Everyone wants that great shot – you know the one, that iconic shot that everyone’s seen before, or the jaw-dropper that gets lots of likes on your Facebook wall.  You don’t need to be a travel professional to take some great shots; here are 7 tried and true wisdoms for getting that memorable snap.

1. Pick your battles.  Some things are just notorious to shoot – such as fireworks. Other things you just never are going to get a “perfect” scene with no people in it – so embrace it.  Know what is fixable and what you can’t.  A great example is the towering Angkor Wat temples – certain times of day are terrible to photograph certain temples, but some are only easily accessed during those same hours.  So, pick your battles and deal with the rest.

2. Hit Sunrise and Sunset.  Despite your “money shot” – the sun rising or setting – these times are the best to take photos.  Sunrise is great because there are less people around and you can get some atmospheric settings, but the hours right before and after sunset also give really wonderful light.  The worst is when the sun is highest in the day, usually past high noon, because everything just looks harsh.

3. Know your equipment.  This is important because you want to be able to enjoy the moment and get the show without having to sit and fiddle with settings and programming.  You also want to try things out so you know what kinds of settings to be using – e.g. bright light settings, indoor settings, after dark settings, etc.

4. Be ready for the unexpected.  While yes there are some famous photographic moments (like knowing when the train goes across a bridge, or the sun setting into the sea), often the most memorable travel photos are the ones that are spur of the moment.

5. Take plenty of shots.  Don’t spend forever trying to get one perfect shot.  Go in for several potential shots and sort them out on the digital card afterwards.  Trust me, you’ll have better luck taking a few off the cuff shots rather than spending hours focused on just one killer shot.  (Leave that to the pros).

6. Consider a photography tour.  I didn’t used to recommend these but after having enjoyed a couple of photo tours, I’m really getting into them.  You want to check the reviews and choose smaller tours so you can actually get a feel for a place!  But photo tours can offer some fantastic scenery and visual storytelling you might miss.

7. Don’t forget to look beyond the lens.  I see lots of travelers who travel and see nothing but the world through their camera lens.  That’s no way to travel.  Please, do, take lots of shots of the festival, the town, or fireworks display, but then spare a minute to put the camera down and be in the moment.  Enjoy that experience.  That’s why you’re there.