Last Updated on 08/30/2019 by Dan Ginn
If you fancy getting into travel photography, these photographers set the bar.
Take a quick look at Instagram hashtags and you’ll see everyone imagines themselves as travel photographers in 2019. It’s the dream. Going from one destination to another, visiting all the cool sites, and capturing everything with your camera in the process. But spend some time in those hashtags, and you’ll find that most of them are mediocre snapshots. The reality is, travel photographers are some of the hardest working people in the industry. Their spectacular frames come from years of effort, sacrifice, and failure. So, if you’re serious about being an epic travel photographer, then these eight photographers are an excellent reference for quality.
1 Cory Richards @coryrichards
Cory Richards is a well-traveled photographer whose aim is to encourage intimacy within humanity. For him, the goal is to push boundaries and move the dial. He doesn’t just want to make fresh photographs: he wants to change the world. From portraits to nature, and landscapes to wildlife, Cory is firmly part of the leading pack of travel photographers.
2 Johan Lolos @lebackpacker
Johan is a travel photographer, author, and public speaker. In other words, he’s a man of many talents. But while focusing on multiple projects, his quality never falters. His travel photography is crisp and clean and keeps an authentic vibe, rather than being over-processed. He’s also a big believer in following your dreams, which is something he recently spoke about in his TedTalk.
3 Ami Vitale @amivitale
https://www.instagram.com/p/B01ILxdBufQ/
Ami Vitale is a National Geographic photographer – pretty much the pinnacle of recognition a travel photographer could receive. Her love for wildlife is evident in her images. She builds deep connections with her subjects and communicates her empathy to them. Having traveled to over 100 countries, Ami has pretty much seen it all and immersed herself in the myriad of beautiful cultures found on Earth.
4 Cait Miers @caitmiersphotography
Describing herself as an “ocean baby,” Cait has been able to turn her love for travel into her full-time job. Her connection with the ocean is evident in her work. A mix of water portraits, surf sports, and sunsets make up this travel photographer’s body of work.
5 Alex Strohl @alexstrohl
Forbes, Vanity Fair, and Gentleman’s Journal are where you’ll find this photographer’s work. His beautiful nature travel photography makes him a top-rated photographer. He currently sits on 2 million followers, and that number keeps growing. He puts a lot of time into his work, and it’s great to see it all pay off.
6 Cristina Mittermeier @cristinamittermeier
Cristina loves to be in the sea. More accurately, she loves to be deep down within it, alongside the sea life. Alongside her travel photography, Cristina is also the co-founder of Sea Legacy. The organization sets out to create healthy, abundant oceans that protect those living in them. Her photography is on point, and you can’t argue her dedication. A top-notch travel photographer we say!
7 Chris Burkard @chrisburkard
Still only 33, Chris Burkard is living the life. A jet setting naturist, this photographer’s travel snaps come in at the highest standard. And he is having fun with it too. Always working with a smile on his face, Chris is like a kid in a candy shop as he explores new lands, sharing it all with his audience.
8 Richard Bernabe @bernabephoto
https://www.instagram.com/p/By745X1Hjux/
Richard’s travel photography is beautiful. It’s simple, clean, and yet comes with a significant impact. His work ethic and contribution to the genre is a leading example. And if you want to have a mentor to follow, Richard is that guy. In terms of credentials, check this – his work can be found in the BBC, New York Times, and Audubon, to name a few.
Study Travel Photography
Spend some time with the work of these travel photographers. Look at the patterns in their photography and what is popular with publications and audiences. But once you’ve done that, the most crucial step you can take it to get out and shoot. Travel photography is a whole lot of fun. The freedom to move is liberating, and the experience of new cultures is life-changing. But you have to do the work: nobody becomes a success from spending time on the internet. And the odd good photograph doesn’t make you a great photographer. So get out and enjoy yourself, use the photographers as a reference, and become a great, pioneering travel photographer.