Essential Tips for Elevating Your Cruise Photography

With a mix of onboard activities and onshore adventures, capturing photos while cruising can be a challenge. To help you build a meaningful photo collection that captures your vacation memories, we’ve compiled photography tips tailored for cruise settings. No matter your camera type, you’ll master cruise photography in no time. Here are some essential travel photography tips for beginners.

Determine Your Subjects

It’s easy to be tempted to snap countless random photos while on vacation. Before you realize it, you may find yourself spending the whole trip behind the camera. To prevent this, take a moment to consider the moments you want to capture before starting your day. This approach helps you concentrate on meaningful shots instead of capturing everything in sight.

Here are some key moments you might want to photograph during your journey:

• Joyful Expressions: Are you embarking on a family or group cruise? Capture the delight on everyone’s faces as they enjoy the cruise’s onboard activities. Snap photos of your family relishing their time during Lip Sync Battle™: Dinogo.  While on shore, photograph the smiling faces of your children as they swim with dolphins in Kona, Hawaii or ride horses along the beach in Antigua.
• Ship Design: A cruise ship is an architectural marvel worth photographing. Capturing still-life shots of your ship from various angles can yield stunning artistic results. For instance, visit the ship’s atrium, a vibrant area where you can shoot upward or downward toward other levels to emphasize the ship’s grandeur.
• Food: To excel at food photography, take overhead shots of your plates while standing. For a more artistic perspective, capture your dishes from a low side angle. Exquisite drinks and martinis should be photographed head-on with a portrait style. Picture yourself aboard Mardi Gras™, capturing images of Creole cuisine crafted by the renowned Emeril Lagasse at his restaurant, Emeril’s Bistro 1396™.

• Scenic Views: When cruising to Alaska, embrace cloudy days for exceptional photography. You might witness a glacier calving (breaking off and falling) during your journey. Or you’ll encounter glaciers showcasing stunning shades of blue, such as the famous Mendenhall Glacier during an excursion. Make sure to capture that shot, even on a gray day. Professional photographers insist the blue hues appear more striking in photos taken under overcast conditions in Alaska.
• Cultural Heritage: If your cruise is driven by the desire to experience diverse cultures, that will be your primary focus. Document a day in the life at a Sorrento farm while on a cruise to Naples, Italy. Capture hidden tunnels and intriguing dungeons while exploring San Cristobal Fort during your cruise to Puerto Rico. Make sure to capture every moment while on a Hidden Mexico tour in Puerto Vallarta, where you’ll visit the ancient village of El Tuito. One of the joys of cruising is discovering culture and history at nearly every port.

Be Observant

Capturing photographs aboard a ship as it encounters wildlife or stunning landscapes can be challenging. Here are some tips to help you stay vigilant and prepared for memorable shots no matter where you are in the world:

• Familiarize Yourself with Your Ship: Spend some time getting to know the decks and how to navigate them. You might receive announcements about wildlife sightings at the most unexpected hours. Knowing how to quickly access the bow of the ship can be crucial for the best views. Look for a deck that allows you to easily move between the bow and stern, as well as port and starboard, to capture your perfect shot.
• Always Bring Your Phone or Camera: If you prefer taking photos with your phone, this tip will be simple and seamless. For others, it’s beneficial to keep your phone handy in a pocket or purse, so you won’t have to rush back to your stateroom for your camera when a photo opportunity arises. Many diners in the main dining room have been surprised by whales surfacing unexpectedly right before their eyes.

• Be Innovative: If one of your ambitions is to experience the unforgettable SkyRide^®, there’s a unique way to photograph yourself while soaring above the ocean. Secure your smartphone to your head or hat since you cannot hold anything in your hands during the ride.

Minimize Camera Shake

Professional tripods can be quite unreliable on a ship, even with minimal movement. Effective cruise photography requires some clever techniques. While it might be tempting to rest your arms on the railing for stability, doing so could lead to a dropped phone or camera.

Instead, consider using compact devices like selfie sticks that can grip or attach to your phone or camera to help stabilize your shots. You’ll be glad to have these tips handy when you’re witnessing breathtaking sights, like cruising through the Panama Canal, where capturing the full experience is a must. Be sure to practice these tips before your cruise to enhance your photography skills.

If you prefer to use your body to steady your phone or camera, hold the device with both hands and use your thumbs to navigate it. Keeping your elbows close to your body while aiming your device can also help. Additionally, when taking photos on glass-bottom boats, try resting your elbows on your knees for extra stability.

During shore excursions, lying down on your stomach and using the ground as a tripod can be quite effective. For instance, when sailing on a luxury catamaran in Bermuda, you’ll likely have ample space to stretch out comfortably.

Understand Optimal Lighting

• Golden Hours: Capturing photos during sunrise and sunset is always a winning choice. When you cruise to the Caribbean, you’ll witness firsthand how enchanting the light can be during these times. It adds a touch of drama to the water shots you take from your balcony or any deck area.
• Evening Shots: Whenever possible, avoid using a harsh flash at night. Instead, take advantage of the soft glow from ambient lighting like candles and moonlight. This approach yields softer, moodier, and more romantic photographs. If you’re snapping pictures from your stateroom’s balcony, the lamps and moonlight will provide ample illumination without needing a flash.
• Sunny Weather: On a cruise, the sun is usually shining bright during the day. Remember this guideline: avoid shooting directly into the sun. If the sun is positioned behind your subject, it will create a large shadow. While shooting outdoors, ensure your back is toward the sun so it doesn’t appear in front of your camera. For selfies, position the sun to shine on your face rather than behind your head to avoid a shadowy effect. Keep these tips in mind, especially when taking photos by onboard pools.

Preserving Your Memories

The most crucial advice: select a file storage application that syncs and uploads all your photos to the cloud if you’re using a phone or similar device. Alternatively, bring extra memory cards if you’re using a point-and-shoot camera. You’ll also have the option for wireless Internet access onboard a Dinogo ship, making it easy to save your photos.

Pack a dry bag for your phone or camera, carry spare batteries and chargers, and you’ll be ready to capture the unique and personal moments of your cruise adventure.

With these suggestions, you’ll be able to enjoy your cruise getaway while capturing all the exciting memories you create along the way.

Note: The activities available onboard, shore excursions, and dining options may differ depending on the ship and destination.