7 minute read
Lifestyle Guide with Zina
The ultimate guide to taking better travel photos for Instagram
Learn how to pose in travel photos for Instagram with Zina’s personal tips and tricks – from photo techniques to posing pointers.
1. PAY ATTENTION TO LIGHT
Light is not just about whether or not you can see what you’re trying to photograph. It affects everything – the colours, shadows, details and emphasis of the subjects in your photos.There is a reason why the “golden hour” is called such. In photography this is the hour after sunrise and before sunset where the light is at its picture-perfect best… Yet you’ll find most people either eating breakfast or dinner at this time. What they should be doing instead is taking photos!
2. CREATE MOVEMENT
When I first started posing for Instagram photos, I often looked stiff and uncomfortable. Then, I learnt to add motion into my Instagram photos. Now, I often twirl, walk or even skip when posing for Instagram photos. The results are much more lively and dynamic than if I would just stand there. This is why you’ll often see travel Instagrammers wear long dresses or skirts in their photos. A long dress or skirt gives you so many opportunities to add movement to your photos.
3. USE PROPS
Let’s get real – hands can become really awkward. I’ve ruined many otherwise good photos by positioning my hands into stiff-looking claws. An easy way to avoid this is by using props when posing for your Instagram photos. Props can breathe life into your photo and also keep your hands busy. A total win-win!
Some of my favourite props are fresh flowers, a glass of wine, a handbag and a hat. But, the options for potential props are endless, so get creative and find props that are consistent with your unique Instagram look and style!
4. LET’S TALK POSING
Perfect posture
First off, check your posture. As a general rule your back should be as straight as possible, whether you’re standing or sitting.
Longer legs
Whether you’re short or tall with legs for days, it always helps to extend your legs. An easy way to do this is by pointing your toes.
Right angle
Turning your body slightly sideways at an approximate 45-degree angle pretty much always looks great in photos. This angled pose tends to accentuate the best parts of a woman’s body. It also adds some visual depth and dimension to the photo.
5. CHOOSE THE RIGHT OUTFIT
Man oh man! I know it can feel overwhelming to pick what to wear for photos. Here are a few guidelines I’ve put together to help you look great in your Instagram photos.
Before travelling, I do a little research on my location(s). What does the landscape look like, and what natural colours do you find in the landscape? What does the hotel or lodge look like, and what colours have they incorporated in their interior design? As far as choosing the right colour to wear, go with the location. I’ll usually try to match the tones and colour of the outfits with elements in the environment to help them blend in and stand out!
You guessed it... This is a colourmatching example!
Blue mountains, blue dress. Green mountains, green shirt.
Simple outfits to compliment the amazing location, so that there is a perfect balance between the focus on them and the environment. This colour matches the environment perfectly while also standing out and creating an eye-catching contrast.
Give your photos the editing edge
Learning to edit your photos will not only help you correct photography mistakes but it will allow you to invent your own style and make or even sell your own presets. I typically edit photos on my computer using Adobe Lightroom (my favourite) and Adobe Photoshop (to a lesser degree) but if I need to edit on the go using my phone I just make use of the Adobe Lightroom mobile app.
The world in a wrap
Since travelling has become rather difficult during this pandemic we decided to take your palate on a trip around the world this month!
No more hassle of Covid tests, filling out forms and taking up travel insurance... Whatever the destination of your choice, we have got just the right wrap for you.
First off we are going on a safari through Namibia.
You’ll need:
• 1 tortilla wrap (cut from one edge to the middle of the wrap)
• Cream cheese & biltong bites
• Chicken breast & cheddar cheese
• 3 slices of smoked game meat
• Tomato relish
How to assemble:
Spread the toppings onto your wrap in four equal parts. Layer the first with cream cheese and biltong bites, the second with smoked chicken breast and cheddar cheese, the third with smoked game meat slices and the last with tomato relish. Fold the wrap into quarters, starting with the side which was cut into. Repeat the folding until you have just one triangular sandwich wrap. Toast the wrap in a pan or in a sandwich press until the cheese has melted and the surface is crispy and golden.
After all that dry and dusty weather, you’ll probably feel the need to cool off at a tropical white sand beach in Mexico.
For the Mexican wrap you’ll need:
• 1 tortilla wrap (cut from one edge to the middle of the wrap)
• Guacamole
• Black beans & cheddar cheese
• 1 tbsp salsa
• 1 tbsp cooked & chives
Assemble, fold and grill as indicated in the recipe above.
Enough of the tropics but still craving some delicious seafood? Let’s take a quick dive into Japan and make a delicious sushi wrap for the occasion!
For our Japanese wrap you’ll need:
• 1 nori sheet (cut into a round shape)
• 1/4 sliced avocado
• 1 tbsp sushi rice
• 3 slices of sashimi salmon
• 1 tbsp fresh sprouts
• Soy sauce for dipping (optional)
Assemble and fold as indicated in the recipe above. Do not grill!
Brrrr, it’s getting quite chilly in Japan, so let’s warm up with a spicy prawn wrap in Vietnam!
For the Vietnamese wrap you’ll need:
• 1 rice paper wrapper (soaked and ready to use)
• Red bell pepper sliced thinly
• Cooked rice noodles
• Sprouts
• Cooked shrimps & chilli sriracha sauce
Assemble and fold as indicated in the recipe above. Do not grill!
But honestly, what is a world tour without a sweet little shopping spree under the Eiffel Tower in Paris?
For our Parisian-style wrap you’ll need:
• 1 tortilla wrap
• Dark chocolate spread
• Cherries
• Strawberries
• Waffle sticks
Assemble, fold and grill as indicated in the recipe above. For this recipe we used a waffle maker to grill the tortilla and give it that extra fun waffle print look.
And that concludes our culinary trip around the world of wraps. If we can’t travel with ease we might as well cook our way through all sorts of mouth-watering experiences this year! And what better way to do that than with these unbelievably trendy wrap hack recipes?
If you are unsure about how to fold and assemble your wraps, use your smartphone to scan this QR code and see our full recipe video on Instagram.
How to support small and local businesses for FREE on social media:
• Use word of mouth to support your favourite local businesses.
• Make a nice comment. It can be a reply to their product, words of encouragement, a friendly “hello” or tagging a friend or two on Instagram.
• Write a review. Help them show up online as a 5-star business to help them attract new customers.
• Share a picture and give them a shout-out on social media, especially after you have purchased something. The more they get their name out there, the better.
