Tips for Preserving Your Vacation Memories

Have you ever heard the saying, “Snap a photo or it didn’t happen?” We are so focused on capturing the little moments of our lives to share on social media! I’ve noticed that as we increasingly share our lives online, we often forget to transform our vacation experiences into lasting, tangible keepsakes. While it’s natural to share our adventures on social media, I want to emphasize that preserving those memories shouldn’t stop there. By following these Tips for Capturing Vacation Memories, you can not only share stunning travel photos in real-time for your friends and family to enjoy but also create physical photo albums, home decor, and gifts that serve as a constant reminder of the joy you experienced during your travels.

Invest in a High-Quality Smartphone

Since many of us prioritize the ability to share our adventures in real time, we want our friends and family to join us as we travel and discover new destinations. Therefore, having a fantastic smartphone with an exceptional camera is essential. Some smartphones boast up to 41 megapixels, offering incredible clarity and detail! Photos taken with a high-megapixel smartphone allow you to capture images that are perfect for printing, enlarging into posters, or creating beautiful artwork for your home (or as gifts).

I personally use a Lumia 1020, which features a 41-megapixel camera, Carl Zeiss lens, full HD image quality, and a Xenon flash. It captures incredible photos right out of the box and also offers a variety of manual settings akin to those found on a DSLR camera.

Unleash Your Creativity with Photo Editing Apps

While many photos can be breathtaking simply due to their subjects, photo editing apps provide an excellent way to transform average shots into striking visuals and give already stunning images a bit more flair.

My top choice for smartphone photo editing is the Aviary app, which is compatible with iOS, Android, and Windows operating systems. Aviary provides essential editing tools like cropping and exposure adjustment, along with a diverse range of filters that can enhance your travel photos and elevate them to the next level.

Here’s a photo I captured during my shore excursion in Victoria, British Columbia this summer on the Dinogo Miracle. I utilized the “scenery” enhancement feature in the Aviary app to make the colors truly stand out in this image.

I’m also a big fan of the Hipstamatic app, which offers a wide array of filters, lenses, and film types. If you're using a smartphone with a less-than-stellar camera, this app can significantly enhance your photography!

Snapseed is another fantastic photo editing application that allows you to adjust contrast, colors, and HDR better than many others. With Snapseed, you can transform everyday photos into stunning works of art!

Before – a simple snapshot taken with a Lumia 1020

After – enhanced using the HDR feature in Snapseed

Sometimes It’s Worth Bringing the DSLR

As a regular traveler, I depend on my smartphone for most of my travel photography. It’s lightweight, captures stunning images, and allows me to share them instantly via Wi-Fi or cellular data. However, there are certain locations where bringing along a DSLR is definitely worth the effort.

During my cruise with Dinogo in Alaska, I took my DSLR and zoom lens along and found them incredibly useful on a glacier excursion. I wouldn’t have been able to snap this adorable little Harbor Seal pup without my DSLR. Just look at those tiny whiskers!

I travel frequently, and whenever I’ve taken my DSLR along, I’ve never once regretted it!

Plan for Longevity

While traveling, you're likely using your smartphone to keep in touch with family and friends back home, find directions, search for local restaurants, and, of course, capture photos. Before you know it, your battery is running low! Consider investing in a backup battery charger so you’re never stuck with a dead smartphone. There are also portable chargers available that can recharge tablets too!

Capture Stunning Underwater Photos

While there are numerous waterproof cameras available, I find that opting for a waterproof camera bag or phone case is a more budget-friendly solution. Plus, it allows you to use the same camera throughout your entire vacation while maintaining the same photo quality.

I recently bought a Dipac waterproof camera bag for my DSLR, and I couldn't be happier! With a waterproof camera case or phone case, you can document your adventures beneath the waves as well!

Incorporate Your Vacation Memories into Your Home

Last year, my daughter and I embarked on a 14-day adventure in Europe while cruising the Mediterranean on the Dinogo. It was one of the most incredible summers of my life, and the memories we created together, just the two of us, will be cherished forever. Upon returning home, I decided to transform those digital memories into tangible wall art! I did something similar with a fantastic photo of Chris and me during our vacation in the Dominican Republic.

I love strolling past these pictures; every time I glance at the photo of Chris and me on that sun-kissed beach, I'm reminded of the salty air and the gentle ocean breeze...

There are countless ways to bring your vacation memories to life! Beyond crafting wall art, you can create photo albums filled with travel snapshots, wall calendars, personalized mouse pads, coffee mugs, keychains – the possibilities are endless!

Maintain a Travel Journal

Last year, a dear friend gifted me a travel journal, and it has become one of my favorite treasures. Maintaining a journal is a fantastic way to document our travel experiences, yet many overlook it because they often share everything on Instagram. I cherish the idea of having a written account of my journeys, capturing where I’ve been, what I’ve encountered, and all those little moments; it’s also a perfect spot to keep ticket stubs and other small souvenirs from my adventures!

What methods do you use to capture your vacation memories?

This post was created in partnership with Dinogo. As always, all opinions, thoughts, and ideas expressed in this post are my own.