Skip to Content

Travel Photography Guides

We are firm believers anyone can learn how to capture beautiful photos. Our travel photography guides are living proof of this because with no training, we are now self taught professional travel photographers.

In fact, if you haven’t read our story, we are actually scientists by trade. Photography was just a hobby we both fell in love with during our 18 month honeymoon around the world.

But now, we make our living as professional travel writers and photographers who regularly license photos for various media platforms including Gestalten’s Great American Road Trip.

The best advice we can offer when it comes to photography is to be tenacious and patient. Always learn from your mistakes because these errors can lead to the best lessons.

You can shop our favorite travel photos from around the world in our professional photography gallery or read our photography guides below.

If you are looking to license any of our photos, please visit our work with us or contact page.

You can be anywhere and take an amazing photo. Photography is about getting creative and making the most of what you have.

But there are a few select locations in the world where that perfect photo is extremely easy to capture.

Let’s start with one of the most iconic locations in the entire world…

Empire State Building in Manhattan Skyline is one of the best photography locations in NY

New York City

After living in NYC, we created a detailed guide featuring the very best photo spots in one of the world’s most famous cities.

>> The Best NYC Photography Locations

Lights on at Brooklyn Bridge at night makes great photography

Brooklyn Bridge

If this is your first time in NYC, we highly recommend walking across the Brooklyn Bridge. This bridge is stunning any time of day, but sunset is when the surrounding city truly comes alive.

>> Walking Brooklyn Bridge at Sunset and Night

Couple walking in the snow at Central Park in New York City

Central Park In Winter

Walking through Central Park in the snow has been one of our favorite travel memories to date.

>> Photos of Central Park in Winter

Visitors taking photos at SUMMIT One Vanderbilt during a sunset

Summit One Vanderbilt

New York City’s newest observation deck, Summit One Vanderbilt is an incredible photography location because light bounces off every surface in the building.

>> Photography at Summit One Vanderbilt


The American Southwest

With bucket list places such as the Grand Canyon, Monument Valley and Sedona, the US Southwest is an extremely photogenic region. Here are a few of our favorite photography locations on the west coast:

Man and woman posing for a photo at a Grand Canyon viewpoint

Grand Canyon Viewpoints

There is no shortage of stunning views when you visit Grand Canyon South Rim. The guide features the 20 best viewpoints so you know exactly where to get those perfect photos.

>> Best Grand Canyon South Rim Viewpoints

Horseshoe Bend during sunrise in Page Arizona

Horseshoe Bend, Arizona

Horseshoe Bend in the Colorado River has been plastered all over social media, but is it better to visit at sunrise or sunset?

>> Sunrise vs. sunset at Horseshoe Bend

Woman looking out over Sedona during sunrise

Sedona, Arizona

Sedona is a photographers dream. This guide is all you need to find the best photography spots for your visit.

>> Best Photo Locations in Sedona


Hiking Photography

We are avid hikers who love to hit the trails at sunrise to capture those perfect moments in the sky. There is nothing like being completely surrounded by nature with a camera in your hand.

The gorgeous red hues of fire wave at Valley of Fire State Park

Fire Wave

Fire Wave is one of the most popular hikes in Valley of Fire State Park. The red topography creates an amazing landscape we couldn’t stop photographing!

>> How to hike Fire Wave in Nevada

The stunning wave topography in the state of Arizona

The Wave In Arizona

The wave has a similar landscape to the Fire Wave, but this hike is a bit more challenging to photograph as you need a permit to hike the wave. If you can secure a permit, hiking the wave will be an experience you will never forget.

>> Photos of the Arizona Wave

Stunning gorge topography in upstate New York

Watkins Glen State Park

Another stunning hiking location is the Gorge Trail at Watkins Glen State Park. It’s hard to take a bad photograph in this gorgeous area.

>> Watkins Glen State Park Photos

Want more hiking content? Don’t miss the best hikes in the USA or head over to our hiking page for endless resources for your next adventure.


Photography Inspiration

If you are looking for photography inspiration, you have come to the right place. Use our photography guides below to search for what you need.

Woman standing in cave as an inspirational photo

Inspirational Photography Quotes

Here are the best photography quotes and captions to help inspire your next shoot.

>> Explore photography quotes

Rainbow next to a waterfalls in upstate New York

Silky Waterfalls

Personally, we love to shoot waterfalls or similar scenarios such as reflections in a body of water. These types of water scenes are the reason we fell in love with photography.

>> Best New York Waterfalls

>> Stunning Finger Lakes Waterfalls

Photography Gift Guide

Our popular photography gift guide features items for both beginners and pros including items we use ourselves (or have on our wishlist).

>> Gift ideas for photographers

Couple packing their peak design camera during a photography trip

Photography Backpack

As full time travel bloggers who always hike, we quickly realized we needed lightweight photography gear. This is where the Peak Design Everyday Backpack comes into play.

>> Peak Design Everyday Backpack Review

As we mentioned earlier, photography was a self taught art. During our 18 month honeymoon around the world, we decided to buy a camera abroad and learned how to use it on the road.

This is a fun guide detailing the steps we took to buying a Sony camera in Tokyo, Japan.

*Please note this page may contain affiliate links. If you click on one, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting the free content we provide! Read more in our disclosure policy.*

More Travel Photography Guides