Sharing travel photos on social networking sites like Instagram and Facebook has become a trend these days. Which is why most of us wants to capture high quality photos using our phone’s camera or DSLR. But if you’re still struggling on getting that Instagram-worthy shots, then we encourage you to arm yourself with the following travel photography tricks.

1. Approach Your Subject Differently. Sure there are some ‘must-have’ shots if you’re travelling to a popular destination, but in order for you to take a unique shot, we suggest that you approach your subjects differently. The classic Eiffel Tower shot for instance – instead of doing the usual selfie with the tower as the background, try shooting it from a low vantage point or from an off beaten path. Remember that you’re capturing what you saw and loved during your trip, so don’t let other people’s shots dictate how you should take your photos.

2. Focus on the Details. One of my favourite things about travelling is the tiny details that set each place apart from each other. Things like a product you’ve never seen before, or even signs written in a foreign language can make all the difference. So next time you travel and want to take photos, try focusing on the things that stand out in your surroundings. Yes, this sounds simple, but it’s already enough to tell you a lot of things about a particular place.

3. Know Your Camera’s Basic Settings. Most of us tend to upgrade our camera equipment before our trip. This will help, yes, but instead of solely upgrading your camera, do take some time to learn the manual settings of your DSLR or your phone’s camera before leaving. If you want, you can even pre-select some filters before your trip. Not only will this make taking photos easier for you, it’ll also save you some time from choosing between different filters.

4. Think about Your Photo’s Story. We often see travel magazines with amazing editorial spreads, and end up thinking: ‘Why are my photos not like that?’ Well, unlike a normal travel photo, these travel spreads tell a story of a certain place. You often see photos of landscapes, food the region is known for, hotel details or shots of locals. With these shots, the readers are already able to see a beautiful and complete story.

So next time you go on a trip, try applying these photography tricks and see how your shots can go from the basic travel photos to a beautiful cohesive story.