My Best Tips For Taking Beautiful Photos On My Hikes

And No, It Doesn't Require Expensive Gear

I’ve been taking photos now for over a decade, and I’ve been doing it professionally for nearly nine of those years.

At this point, I’ve gotten the process for getting “the shot” down to a science; down to the point that I don’t have to think too hard before composing, locking in my focus, and snapping away.

And during that time, I’ve learned a few tricks of the trade that pretty much always guarantee I walk away from a scene feeling genuinely happy with my photos. I figure, why gatekeep? Let’s all take awesome trail photos, right?

Unpopular Opinion: Your Gear Isn’t The Problem

You would be amazed at what incredible photos you can take if you know the basics of composition and lighting, even with the cheapest of cameras.

Let me ask you, with every new camera enhancement on your smart phone, have you really, truly felt like your photos have gotten leaps and bounds better? Probably not.

Because the quality of the camera—while important if you’re shooting in tough conditions (e.g. low light) or needing to print large scale (where every extra megapixel matters)—isn’t as important as these camera companies and smart phone brands want you to think.

Plain and simple: the cameraman is more important than the camera.

Whatever camera you have in your pocket will do just fine. Seriously.

Have a functioning camera on hand? Great, let’s get into the tips.

Lighting. Is. Everything.

Yes, every photographer will tell you lighting is important. And yes, I’m still going to harp on it. Because of all the advice I could give you, this is going to make the biggest difference.

Listen, natural light can take you for a wild ride, and there’s no place that’s truer than on the trails.

The photo above? It’s one I snapped when I knew the light would be perfect. What does that mean, logistically?

It means hiking to the summit before the sun rises, so you can get up there in time for golden hour. And it often means hiking back in the dark, so you don’t miss the gorgeous transition from golden hour to blue hour (in my humble opinion, the most underrated time of day).

Sure, planning a hike in the middle of the day may seem convenient, but if your goal is to capture the full range of emotion that comes with seeing nature at it’s best, I recommend avoiding it.

There’s a place for harsh light, and it can be an intentional photography choice, but it inevitably makes the process much more complicated.

Wait to tackle direct sun for a time when you feel more seasoned. It can be beautiful when photographed well, but accomplishing that takes some practice.

Use The Elements Of Nature To Your Advantage

Dirty, dusty trails? Perfection for creating drama. I remember taking the photo above, just waiting on an overlook above a dirt road for the perfect moment when a truck would come barreling down the path, kicking up dust behind it.

And my goodness, when it did, and the light picked up the specks of dirt? It added so much depth to the image.

Stop Copying The Compositions You’ve Seen Elsewhere

I know, I know, you saw some epic photo of a landscape you’ve always dreamed of seeing. By all means, take that photo. But that’s not going to be the shot. Why? Because someone already composed it, prepped for it, edited it, and put it out in the world.

The most compelling hiking photos? They capture a unique vantage point, lighting scenario, or action that other photographers haven’t captured.

There’s nothing that drives me crazy quite like seeing every single landscape photographer lined up at a landmark trying to capture the exact same shot.

Aim to view nature through your eyes, not someone else’s. It’s part of what will make that photo more meaningful to you when you look back on it.

Does that mean you’ll collect some less-than-ideal compositions in the process? Absolutely. But that’s part of the fun of it. Curate your gallery of images. Not every photo needs to be a winner.

Do We Like This?

I figured since a lot of you found me through my photos, you may be interested in these hiking-focused photography tips. If you’re into this sort of thing, let me know in the comments, and I’ll make a part two.