Tip 1: Choose equipment that suits you. Many photographers, when starting a photography trip, pack a ton of equipment. The result? A huge burden and added weight. Having everything is great, but you have to consider the mobility. Especially when traveling internationally, you need to carefully decide whether or not to bring a tripod. Enjoying your trip requires lightness and comfort. If you think like this, for photography, a camera with a wide-angle zoom lens, like a 17 or 18-85mm, for landscapes or close-ups, and a 70-200mm lens in a fanny pack, will significantly reduce the burden of a camera bag. Other equipment like spare batteries, memory cards, lens cleaning cloths, and a filter or two can be stored in clothing with more pockets. With this, you can comfortably carry your camera and lenses all day. As for a tripod, that's up to you, but personally, I wouldn't bring one. Newer cameras have higher ISO settings, which greatly reduces the need for a tripod.
Tip 2: Research the location you'll be photographing. If you're traveling internationally... It's easy to decide where to take photos, unless you're on a tour. But honestly, traveling on a tour doesn't offer enough opportunities for photos; it's mostly just getting on the bus and shopping. Finding information about your travel photography is very easy these days. First, search online or at your hotel. There are tons of tourist brochures available. And your last resort is asking locals. If you're traveling internationally, don't worry about the language barrier. Communication is key; you'll understand each other. I've tried it many times.
Tip #3: Plan ahead based on the information you've gathered about what you'll be photographing that day. When traveling, the first thing is the location. For landscape photography, whether it's nature or architecture, a wide-angle zoom lens is readily available. But for everyday life, work, or to emphasize a specific subject, a 70-200mm telephoto lens is very versatile. It makes composition easier and is great for both portraits and everyday life. There's no hard and fast rule for storytelling in travel photography, but walking around and going to the right places will increase your chances of getting beautiful shots. Another important point... The real secret is that in many places, we may not have enough time to find beautiful photographs. Therefore, visiting art and cultural centers often involves performances that allow for easy photography. Many beautiful images found in books are actually photos taken during such performances, we just don't know it.
Secret #4: Choose a higher ISO setting for your photos, such as ISO 400 or 800. If necessary, you can even get good results at ISO 1600. Many people worry about image quality and think they should set the ISO to 100 for high-quality images. However, with newer cameras, setting the ISO to 400 or 800 still produces high-quality images. Top-of-the-line cameras now offer ISO 3200 to 6400 capabilities, although these are quite expensive. Many newer cameras I've used can easily handle ISO 400-800. This is another reason why, if you want mobility, you might choose not to bring a tripod. Unless you specifically need to shoot in very low light conditions or at night.
Tip 5: Choose the right time to shoot and wait for opportunities. Choosing the right time for shooting is crucial for lighting. If you want to photograph landscapes, the best times are morning and evening. If you want to create high contrast, late morning or afternoon is better. Similarly, if you want to photograph portraits with rim light, this is a good time. Generally, we avoid midday light, which is directly overhead, especially for portraits, and may not look good as expected. Lighting is mostly chosen from the side, unless you want to create backlit images.
As for waiting for opportunities, it involves finding the right shot. Preparing the composition in advance and waiting for the subject to pass by is a popular technique among photographers. This doesn't include staging; it's about capturing the moment as it happens.
Tip 6: Photography etiquette. Many photographers have a talent for interacting with their subjects. Photography etiquette, asking permission before shooting, and the photographer's own code of ethics are also things that help photographers get the beautiful images they want. In particular, when photographing portraits, whether of elderly women, elderly men, or those dressed in traditional attire of the place, it's strange that in many places you have to pay to have your picture taken. Therefore, if you don't want to pay for photography and want natural-looking images, choosing a long-range lens and waiting for the right opportunity offers a good chance of getting a great shot.