Booking a Photo Shoot on Vacation - And Why You Should Do It

Oct 27

You should book a photo shoot on vacation. I’m probably biased, but hear me out. Your memories are important and iPhone photos just don’t hit the same.

In June, my partner Ross and I visited his home country of Scotland for three weeks. While we were there, we had a photoshoot with Becy of Belle Art Photography on the Isle of Skye. I loved the entire trip, but the session was probably one of my favorite things we did! We had so much fun and got a personal tour of the incredible landscape by a local expert while taking beautiful photos.

Reasons to book a photoshoot while on vacation:

1. Document your travels with amazing, professional photos.

Yes, you can take selfies or ask a stranger to take a photo of you and your family on vacation but what if I told you you could add value to the trip by hiring an expert to document the experience? Imagine coming home from an incredible trip and hanging artwork on your walls to commemorate it.

2. Experience the environment with a local.

This is my favorite because there is no better tour guide than someone who lives there! Our photographer Becy picked us up from the Tongadale Hotel in the town of Portree and drove us 40 minutes to The Quiraing. Her business focuses on adventure elopements in Skye so she is an expert on the landscape and gave us plenty of options to choose from depending on the look we were going for. She even sent us a list of restaurants to try ahead of time.

3. Learn about the culture.

Becy is actually from England but moved to Skye just before the pandemic in order to pursuit her focus on adventure elopements. Ross being from Scotland and also living in England for a few years, they had tons in common and I learned a lot from both of them just listening in the car. She also enjoyed hearing about Austin as she had not yet visited Texas. People fly in from all over the world to elope with her in Skye which is so cool to consider all the different people and cultures she has a chance to learn from, for herself.

4. Gain an authentic experience.

Ever since I studied abroad, it has been a goal of mine to choose something that immerses you in the culture. Sure, do the touristy things, see the sites, and snap pictures. But know, the most valuable thing you can do is talk to locals and learn about their lives. Stay curious, ask questions and really listen. We have a lot to learn from others, especially from those whose lives are different than ours.

Tips for booking a photographer:

1. Do your research.

Make sure you look for a photographer that matches the style and personality that is the best fit for you. I knew I wanted someone that loves the outdoors with a laid back, documentary approach.

2. Plan ahead.

I know this is becoming more popular because I actually receive inquiries often, from families traveling to Austin and looking to book a session while they’re here. However, you have to plan ahead. A lot of times people are emailing only a couple of weeks to a month out and they want to shoot on a Saturday. Depending on the season, that’s going to be hard to find someone available. I began searching for photographers 10 months out from our trip and booked Becy 6 months prior. Because she mainly shoots elopements, we had our session on a Monday morning. This worked out in our favor because the location we chose was basically empty!

Yes, booking a session is another expense but in my opinion, it was worth every penny.

When I look at these photos, I remember the great conversations on the car ride.

The awe I felt when we stood on the edge of a cliff and looked out over the landscape together.

The chilly morning and hugging each other to stay warm while our coats were off.

I can feel the crazy wind whipping my hair all around, our wet shoes and the mist coming down — ending our session with the signature moody feel of Scotland.

You’ll make more money but you’ll never be 29 standing on a cliff in the Scottish Highlands with the love of your life again.

Photographer: Belle Art Photography

Dress: Baltic Born