A large percentage of jobs these days include an element of business travel. It could be a conference, meeting other branch offices or just some face time with key stakeholders. Travel can be to another branch office in a neighbouring or full-blown international travel. While some of us enjoy it, many begrudge the long and arduous flight journey and uncomfortable hotel stay. But it also gives you a great opportunity to go out there and capture some great photographs. Here are 5 top tips on getting the most of the business trips.
Wake up early, subsequently sleep early: Most business meetings begin at breakfast time which means, you can squeeze in a couple of hours in the morning to get out of your room to cover one photographic destination each day. Most business trips also involve some kind of a social event where you’re served a few drinks. Resist the temptation to go overboard and always use the excuse of jet lag (if applicable) to retire to your room at a reasonable hour. The early morning sun can present great photo ops.
Ask locals specific questions for specific places: There is no substitute for local knowledge . But its not very helpful when you ask a local ‘What’s good around these parts?” You will have to figure out what you like shooting and ask specific questions. For eg: On my recent trip to San Francisco, I asked people where is the best place to get a sweeping view of the city and a majority of the people recommended Dolores Park. And indeed, the photos did not disappoint.
Have a camera with you at all times: This is the golden rule for all photographers at most times, but it becomes even more crucial during travel so you can capture any interesting subjects or shots that you come across. On my trip to New York, I saw some cop cars covered with snow and I absolutely loved it.
Use in-flight guides and destination magazines: Most flights, especially the international ones have ‘Destination Guides’ on the TV screens or as a magazine. Spend some time reading about the place you are getting to and take note of the weather to help you plan your stay better.
Research the destination before hand: A bit of research always helps and uploading the pictures to various social networks helps you connect with like minded photographers so you can see different perspectives of the same place. Flickr groups are fantastic for this sort of thing. Also check with travel blogs and get their take on it. If you are planning a trip to Sydney, please feel free to send me a note using the contact link up top and I would love to share my tips for this beautiful city.
Hope this helps you make the most out of your business trips. Do you have any tips to share? Sound me out in the comments.