TRAVELSHOOT REVIEW: THE SECRET TIP

OK. So here’s something I never thought I’d do: set up a photoshoot with a professional photographer to take photographs of… myself!

Kids, I grew up in an age when photographs had to be printed. When you had to pay actual money to see them and when it was all a mystery until you trotted into your local chemist and handed over your cold hard cash.

Only to discover that all your photos were awful.

Now, of course, it’s a brave new world and photos and selfies are a dime a dozen, even if you’re not living in a currency that deals with dimes and non-metric measurements.

But I digress.

Travel Photography In the Old Days

What we did have to mark the passage of time was fixed school photographs. And, occasionally, fixed family portraits.

Now, I don’t wish to be rude to anyone…but looking back…yeeeuch.

They were not good.

So, it is in this vein (and being this vain) that when Travelshoot approached me to give them a test drive that I thought it would be a good idea.

Travelshoot, as the name might suggest, sends a photographer out to meet you on your travels and photoshoots you there and then.

Not only is this a great idea because it combines two things most people want photos of (the people they love and the places they’ve been) but it also has a hidden surprise.

Travelshoot: the Hidden Surprise

These local photographers know the area they shoot in.

So, not only can they make you look good, they can show you the place too. Even in places you think you know already.

For me, that turned out to me my birthplace and one of my top ten cities in the world: London.

TRAVELSHOOT PHOTOGRAPHER: MEET VEERLE

I met up with Veerle outside Big Ben on a spectacularly bright sunny London afternoon. I went alone, not because I am in love with myself (sadly!) but because a) that’s just the way things worked out on that day and b) I did need to get some photos done for work…

For two hours we walked, chatted, posed and pottered about while Veerle did her thing.

TRAVELSHOOT REVIEW: RELAXING IN FRONT OF THE CAMERA

She’s used to all sorts: media-savvy attention seekers and shy and shifty shrinking violets. And like all photographers, she’s good at making you relax.

Being at ease in front of a camera is not something that comes naturally to me but over the years I’ve learned a few tricks and also learned to get out of my own way. (Yes, you will look a little silly to passers by as you sit perched on a wall, hair blowing into the breeze but…who cares? No one, that’s who.)

SMILE! YOU LOOK HOW YOU LOOK, WHETHER YOU LIKE IT OR NOT

And at the end, you get what you want (more or less.) Lovely photos of you (plus those you love, usually) in a place full of happy memories.

And if, like me, you’re used to looking through photos and hating everything you see, well it’s time to get real.

Travelshoot take lovely photos. They make you look good but they can’t make you look like Angelina Jolie. And having no photos taken of you isn’t going to make that happen either.

So, man up (insert non-offensive, non-gender discriminatory term here) and get your photo taken!

Years from now, you’ll be glad you did. I wish I had collections like this from my honeymoon and family travels: just not all with me on my own!

Top Tips for A Successful Travelshoot

1 – Send through some sample photos of the kind of shots you like in advance. Pinterest is great for that.

2 – Mug up on some posing techniques. Yes, it’s beyond cringeworthy but look at it this way: cringe a little on the day vs a lot if you look awkward in the photos.

3 – Listen to your photographer, take a few risks and have fun! The worst that can happen is that one of those “soldiers- who-never move” actually issues an ever-so-stark “Stand Back!” ;-)

About Travelshoot

Travelshoot connects travellers with local photographers for sessions that last between 1 and 4 hours. They’re not quite everywhere (yet!) but they do cover London, Paris, Sydney, Rome, New York, Vegas and more.

Disclosure – As mentioned above, I received a complimentary Travelshoot experience in order to test it out. As ever, as always, I kept the right to write what I like and recommend only what I think is worthwhile for you to use. Otherwise, what is the point?!

What do you think? Would you organise a travel shoot while away?