also available as a video. So if reading is too tedious for you, the YouTube video is linked below.
You want to be a landscape photographer in the mountains, but your family wants to go to the beach? Time for a compromise. Pick an area where the mountains and the sea are not far apart, so that you can maybe go to the mountains or at least to some interesting hills quite quickly for photo excursions and lie on the beach with your family during the day. For example, maybe Mallorca, Madeira, Azores, Sardinia and so on.…
Also, beautiful scenery can be found on the beach, so keep an open mind. Go with the family’s wishes, but try to help determine the destination so there’s something for everyone. And don’t be disappointed if your family doesn’t really want to go to the Highlands of Iceland.
One thing should be clear to you from the start. The time of day when the light is not ideal for landscape photography belongs to the family without exception. It is almost impossible to take a landscape photograph worthy of a portfolio during this time.
At most, take a small set with you for family pictures or reportage, that’s it. Otherwise, take care of your family and enjoy your time together with them. That has to be your concession, but hopefully it shouldn’t be too difficult for you in general.
As “horse-trading”, you negotiate that you can still take your full set with you on holiday. So tripod, filters, lenses, camera, whatever you need.
If you are driving your own car, this should generally not be a problem. If you are flying far away, think carefully in advance about what you really need and, if necessary, book a separate piece of hand luggage for the flight. Under no circumstances do cameras and lenses belong in your suitcase! Who knows when and where it will arrive.
Scout out the locations at the holiday destination online in advance. Do this via photo platforms, hashtags, Google, and anything else you can think of. Save these locations so that you also have access to them on holiday. Maybe you can find out in advance at what time of day or in what weather the locations are most photogenic. Make a note of everything. Look for as many photo spots as you can find.
But be aware that you can’t and won’t take all the pictures you set your mind to. Every holiday is too short for that, for sure.
It is also important to be prepared for excursions with the family, in addition to your research work for your destination photos. Be well informed and try to know what is available locally in the region that is suitable for the family. Especially if your family is more active. Look for interesting places, viewpoints, offers for children and so on. If you have something up your sleeve at all times for both your family and your photography, you will be the boss or the lady of the situation at all times.
For us, planning a holiday usually goes like this: My wife wants to go to a certain country. If it really doesn’t offer anything photographically, which is not very often the case, I suggest a similar area or country. We usually agree on something that we think will make a nice family holiday, because that’s the main point. On the side, I make sure that I still find something to photograph locally.
Since my wife more or less dictates the destination, I specify the region, that’s the compromise. So I quickly research where the landscape is impressive or where I hope to find photo locations. For an overview, travel blogs or websites of other nature and landscape photographers are often enough. Google helps to find the right sites.
But as a compromise, I also make sure that there is everything the family imagines, if possible. Like a beach nearby, to stay with this example. Sometimes it becomes a road-trip-light, with different accommodations, but 2–3 nights per accommodation, when we realise that there is a lot to discover and it doesn’t make sense to always start from one place.
Again, my wife gets to choose the accommodation. Of course, we both always have a veto on every decision, at any time, but that way we still get to our final travel plans quickly and efficiently. It has to be said, however, that neither of us is that picky about where we stay.
If we are then on holiday locally, the day is usually spent not only by the pool or on the beach. We are quite active and want to see and experience a lot. During the day, there might be something that is photographically exciting for you and entertaining for the family at the same time. If the family is happy, you might have a few minutes for photography. Otherwise, as I said, don’t use these daytime excursions for photography, but for getting to know the locations and scouting with your eyes.
Is there anything interesting to photograph here, a special motif, special foregrounds or details? Is this spot more suitable for sunrise, i.e. in the morning, or for sunset, i.e. in the evening? Also look for spots as close as possible to your accommodation. You can then visit these spontaneously and at relatively short notice, should photographic weather and great light arise.
In my eyes, the ideal time for landscape photography is often in the morning. It’s the same on holiday. The whole world is still asleep and you have the spots to yourself. Your family will also want to sleep in on holiday, so that’s your advantage. In summer, use the time until the family is awake for your photo excursions.
It’s different if you want to go to a sunset spot, for example. On holiday, your children may be awake a little longer than in everyday life. Your wife also doesn’t want to be left alone in the evening. After all, you are on holiday together. So think of something. Prepare a small “event”, for example a picnic at the location and enjoy the sunset together and take a few pictures along the way or let your camera take a timelapse of the sunset while you toast the beautiful holiday with your wife in your arms.
If you have lost a lot of sleep due to your photo excursions, you may have the opportunity to take a short siesta on the beach at midday, otherwise you should definitely consider the next point.
Remember, you are on holiday. Don’t go out every day. That can cause resentment, and your holiday is there so that you can recover. Physically and mentally. If the time is right and the weather is good, then set off with determination and don’t try to find something to photograph. That never works.
So be well prepared. You probably have more spots than you can go to. That’s normal and shouldn’t dampen your spirits. Pick the best spots that suit the weather you find and you might come back home with a portfolio shot or two as well as some great holiday pictures.
Oh yes — you almost forgot the most important tip — when you come back from taking photos in the morning, bring some bread rolls with you. Everyone will be happy and no one will be angry with you for sneaking out of the house at night.
I hope with these tips you will be able to plan your family holiday and pursue your hobby of landscape photography on the side. Do you have any other ideas that could be helpful for planning? Then feel free to post them in the comments! If you now feel better prepared to manage your holiday with family and hobby, feel free to sign up for the newsletter or follow me on any of my social media channels. Thank you for your support!
I say ciao until next time and have a nice holiday!
I’ve also put all the points together in a video, feel free to watch it and give feedback if you liked it!
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