There is so much to gain by traveling with fellow photographers, whether they are professionals or hobbyists.  Here are a few reasons you may want to give it a shot (pun intended).

Learn New Tips and Tricks:                                                                                           

On a recent trip, there was much joking about a particular enhancement software (it has the word "pro" in it, that's all I will say).  Some of the photographers on the tour were “purists” who did not agree with such techniques.  Others did, so I decided to try it.  It was a fun experiment, but I learned it was not my thing.  The take away is that I may not have tried it if it hadn’t been part of our group discussion. If the schedule allows, spend time-sharing photos, asking for critiques or learning a new editing technique.  I have benefitted immensely from other photographers’ knowledge on every trip. If you are traveling with a professional photographer, hang on every word and ask questions!  One of our favorites, editorial and adventure photographer Tom Bol, is so helpful with non-stop enthusiasm.  

Draw from Others’ Experiences:

Places to Shoot:  Your travel buddies are a great source of information and experience.  Ask them about the places they have traveled and which locations they would recommend.  People love to share their experiences and you’ll learn details you could never get from a brochure.  We are very excited to add a couple of new destinations we had not considered thanks to our travel friends.

Gear:  We all want to find the best gear for our photography, so ask what works for them, what they like, what they don’t and why.   Real feedback beats online reviews everytime!

Workshops:  Workshops are my new favorite way to travel, learn from others and get great photos.  Ask for recommendations about workshops they’ve attended and what they liked about them.

Friends for Life!

On a recent trip to Cuba, two pairs of people in our group had met while traveling alone on other tours years before.  In both cases, they now meet up and travel together a few times each year.  How wonderful to find companionship through a shared interest!  Having a travel buddy is a great way to see the world and share experiences.

It is a big beautiful world out there.  Traveling with fellow photographers is a great way to improve your skills, learn new tips and techniques and enjoy your passion with like-minded folks.

Link to Tom Bol's Workshops