5 TIPS For PLANNING Your Next 'LANDSCAPE PHOTOGRAPHY TRIP'

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In this week’s episode, we discuss 5 tips for planning your next "landscape photography trip". I think most people rarely take dedicated landscape photography trips, but rather use family vacations as a means to photograph the great outdoors. If you've ever been on a family vacation and tried to carve out some time for landscape photography then you understand how difficult this can be..and that's the topic of this week's video.

When this video goes live, I'll be in Yosemite National Park on a summer vacation with my family, but of course there will be plenty of landscape photography to be had as well. In this video I share 5 simple tips that I use when planning a landscape photography/family trip. All of the tips shared in this video can be applied to any type of landscape photography trip you're planning and have helped me tremendously over the years to ensure I maximize my time while at a specific destination. I'm a "planner" by nature and some have told me that I might take it a bit overboard, but I find that I operate the best when I'm prepared and organized.

I hope that you can apply some of the tips in this video to your planning process to ensure that your next landscape photography trip is successful and most importantly an enjoyable one!

If you enjoyed this video, please consider giving it a thumbs up and let me know what you think in the comments below - I guarantee I'll get back to ya.

Thanks for watching everyone!

-Mark D.

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[MarkDenneyPhoto]

Do you have any "Landscape Photography Trips" planned this summer?

[KrisJolls]

Headed to Oregon and knew I had to come rewatch this. Thanks my man. Aloha.

[camerashakeproductions]

Another awesome video with great tips! Thanks Mark. Enjoy your family vacation.. can't wait to see the shots you come back with. Safe travels.

[andreaspetershtc]

Thanks for these nice tips. It's the same procedures I also follow. You did forget to mention one great feature of photo pills: the possibility to check the needed focal length of a place you have never been before. I think this is a great way to know in advance if you should bring your heavy tele-photo lens to a location (or maybe the 24-105mm will also do)

[babdoc]

Great tips, Mark. It’s always a bummer feeling torn between time for photography and time for family. Luckily, there’s usually some morning time when the family is moving slowly and I can make a quick run out for sunrise. It took a while to get okay with only having a couple of chances to shoot on vacation—especially when that’s the main opportunity to do photography. But with time, it’s gotten easier to appreciate and accept the balance. One thing that has gone a long way in our family is to choose trips where I leave the camera home altogether. Trip A is dedicated to family. Trip B is one I’m really looking forward to shooting on, so we decide together that more time can be allotted. Taking more short local photo trips while home has made it a lot easier too. That works better than putting all of my photographic eggs in one National Park basket and getting disappointed when I’m not able to shoot the entire family trip. Cheers and enjoy Yosemite! It’s a magical place.

[Sunrunner]

Good topic! I must say I’ve learned something from each of your videos. Thanks. Today 500px and clear outside, never knew about them. Before, Lightroom tips.
Like you I tend to plan rather well and those 2 apps will certainly help. I also have the issue of traveling with family or friends. I’ve gone to some pretty cool places with people and come away with mediocre images because I’m always concerned about the other people’s time. A couple weeks ago I went on a 4 day solo photo trip around rural Nevada and Death Valley and came away with some amazing images because I could spend 2-6 hours in one spot and maximize my time. It’s always a challenge when you’re with non photographers who just don’t want to wait for your perfect image.
Good luck on your trip. Hope you can balance it. Check out a nice shot in the valley of El Capitan from the across the Merced River.

[jillya]

Thanks for your very helpful planning/packing photography tips!

[kevinfringer]

Watching this week all the way from Linden, Guyana!

[molopez]

Good luck and safe travels to Yosemite mark! I downloaded some apps a while ago from your previous video. You’re also one of the reasons why I started a YT channel and I JUST DROPPED MY FIRST VIDEO. If anyone is reading this, I would appreciate the support on growing my channel and hopefully I can be as inspiring as these guys!

[RelitheWorld]

Great "tips" video. I plan to put these tips into practice when I go to Alaska later this year.

[sd]

Have a good trip! I was in Yosemite a few weeks ago, a great time to go as all the waterfalls are full

[philconstans]

Great video. I am preparing for our family vacation to the outer banks in NC. I really appreciate the tips! Enjoy your trip to Yosemite!

[rickpeterson]

Another great tip video as always!! Look forward to next weeks video!

[eileenconragan]

Mark I really appreciate ALL your videos. I just got back from Greece and I was a bit disappointed that I didn’t drag my body out of bed early so my next trip I will make sure I do so. However the sunsets are gorgeous there - but as we drove around many times we couldn’t stop because the roads were so narrow with no where to stop. Many of my pics are daytime but the polarizer was a huge help. I think a good point to share is to consider the terrain for sunrise and sunsets. I have often gone to a site and then realize I am too late for I didn’t consider the mountains blocking the sun earlier than the sunset time.

I have been wanting to get abetter understanding of atmospheric conditions so I am thrilled you shared info about the app- clear outside! And I never thought of using google maps...and 500PX- this is great!

But how do you work out coordinating time with family as well as dinner time conflicting with sunset time? I don’t photograph for my living but still want to get professional level photos. I often feel rushed when I’m with my hubby than if I were even though he is very patient and supportive. Our next trip to Ireland will involve more family so I am definitely renting my own car to go early or stay at a site longer. Looking forward to seeing your pics.

[wendynewing]

Great tips. Many thanks. I'm looking forward to seeing the results of your trip to Yosemite.

[matsskoglund]

Great video! I wasn´t able to view it until now since I was on a photography trip to Yosemite :-). I did very much the exact same type of planning you discuss in this video before my trip so I can confirm that there are very good tips. I used the TPE app instead of LightTrack though, but it´s the same principle. I also wrote down the schedule in some detail in my notebook on what time to set the alarm, when to leave the hotel and when expecting to be on location so I don´t need to do that calculation the day before when there is a lot of distraction around that can cause you to misscalculate the timings.

Additional tips can be to make sure you have enough gas in the car so you don´t have to stop and refule on your way. Also, check the traffic so you don´t run into some road work or something else that can cause delays on the shooting day that you could have prepared for. Also use google maps and google earth to plan where you are going to park you car if it is a popular place. And the best tip you said that can´t be stressed enough is to plan for extra time. I usually plan to be on location one hour before the light comes in to be able to handle any sudden problems without getting stressed. Again, good tips and great video.

[pmChh]

Realy nice and helpfull video, thank you for sharing.

[davidjohnpaulsanglap]

Thanks for the tips! I'm not a professional landscape photographer and I only have time to shoot outside when I'm in a family day out and often I'm not able to get as much shoot as I wanted. Will apply these tips at the next family trip ☺

[erikavelazquez]

Mark,
Thanks for the tips, specially the applications. This summer I’m going to Puerto Rico so seascape and architectural photography are going to be my main focus.

[ericklindberg]

Great video Mark! No planned landscape photography trips, but I do a lot of traveling for work.. never know where I might end up. Enjoy your trip my friend!