Going on vacation is one of the best opportunities to practice travel photography. But more often than not, those boatloads of vacation photos that you snapped, end up going nowhere other than scattered about on Facebook, Instagram.

Sound familiar? You’re definitely not alone and we started this way ourselves! If you’re looking for ways to actually use your vacation photos, here are a few ideas to get you started.

1. Make a blog post

One of the best ways to memorise your vacation is to make a blog post, this is how Tourandtakein started from combining photos with stories and words to give it more context. Don’t have a blog? No worries! It’s very easy to create a blog on sites like WordPress. If making a blog sounds like too much, It’s not, trust me I’m not a programmer one bit. What you see is what you get with WordPress:)

2. Create an online slideshow

If you’d rather not go through the hassle of putting a blog together, an online slideshow is another way to make a digital presentation of your photos. Simply upload your photos to an online slideshow maker such as Pholody, select background music, and share or download the slideshow.

Alternatively, you can also turn your favorite vacation photos into screensaver slideshows or desktop backgrounds for your laptop or cell phone. How to Create a Simple Slideshow in Lightroom is another way to do it.

3. Strategically post to social media for the most traction

This is probably the most obvious use of vacation photos that may not seem worthy of even being mentioned, but hear me out.

If you aspire to have your photos viewed by more than just your current followers, you’ll have to be more strategic in how you post your images. This means adding hashtags and tagging tourism-related businesses that relate to your photos. Think airlines, tourism boards, local Instagram communities…the list goes on.

Research hashtags and businesses ahead of time and keep in evernote, so you can easily copy and paste them into your Instagram posts.

4. Print a photo book, scrapbook, or photo album

Some photos simply pop and look better when they’re physically printed in book form. Consider putting together your top vacation photos and getting them printed via a service.

I recently used Zno and was impressed with their high-quality printing and the fact that the images lay flat without the book gutter running through them. Another service called ChatBooks is a little more automated and can sync your Instagram or Facebook photos into a book design for printing. If you’re more DIY-inclined, you can also opt for making batch photo prints and sticking them in an album or scrapbook.

5. Make postcards or thank you cards

More often than not, your vacation will fall between occasions when you might receive gifts from friends or family. This is the perfect opportunity to create unique thank you cards using your own vacation photos. Also, consider creating fun postcards to send to friends and family as a recap of your trip.

If you’re a professional or aspiring photographer, you can even use these postcards as a form of a business card, handing them out to curious passersby who want to know where to find more of your work.

6. Create your own custom postage stamps

Before you send off that custom postcard or thank you card, make sure you include a custom postage stamp. You can use any of your own photos or use a pre-made design. These postage stamps are real and are licensed for use by the United States Postal Service.We also believe the UK have this service but couldn’t find the link, sorry!

7. Transform your photos into wall art

It’s not unusual to capture some of your very best travel photos while on vacation. Whether it’s a great family photo or a stunning landscape, there’s almost always a photo or two in your albums that are print-worthy. So why not turn them into actual photo prints?

Making prints is incredibly easy to do via online ordering. You also have a plethora of print material options including traditional photo prints, canvas, metal prints, and even wood.

8. Print your photos on…just about anything!

Thanks to printing companies such as Zazzle, you can print your photos on a wide range of objects. T-shirts, magnets, and mugs might seem like traditional items on which you tend to find custom printed photos. But did you know that your photo can be printed on an iPhone case, blanket, pillow, bath mat, Zippo lighter, playing cards, and even a skateboard?

Book Your Trip: Logistical Tips and Tricks

Book Your Flight:
Find a cheap flight by using Skyscanner or Last Minute.com. They are my two favorite search engines because they search for websites and airlines around the globe, and again they haven’t let me down, that’s why we associate with them.

Book Your Accommodation:

You can book your apartment/homestay/guesthouse with AirBnB, we use these all the time and have never been let down, in fact as mentioned above, while in hospital in Italy, the company refunded us as we didn’t have chance to cancel our future booking until a fortnight later. We also have a $38 off offer for first-timers

Booking.com as they have the largest inventory as they consistently return the cheapest rates for guesthouses and hotels.

If you love animals, why not try pet sitting or housesitting with Trustedhousesitters. It’s a small cost to sign up to but again we’ve used these and saved hundreds over the years, plus living locally rather than as a tourist.

Don’t Forget Travel Insurance:
Travel insurance will protect you against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. It’s comprehensive protection in case anything goes wrong. I never go on a trip without it, as I’ve had to use it many times in the past. I’ve been using World Nomads for several years now. My favorite companies that offer the best service and value are:

Computer: 

Why use a VPN? ExpressVPN hides your IP address and encrypts your network data so no one can see what you’re doing. One-click and you’re protected. Defeat the hackers and spies with best-in-class encryption and leak proofing. Access any content, no matter your location and say goodbye to geo-blocks. Hit our link!

Cruises: The Cruisedirect.com website is packed with information on all the major cruise lines, cruise ships and destinations.

Destinations:

Trips: We at Tourandtakein have been to many far-out places. Heres just a few to wet your appetite.

Trip Activities: A journey to transform ordinary trips into extraordinary ones. We are your guide, bring you personal experiences, wherever your travels take you. We’ll show you the unique and unmissable things to do in your destination with our trusted affiliates GetYourGuide on your side and in your pocket via our live Apps. Creating memorable moments has never been easier.

Over to You

What are some creative ways that you have utilized your vacation photos? Share your thoughts and ideas in the comments below. And show us photos! Please send to Info@tourandtakein.com.

Stay safe and keep travelling live!!

Tourandtakein tribe:)