Travel portraits allow us to connect and tell stories about the places we visit. In our fast-paced, digital age, it is so easy to take a snapshot and upload it to our favorite social media outlets, all while briskly walking by. If we can make an interesting photograph without actually looking up, what happens when we stop to share a few words, look closer, and make a true connection?
If you have a trip in the books or simply have a love for travel, there's a really good chance you'll snap a shot or two of a stranger now and then. How does it feel? I know, it can be a vulnerable experience for both photographer and subject, but it doesn't have to be.
I hope the following tips might help you not only take more meaningful travel portraits, but also connect and honor the people you meet along the way.
Photographs tell stories, but the act of making them, whether on an iPhone or Canon 5d Mark III, can add depth to our experience.
1) Make a Genuine Connection (Learn the local language and smile.) :)
While preparing for your trip, take a few extra minutes every day and study the local language. Learn a few key phrases and local slang. This delights locals and shows respect.
I will never forget our very first day in Bali when our driver, Gustaaf, was a wee bit late (an hour or two). When he finally arrived full of apology, I quickly responded with “Sampunang sangsaya!” (Essentially, “no worries” in the local Baliness dialect.) He was delightfully surprised and this allowed our first exchange to be one of laughter, smiles, and mutual respect, despite the late start.
Whenever possible, it was my goal to communicate with locals in Indonesian or Baliness. Their delight and warm smiles in return never grew stale and this connection allowed me to create beautiful portraits, beyond typical travel snapshots.
Portraits taken in Bali, Indonesia
Photograph taken in Bali, Indonesia
Portraits taken in Bali, Indonesia
To keep it real:
It’s not always so easy. In the small fishing town of Hopkins, Belize, even though there was no language barrier, I found making portraits of the locals much more challenging than in Bali.
However, the same lessons were revealed. Approach someone with a smile, compliment them, show respect, and ask politely to take their photograph. Many people in Belize, mostly men, declined. As a photographer who is visualizing a killer shot, it is hard to walk away, but it is more important to show the upmost respect.
2) Zoom with your Feet (Change your vantage point and work quickly!)
Once you’ve made a genuine connection and you have your subject’s permission, “zoom” by moving your feet, rather than just the focal length of your lens. Think about how it feels when someone points a camera at you – perhaps you are a closet supermodel, but I assume most us get a little sweaty palm action as the self-consciousness creeps in.
Therefore, for the following series of images, I began by kindly approaching this lovely woman as she washed her dishes. Realizing I was stepping into a stranger’s personal space, with immense respect, I complimented her on the color of her beautiful home, her adorable kids, and how the light was just perfect.
When she obliged to my request to take a few photographs, I started by stepping back to document the entire scene with a wide vantage point. Then, I moved in closer for a full-length photo of her daughter, as I sensed she was open to my camera. Finally, as I interacted and sensed her comfort, I took a close-up portrait, which fit my original vision. As a token of gratitude, I showered her with compliments as I showed her the images I had captured.
Know your camera, be quick, and continue to connect with a smile as you shoot. This intentional approach not only allows your subject to ease into having their portrait taken, but it also gives you a diverse collection of images from a variety of vantage points.
Photograph taken in Hopkins, Belize
Portraits taken in Hopkins, Belize
3) Look Close and Move beyond Portraits (Capture details to tell a story.)
Environmental portraits tell a story about a person by incorporating their surroundings. When I took these photographs of Caitlin, a local to Hopkins, Belize who is originally from Ohio, I dug deeper by documenting her quaint bakery off the beaten path and the subtle details within.
Caitlin is full of life, inspiration, and spirituality and shares it openly. She works tirelessly to support her family with her bakery and her devotion to both is apparent through the spark in her eyes and the tiniest details of her environment. I was intrigued by her story and found the more I photographed, the more I learned, simply by slowing down and looking closely.
Caitlin's Bakery in Hopkins, Belize
(Caitlin also makes a mean chocolate zucchini muffin that I absolutely think you should go out of your way for if you find yourself in Hopkins, Belize.)
Remember, to travel is to explore what is unfamiliar, and to photograph with openness is to connect unconditionally. Always show respect, understanding, and gratitude and I promise you’ll make some pretty amazing photographs (and connect with some fascinating people) along the way.
