Fear of missing out, also known as FOMO, is quite prevalent in this digital day and age. With the abundance of vacation images on social media, it’s not uncommon for travelers to get anxious about planning the perfect trip while also capturing the adventure behind the lens. Planning alone can be stressful, and the desire to get the best vacay pics adds even more pressure. If you want to really learn how to take good Instagram pictures, here are 5 secrets for exquisitely capturing your vacation one click at a time.

Splurge on Fancy Accommodations

Not only do accommodations make for a wonderful experience, but splurging on the right place could afford you access to the most amazing sites, experiences, and tourist attractions. Right accommodations reduce the stress of having to travel far away or cut your day short in order to get back to your room at a decent hour, as the ideal photo opportunity could be right outside your door. You can count on a savvy and attentive staff that will offer you insider tips and perhaps some exclusive locations to take your camera. At the end of the day, shelling out money on the right place to rest at night could yield epic memories and equally stunning pictures!

Book Private Tours

Planning, booking, and paying in advance for private tours can take the pressure off of capturing the ideal picture. All you have to do is show up on time and the rest will be taken care of for you. If you take it a bit further by customizing your private tour, your guides will navigate for you, opening up more time in your schedule to just enjoy your destination and observe your surroundings. Besides, having tour guides do most of the legwork removes the stress of potentially getting lost or forgetting to drop by a specific location. Some private tours even provide access to places that are closed during normal business hours. The exclusivity of a private tour alone, therefore, can offer prime opportunities for epic photos!

Hire a Local Photographer

Finding local photographers has never been easier thanks to social media and convenient hashtag searches, allowing you to also plan the spots that you want to photograph. A simple online research can lead you to some well-reviewed photographers who specialize in taking great photographs. You can also check with savvy locals who can point you to the right person to capture those magical Instagram images.

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Plan Photo Ops in Advance

While you’re planning the quintessential places to explore, consider mapping out your photo opportunities too! Searching hashtags on social media can be helpful when researching where you want to go and what you want to photograph. Look through travel reviews and create a list for yourself. Don’t forget to poke around and determine when is the best time for you to go to specific locations. This search strategy can also help you decide what to wear. Oh, and don’t forget to take notes as you sift through reviews, jotting down the mistakes that other people might have made during their photo ops. This knowledge will make you feel even more confident with the fact that you’re going to wrap up your trip with some stunning Instagrammable photos!

Pack a Tripod

For many, there’s nothing worse than finding some flight deals, hopping on a plane, and finally arriving at your dream location … only to find there’s no one around to get an Insta-worthy shot of you. Luckily, a tripod can eliminate this problem! This way, you can be your own photographer. Before leaving home, pull it out and practice. Make sure you know how to use the remote and self-timer options. There are tons of lightweight tripods on the market. Some of them are even collapsible, so they won’t take up too much space in your suitcase. However, if you don’t have room for a tripod in your luggage, you may want to consider shipping it ahead of time to the place you’re staying.

These photo opportunity tips can help you capture all of your beautiful memories without adding any unnecessary stress and anxiety to your vacation. After all, you’ll have a better trip if you stay in the moment, enjoy your vacation, and make sure your smile is genuine when you say ‘cheese’ while striking a pose. Good luck!

Feel free to share any secrets you might have for capturing those breathtaking photos in the comments below!