Our Top Photo Tips For Disney Vacations

Two years ago, I had never picked up a camera. I was not a photographer that wanted to be a blogger, I was a wannabe blogger, that knew I needed to be a photographer to be a good blogger. My husband and I taught ourselves photography via the school of the internet – and now, we love answering other people’s questions about photography, since we know it’s possible to be self taught. We’ve been lucky that photography has become a passion for us – and not just a means to an end for the blog. We love photographing the world, and one of our favorite places in the world to take photos is Disney World. Today, we’re breaking down our top Disney photo tips for beginners, to make your family photos on vacation turn out even better.

1. Know Your Camera
Two years ago, when the blog first started, we took our first DSLR on one of our first ‘blogging’ trips. I hadn’t done any research on the camera, our how it worked before the trip. Needless to say, I’ve never been able to use many of those early pictures from that first trip, and it’s only because I didn’t know my own gear. No matter what kind of camera you have, if you take some time to truly learn your own gear, inside and out, you’ll always get better pictures.

LJP_0231LJP_0478DSC_3135-2DSC_27982. Have The Right Equipment
If you are wanting to take better vacation photos, whether it’s for personal use, or a website, we suggest investing in photography equipment. Today’s phones can take great photos, but if you’re looking to take professional level photos, we do suggest investing in a DSLR. We started with a Nikon D3200 two years ago to learn with, and now are using a full frame Nikon D750. Our favorite lens come from the Sigma Art Line. This one is great for beginners, while we recommend this one for people that are more advanced.

DSC_2560DSC_0068DSC_002520160626-LJP_65373. Take Pictures Of Things
If you want to put together a better representation of your vacation to Disney World, it can’t be 2,48085 pictures of you. Take pictures of things without people in them. Grab a picture of the Mickey Ice Cream Bar you loved eating, or the Castle with the sun setting behind it. Snap a solo shot of your hotel, or of a character mugging for the camera. Establishing the scene of magic at Disney World will help make your vacation albums even better.

20160626-LJP_651320160626-LJP_650920160626-LJP_648320160626-LJP_63874. Take Pictures Of People
We know this is contradictory to the rule above, but this is YOUR vacation. You want to get into the photo! This is the rule that’s hardest for us to remember, as we are mainly taking pictures of things a lot for the blog. Try to take pictures of people that are out of the ordinary – like pictures that are on rides, or candid photos with characters, to show your vacation how it happened.

20160625-LJP_614520160625-LJP_609620160625-LJP_60605. Follow The Rule Of Thirds
This is considered the ‘golden rule’ of photography, but think of it as a guideline. So, the basic principle, when boiled down to the most layman definition (and photography terms can get REALLY confusing), is that you should avoid putting your subject in the middle of the frame. Your pictures will be better composed if you try to keep your subject on an intersecting line. If you turn the grid-lines on your screen, this will make it easier to see what I’m talking about.

20160624-LJP_543920160625-LJP_598220160624-LJP_573120160624-LJP_5481Taking better vacation photos is easy – we’re living proof that it can be done! (Two years ago I could barely take a decent IPhone picture!). Keeping a few basic photography principles in mind will help your family pictures turn out better, and help you relive the magic for years to come (at the risk of sounding like a Disney infomercial).

Other Blogs You Might Enjoy:

Beginners Guide To Nighttime Photography

Beginners Guide To Manual Photography

Beginners Guide To Fireworks Photography