I am just back from a week long family vacation.  What does a professional photographer do on vacation?  Take photos of course, but with a different style.  Vacation is meant to be relaxing and enjoyable.  This doesn’t mean I can’t “work” a little capturing the special family moments that only seem to happen on vacation.  Here are a few tips to freeze the memories, but not lose the feeling of enjoying the moment.

Traveling with kids?  Let kids be kids.

Feel free to direct them a little, but you really don’t need them standing and smiling directly at you.  In fact, some of the best images of my son are the candid shots.  Several where he is not even facing the camera.

Sun, rain or harsh light.

Never use the weather or lighting as an excuse.  Look at things a little differently.  Notice the shine of bricks after a rainstorm or the texture and shadows of objects all around you.

Details…don’t forget the details.

Not every photo has to have a person in it.  Enjoy what you are doing, but slow things down and just soak in the moment.  Something as simple as two colored miniature golf balls can tell a story.

Video.

Nearly every device (camera or phone) shoots video.  Once again, have an idea and simply let the scene unfold.  You don’t need to “direct” anything, just stand in the moment and capture the pure joy of a child playing in the ocean or simply watching geese cross under a bridge.  You’ll be amazed at the things a “moving picture” can show, that a still shot cannot.

Scenery/Nature

I don’t care if you are at the beach, in the woods or some exotic location.  Chances are you picked it partly for where it is and what you will see.  So, take pictures of the area!  Get creative, patiently wait for the optimal time.  It is vacation right? You should have time to slow down and enjoy where you are.

Selfies? 

Yes, even this photographer knows there is a time to be silly or shoot a selfie.  Why not?  Just because you are taking the photos doesn’t mean you can't be in them.

Putting it all together.

Okay, now what?  You have all these photos and video clips and want to present them in a way that won’t bore your friends and family.  I have many high end options, but prefer to keep my personal work simple.  Here are a few methods I’ve used to easily produce a polished looking production:  Animoto, Windows Live Movie Maker or iPhoto (on older iDevices).

One last thing, before you say “Well, you have all the high-end cameras!”  I didn’t even take my professional camera system and the majority were shot using my iPhone.  I did use a GoPro for the water shots, but I could have just as easily used a cheap protective housing on my phone.