But there’s one more thing that can elevate your travel experience: capturing it through the lens of a professional vacation photographer.

Ready to take the plunge but don’t know where to start? This comprehensive guide is your one-stop solution.

Why Hire a Vacation Photographer?

Vacation photographers specialize in capturing the essence of your travels, transforming fleeting moments into lasting memories. With a professional behind the lens, you can be sure to get high-quality shots that you’ll treasure for years to come. So, why should you invest in a vacation photographer?

Quality Photos

Your smartphone camera might be convenient, but it simply can’t match the quality of professional equipment. A pro photographer provides you with high-resolution, professionally edited images that you’ll cherish forever.

Local Knowledge

Photographers residing in your travel destination usually have insider knowledge of the area. They know not only the famous landmarks but also those hidden gems for a unique photoshoot.

Time-efficient

Vacations are for relaxing, not stressing over capturing the perfect shot. With a vacation photographer, you’ll have more time to immerse yourself in the moment and less time fiddling with camera settings.

Where to Find Vacation Photographers

While you can scour social media and Facebook groups for vacation photographers, we’ve found it easiest just to work with a trusted company that has vacation photographers all over the world.

As someone who has personally used Flytographer twice to capture vacation memories, I can’t recommend it enough.

See Flytographer prices now.

Over the past decade, Flytographer has captured over three million memories and expanded its operations to 385 cities across the globe. Their community of photographers now numbers 600 worldwide. What’s special is that they’ve helped over 20,000 moms get back in the photo, emphasizing the inclusivity and comprehensive nature of their services.

Flytographer is not just about photographs; it’s about the entire experience. Their photographers not only capture incredible memories but also offer insider tips on the best places to eat, see, and do in each city. This aligns perfectly with their mission, which is to help people around the world “capture the magic of travel.” For me, the experience was seamless and the photos captured were truly magical, embodying the essence of the destination and the joy of the trip.

Check out our Flytographer review here.

So, if you’re looking for a reliable platform that not only offers quality but also enriches your travel experience, Flytographer is a prime example. Their commitment to capturing the essence of travel and creating tangible memories aligns perfectly with the idea that memories are the best souvenirs and connecting with a local is part of the magic.

What to Look For in a Vacation Photographer

Selecting a vacation photographer is an investment in your memories, so it’s important to make an informed decision. When evaluating potential photographers, these are the key aspects you should focus on:

Portfolio

Begin by examining the photographer’s portfolio. Look for a variety of shots that display a consistent style and high-quality work. Ask yourself whether their style resonates with the vision you have for your own photos or what you’re hoping they can achieve that you can’t.

A portfolio is essentially a visual resume, and it should give you a good sense of what you can expect from the photographer.

Reviews and Testimonials

A photographer’s reputation can often be a reliable indicator of their skills and professionalism.

Make it a point to read through Google reviews or testimonials on their website. If possible, you may also want to speak with past clients to get a firsthand account of their experience.

Budget

Finally, consider the budget.

Ask for a clear breakdown of costs, including what’s covered in the package you’re interested in. Are there any additional fees that you should be aware of, like travel expenses for the photographer? Make sure you fully understand the financial commitment before you proceed.

Taking the time to carefully evaluate these aspects will help you find a vacation photographer who meets not only your aesthetic and logistical needs but also fits within your budget.

By being thorough in your evaluation, you’re more likely to find a photographer who can successfully capture the essence of your trip.

Key Questions

Before finalizing your decision on a vacation photographer, it’s crucial to ask some key questions that will help ensure you’re making the right choice.

These questions are not just about logistics, but also about aligning your expectations with what the photographer can deliver.

Availability

The first question you should ask is about the photographer’s availability. Specifically, inquire if they are free during your planned travel dates. This is essential to confirm right at the outset to avoid any scheduling conflicts later on.

Deliverables

Next, discuss the deliverables.

Ask how many edited photos you will receive and in what format they’ll be delivered. Some photographers provide high-resolution digital copies, while others may offer printed versions or even a photobook. Make sure to clarify this in advance so you know what you’ll be getting.

Payment Details

Last but not least, delve into the payment details.

Ask if a deposit is required to secure your booking and find out what the cancellation policy is. This information is crucial for planning your budget and for understanding what your financial obligations will be in case plans change.

By asking these questions, you’re better equipped to find a vacation photographer who not only meets your needs but also aligns with your expectations and travel plans.

Once you’ve conducted your research and asked key questions, you’re ready to make a decision on which vacation photographer to hire. Here are some steps to guide you through this crucial phase.

Create a Pros and Cons List

After narrowing down your choices, take the time to create a pros and cons list for each photographer. This practical approach allows you to compare the options objectively, taking into account factors like style, price, and availability.

Trust Your Gut

While lists and logic are important, never underestimate the value of your intuition.

Sometimes, your gut feeling about a photographer can provide insights that no amount of research can. If interacting with a certain photographer makes you feel comfortable and confident, it’s worth considering that seriously.

By following these steps, you can make a more informed and confident choice, ensuring you hire a vacation photographer who is well-aligned with your needs, preferences, and travel plans.

Pre-Shoot Preparation

After choosing your vacation photographer, the next step is to prepare for the actual photoshoot. Proper preparation can be the difference between an average photoshoot and an extraordinary one. Here are some key points to consider for pre-shoot preparation.

Sign a Contract

First and foremost, it’s crucial to formalize the agreement by signing a contract.

This document should clearly outline all the deliverables you can expect, the payment details -including any deposit required – and other terms and conditions such as cancellation policies or rescheduling fees. Having a contract ensures that both parties have a clear understanding of expectations and responsibilities.

Working with a site like Flytographer makes this easy, as they already have systems in place.

Make a Shot List

This photoshoot is about capturing your vacation, so you should have input into the types of shots taken.

Prepare a shot list ahead of time that outlines specific photos you’d like to have taken. Feel free to share sample photos that inspire you, or simply describe the types of images you’re looking for. Communicating this with your photographer in advance ensures you’ll be happy with the end result.

Coordinate Outfits and Locations

If you’re having the shoot with a partner or family members, coordinating outfits can contribute to a more cohesive and visually pleasing end result.

Discuss and decide on the wardrobe in advance. Similarly, talk to the photographer about the locations for the shoot. They can provide valuable suggestions based on their local knowledge, but ultimately the choice should align with your vision.

On the Day of the Shoot

The day of the photoshoot is finally here, and how you approach it can significantly impact the outcome. To make the most of your session, consider these essential tips for the day of the shoot.

Arrive Early

Punctuality is key.

Arriving early gives you ample time to get ready, assess the location, and discuss any last-minute details with the photographer. It ensures that the shoot starts on a smooth note, without any unnecessary stress or rushing.

Be Natural

While it’s easy to get caught up in posing, the best photos often capture spontaneous, genuine moments.

Relax and try to be yourself. Your photographer will guide you, but don’t be afraid to laugh, smile, or show emotion. Authenticity shines through in photos, making them more memorable.

Enjoy the Process

Remember, this photoshoot isn’t just about creating pictures; it’s about creating memories.

Engage with your surroundings, interact with your travel companions, and let yourself enjoy the experience. A comfortable and enjoyable atmosphere will reflect in the quality and emotional resonance of your photos.

By keeping these tips in mind, you’re more likely to have a fulfilling and enjoyable photoshoot experience. Not only will this lead to better photos, but it will also contribute to making the day itself a cherished memory.

Post Shoot

The shoot might be over, but there are still important steps to take to finalize your experience and receive the photos that will become your cherished memories. Here’s what you should consider doing during the post-shoot phase.

Review Photos

After the shoot, photographers generally provide a set of proofs for you to review. This is your chance to go through the images and select your favorites. Take your time to review the photos thoroughly so you can identify the ones that truly capture the essence of your trip.

Share Your Experience

Once you have your final photos and you’re happy with them, consider leaving a review or testimonial for the photographer. Your feedback not only helps them improve but also provides valuable information for future clients looking to hire a vacation photographer.

Capturing your travel experiences doesn’t have to be an afterthought. With the right preparation and a qualified professional, you can create a stunning visual story of your trip. From knowing where to look, what questions to ask, and how to prepare, hopefully this guide has equipped you with all you need to find and hire the perfect vacation photographer. Happy travels and even happier clicking!

Check Flytographer vacation photographer prices now.

Check out these fun articles:

• Can You Take Good Travel Photos With Little Kids in Tow? Some Tips
• 101 of the Best Inspirational Family Vacation Quotes to Inspire Your Wanderlust
• The Ultimate Family Beach Vacation Packing List

Feeling overwhelmed by the vast world of photo editing? Think you can’t master the art of transforming your pictures into eye-catching visuals?

Luminar Neo may just be your golden ticket. It’s beginner-friendly and designed to help you to create stunning images with ease.

Luminar Neo is a simple photo editing software that’s perfect for beginners who want great results. It also has powerful editing features for more experienced photographers.

In this guide, I’ll walk you through the essentials of Luminar Neo, so you’re ready to edit a stunning landscape, or a gorgeous portrait.

Curious? Get 10% OFF Luminar Neo Pro and explore annual subscriptions with the code BAREFOOT10 here.

Ready to embark on your journey to becoming a photo editing pro? Read on, and let’s dive into the world of Luminar Neo together.

How to Use Luminar Neo for Beginners

The bottom line: I found Luminar Neo really easy to use and intuitive. If you’ve ever used another photo editor, it behaves pretty much the same way. That’s a good thing.

Let’s jump right into it. Before editing my photo, I needed to move it to Luminar Neo from my phone.

One thing I find really annoying is moving photos from my phone to my computer. I use Samsung Link to Windows some of the time, which is honestly a pain, and never seems to work well.

So I decided to try the Luminar Share mobile app. I downloaded the app, made sure my computer and phone were on the same Wi-Fi connection, and used Luminar Share to quickly send a photo to Luminar Neo’s catalog. So easy!

How to use Luminar Share to move a photo to Luminar Neo

Once the app is installed, go to Luminar Neo on your computer, and click the share icon in Luminar Neo (top right corner).

Click Connect to device.

A QR code appears on screen, which you scan with your phone.

From there, just select the image you want to share from your devices media library, and click Send it to Luminar Neo.

The image then pops up in the Luminar Neo catalog on your computer.

So easy!

Luminar Neo free trial

Want to try it out? There’s a 7 day free trial.

Click here to download the 7 day free trial.

How to edit a landscape photo in Luminar Neo for beginners

The next step is to open Luminar Neo, and go to the Catalog tab.

In this tutorial, I edit my photo without using Luminar Neo’s Extensions to make it easy for a beginner. There are some insanely cool ones, including AI Noiseless (no more grainy photos!), AI Background Removal (perfect for removing your weird Uncle Bob who’s photobombing you in the background) , and Supersharp (which can make blurry photos in focus again). Scroll down for more on extensions available at the end of the article.

Because I already added my photo from my phone using the Luminar Share app, the photo is now in the Catalog.

Just select the photo you want to edit, and the click Edit at the top of the screen.

I’m editing a photo of a street shot in Leavenworth, Washington. It’s a .jpg image, though Luminar Neo can edit RAW as well.

Luminar Neo is what’s called a non-destructive photo editor. That just means that it doesn’t destroy, or save over top of, your original photo.

The first thing I always do when editing a photo is to crop out what I don’t want. So to do this, I just go to Tools, select Edit – Crop, and drag the edge of the photo to crop, and click Apply.

If you’re in a hurry, use the Enhance AI tool in the Tool tab, it automatically edits your photo, including adjusting the saturation, and more.

To use Enhance AI, just click Enhance, then adjust the sliders on Accent and Sky Enhancer to the intensity you like. It does a pretty good job, and might be all that you need to edit your photo.

Get 10% OFF Luminar Neo Pro and explore annual subscriptions with the code BAREFOOT10 here.

But, I want to show you a few more beginner features, so I’ll start with some simple edits.

I feel the image looks a bit dark and flat in the buildings, so I’m going to make some basic edits to Highlights and Shadows in Develop.

I click on Develop, and just drag the Highlights and Shadows slider to make the buildings a bit lighter, and remove some of the shadow. Notice this washes out the sky a bit, but don’t worry about that, as there’s a super easy way to fix it.

Actually, the whole image could use a boost of color, so let’s click Color in Essentials.

From there, I use the slider to up the Vibrance.

Tip! Saturation impacts the intensity and enhances every color in an image. Vibrance is more specific, and it saturates the parts of a photo that aren’t that colorful.

Looking at the photo, it’s not as sharp as I’d like.

I’m going to use the Structure AI tool here. It’s a good choice, because it enhances image texture and detail. It’s great for landscape photos, because it enhances buildings, mountains and rocks, but it won’t really impact skin tones or other details.

That’s a lot better.

Tip! Structure AI vs the Details slider. I like to use Structure AI, because it doesn’t globally affect all elements in the photo, including skin in portraits, while the Details adjustment globally sharpens edges, which can make skin look a bit weird.

But I have to say all of those adjustments have made the sky look a bit off.

I’m going to play around a bit with the Sky AI Essentials to see if I can make the sky a bit more … dramatic.

Click Sky AI, then click the Sky Selection drop down.

There’s a lot to choose from here.

Just for fun, let’s choose a night sky.

Oh, that’s pretty cool.

Let’s try another – a dramatic sunset.

Also cool. But I’m going to stick with my original sky.

So I’ll click the Reset tool (in the Sky tool) to get rid of my changes to the sky. You can also go to the Edits tab to remove your edits to this point, but this is quicker.

Tip! To delete more major edits, just click on the Edits tab, click Discard Edits, and start fresh. Important: The software keeps track of your edits, allowing you to go back and adjust them. However, reopening a tool undoes all subsequent edits, which can be confusing for beginners.

To finish, I’m just going to go to Enhance AI, and punch up the Sky Enhancer a bit.

And done.

It’s that easy.

I want to compare my edits to the original, so I click the Compare button on the bottom of the screen. This shows the image before and after edits. You can grab the slider in the middle in Luminar Neo to show more or less of the edits. Very cool.

You can also click the little Eye icon on the bottom to toggle between edited and unedited versions of your photo.

Read more great articles like this:

• Using A Cell Phone In Europe Made Easy and Affordable
• Flytographer Review: Our Hometown Photo Shoot
• 25+ Best Travel Memories Quotes to Inspire Your Wanderlust

How to save your photo in Luminar Neo

So, how do I save my photo?

Just click the Share icon on the top right, and click Folder to save to your computer. You can also click Mail to email the photo.

If you click Folder, the Export box pops up. You can select the folder you want to save to. From there, change the format, adjust the quality, and even change the photo’s size.

What are Luminar Neo Extensions?

Luminar Neo has some very cool extensions available. The extensions are included in the Pro and Lifetime plans, but not the most basic Explore plan (more on that below). Here are some of what I think are the best extensions available.

• AI Noiseless (no more grainy photos!)
• AI Background Removal (for removing ugly backgrounds)
• AI Upscale (for improving a print quality version of a pixilated photo)
• AI Magic Light
• HDR Merge
• Supersharp (for motion blur and misfocus)
• Focus Stacking (more advanced, and for stacking up to 100 photos to create sharp details and improve depth of field)
• Relight AI

How much does Luminar Neo cost?

There are three Luminar Neo Plans: Explore, Pro and Lifetime.

Here’s what they cost, at the time of writing:

• Explore $11.84 USD/month (billed monthly) or $142 per year
• Pro $94 USD/first year
• Lifetime $177 USD one-time

The Explore plan gives you access to the photo editor, any upgrades and updates in the software, plus a 5% discount on Marketplace items (Skies, Presets, LUTs, Overlays, etc.)

The Pro plan gives you all you get in the Explore plan, plus access to existing Pro-level extensions, including AI-based tools for sharpening, upscaling, noise reduction, focus stacking, merging HDR images, background removal, light manipulation. You can also use Luminar Neo on two devices (instead of one) . You also get a 10% discount on Marketplace items (Skies, Presets, LUTs, Overlays. etc.)

The Lifetime plan gives you access to everything the Explore plan has, including access to all existing Pro-level extensions, PLUS access to future extensions. Extensions include AI-based tools for sharpening, upscaling, noise reduction, focus stacking, merging HDR images, background removal, and light manipulation). You can also use Luminar Neo on two devices (instead of only one allowed on the Explore Plan), and you get a 10% discount on Marketplace items (Skies, Presets, LUTs, Overlays, etc.)

Luminar Neo vs Luminar AI

The answer here is simple. Luminar AI no longer exists as a separate program in 2023.

Luminar AI was discontinued in October, 2022, with its existing AI features, and more, rolled into Luminar Neo.

In the new 2023 Luminar Neo, the AI tools are rolled into the photo editor itself, while other AI features are in the extensions. There are new AI extensions added all the time!

Luminar Neo discount code

Looking for a coupon for Luminar Neo?

Get 10% OFF Luminar Neo Pro and explore annual subscriptions with the code BAREFOOT10 here.

Like many of you, we take most of our family photos when we’re away from home on vacation or while out and about taking photos for the blog.

Unfortunately, like the rest of the world, travel restrictions kept us at home for most of this year and we didn’t take as many photos together as we usually do.

However, even when we travel, it’s often hard to get a good family photo. Sure, we can get a stranger or friend to snap a shot of the four of us, but the photo is usually out of focus, or one of us is cropped out of the shot.

Flytographer review

So, I was thrilled when Flytographer reached out to us for a hometown photo shoot. Flytographer lets you hire a local photographer almost anywhere in the world, but because of current travel restrictions, we decided to go for a hometown photo shoot.

See Flytographer prices now.

I didn’t want this year to go by without some good family photos.

As a mom, I love to have memories of our family to look back on every year. Kids can grow so much in a year!

Our kids are at their early to mid teens. It’s a time where they’re morphing from children to young adults, and the changes in how they look in a single year can be huge.

What is Flytographer?

Flytographer is a vacation photography company.

The idea for Flytographer was born when a fellow Canadian, Nicole Smith, from Victoria, BC was on a work trip in Paris back in 2011. Smith wanted good photos for a memory of her trip, but she was unsatisfied with blurry pics from strangers, and awkward selfies. After a lot of searching and dead ends, she eventually hired a local photographer on Craigslist.

The frustration that came from that search lead to the idea for a vacation photography service, which became Flytographer. Today, Flytographer is on six continents, and has over 500 photographers on the payroll.

Our experience with Flytographer

From begining to end, our experience with Flytographer was great.

We booked a 30 minute session with Danika, a photographer in our hometown of Kelowna BC.

It was an easy choice. Danika’s portfolio on Flytographer was exactly what I was looking for – someone who knew the best local areas for photos, and had tons of positive reviews. Her style of photography was a perfect match with us, since her photo gallery is packed with candid photos of happy people with beautiful mountain and lake backdrops.

Once we booked our 30 minute session, Danika reached out to us right away to set up our location. She asked what we wanted in our photos, and came up with a few great suggestions for our shoot location. I was impressed that she came up with a few location ideas that I’d never considered, given that I’ve lived in Kelowna for almost six years!

I wanted to get photos of each of the four of us individually during the shoot, plus a couples photo of Charles and me, and a few photos of the kids together. I was really worried that the 30 minutes wouldn’t be enough time, but Danika worked her magic, and seemingly effortlessly fit all of those groupings into the 30 minutes with time to spare.

How much does Flytographer cost?

A 30 minute photo shoot runs $285 USD. The shoot is at one location, and you’ll get 15 photos (though our photographer sent us more). The cost includes all digital files, so you’re free to print or use the photos any way you want. You can also get 60 minute, 90 minute, and two hour photo shoots.

Flytographer’s even given us a special promo for our customers!

See Flytographer’s prices here.

How does Flytographer work?

Here’s how it works. Got to Flytographer.com, and search for photographers in your destination.

Read the reviews, look at their gallery, and choose a photographer.

Then, request an afternoon or morning booking. You can even request a specific type of photoshoot, like a hometown photo shoot, a vacation shoot, proposal, modern headshot, or even commercial photography.

Your photographer then gets back to you with a choice of meeting times, and suggests meeting locations.

The day of our shoot, Danika was there exactly on time. She came ready with all of her equipment, and plenty of great ideas for poses and backdrops.

We spent our 30 minute photo session walking along a gorgeous pathway surrounded by wildflowers, overlooking Okanagan Lake. We chatted with Danika and she stopped us at various places on the path to take photos.

The 30 minutes breezed by, and when we were done she’d taken photos of myself and Charles individually, photos of the kids individually, photos of both kids together, and couples photos of Charles and me.

Once the shoot is over, you’ll get your photos, delivered electronically, within five days.

Does Flytographer offer gift cards?

Yes! You can get a Flytographer gift card for a 30 minute, 60 minute, 90 minute, or 2 or 3 hour photo session. It’s a great gift for weddings (think honeymoon trips!), graduation, thank you gifts, or a unique travel gift.

Flytographer on Dragons Den

If Flytographer sounds familiar, it may be because you watched their pitch on TV’s Dragon’s Den. Flytographer’s founder, Nicole, pitched Dragon’s Den in Season 10. For our American friends, Dragon’s Den is essentially the Canadian version of Shark Tank, where entrepreneurs pitch their companies to successful venture capitalists to secure funding.

See the Flytographer pitch update on Dragon’s Den on CBC.

Would you try Flytographer, or another vacation photographer? Let us know what you think in the comments below.

I am not a born photographer.

My daughter on the other hand, at only 12 has the gift of being able to look through the lens, seeing the end product, and composing a great shot on the fly.

I have to work at taking a great photo, even after years of taking photos.

There’s so much to know about photography, from photo composition and lighting, to how to use a DSLR camera to even knowing how to do photo editing in post production.

Plus, I’m continually working on my videography skills which takes a whole new slew of skills.

Over the years, I’m not ashamed to admit I’ve taken a few paid courses, which have been a great help. I’ve also spent a lot of time browsing YouTube for tips and tricks, often with varying results. Some of the courses I’ve found for free have been great, and some have been a complete waste of my time.

I’m just at the point where I’d like to have one place where I can do a deep dive into improving my photography and video. I’d like to be able to take unlimited classes in one place.

Here’s what I wanted from my photography courses:

• courses that I could stop and start at any time
• a wide range of courses from beginner to intermediate to professional
• training given by video with a hands on feel
• training that includes both photography and video courses

Since I use Lightroom to edit my photos already, I wanted to have Lightroom training too.

That’s a lot, I know, but I really wanted to make it worthwhile if I was planning to pay for a membership to learn.

After looking at a bunch of options for online training, I settled on trying out KelbyOne photography training.

What is KelbyOne?

KelbyOne offers online video training for Photoshop, Lightroom, and photography.

Because photography is a visual medium, KelbyOne offers its courses by video, so you can instantly see and understand examples.

Exclusive KelbyOne coupon

We have an exclusive coupon for our readers!

To save 10% on the KelbyOne Monthly Plan – Use Code KELBYONE10 at checkout.

Use Code “KELBYONE10” Now and SAVE!

Want to save on an annual plan instead?

KelbyOne Online Training Review

I chose the Pro membership, which offers over 800 courses.

What I like most about KelbyOne training is that you can watch anytime with unlimited viewing. I have weeks where I just don’t seem to have time or ambition to sit down and take a course, but I also have periods where I spend a good chunk of my spare time learning.

My first courses were on DSLR video production, where I learned everything from planning the video to location scouting to essential gear to taking B-roll. It was a huge help for me.

I’ve also started taking a few courses in Lightroom Classic. Lightroom is one area where I feel pretty comfortable. At this point in the game, I’d say that I’m probably at an intermediate to advanced level. That said, I definitely have some gaps in my knowledge, since I learned Lightroom mostly through trial and error.

I found the few courses I’ve done so far to be well laid out and the instructions quite concise. Of course, every course is different so some might be better than others. I guess I’ll find out more in the coming weeks.

What didn’t I like about KelbyOne?

One thing I didn’t love is that KelbyOne didn’t offer a trial membership. I would have loved to have the option to check out a course or two before signing up. That said, they do offer a money back guarantee in the first week if it’s not for you.

How much does KelbyOne cost?

There are two KelbyOne membership options to choose from.

Memberships start at $9.99 a month.

KelbyOne Plus Monthly Membership: Plus membership gives you access to over 300 courses. New content is added monthly.

KelbyOne Plus membership costs $9.99 a month.

KelbyOne Pro Monthly Membership: Pro membership gives you access to over 800 courses, with over 20 learning tracks. There’s also access to the interactive community. New content is added weekly.

KelbyOne Pro membership costs $19.99 a month.

KelbyOne Plus Annual Membership entitles all the features as Plus Monthly except you pay only $96 a year

KelbyOne Pro Annual Membership entitles all the features as Pro Monthly except you pay only $199 a year

To save an additional 15% on the KelbyOne Pro Annual Plan, use Promo Code NOMAD15 at checkout.

They also offer group memberships for companies.

KelbyOne doesn’t offer a free trial membership.

Can I cancel my KelbyOne membership?

Yes, you can cancel for any reason. There’s a 100% Money-Back Guarantee, if you contact KelbyOne within the first 7 days of your monthly membership (or the first 30 days of your annual membership)

Who are the KelbyOne photography courses for?

The KelbyOne online photography courses are for anyone who wants to get better in photography. They have courses for every skill level from “looking to get into photography” newbies to advanced users. Since there is always another tip to learn or trick to know, there’s even some courses for advanced photographers.

In this article, we review Localgrapher travel photography.

Have you always wanted to get truly great photos of yourself while traveling?

We struggle with this all the time. We travel a lot, and take a lot of photos as we go, but we still struggle to get great photos of all of us together on the road.

As a family of four, capturing our travel memories is more important than ever. Kids grow up so quickly, and I want to have those photos to look back on!

See photographers on Localgrapher here

Sure, we occasionally snap our family travel photos with a tripod or selfie stick, but that takes time to set up, and I’m rarely really truly happy with the results.

Alternatively, we often ask a stranger to snap our family photos. If I’m lucky, they can find the shutter button, but it’s often a bad travel photo that’s out of focus, or they’ve caught us mid blink.

What if you could come back from your vacation with clear, in focus, professionally taken photos?

That’s where Localgrapher comes in. Localgrapher has professional photographers all over the world who will ensure you get great photos of your travels.

Localgrapher.com

Localgrapher Review

So, when Localgrapher asked to test their service, we were excited to try it out! Yay to great family photos, finally!

Here’s how it works.

Got to Localgrapher.com, and search for your vacation destination. They have photographers in over 900 locations around the world.

Then, you choose your favorite photographers at your chosen location.

Once you’ve found your photographer, then you book your vacation shoot.

From there, Localgrapher contacts your photographer, and books the time. Then, you go on vacation, and your Localgrapher photographer meets up with you there.

Our Localgrapher travel photography experience

We chose to have our photos taken in beautiful, Kelowna, BC.

Our photographer, Shelley, reached out before the shoot with a few suggestions for photoshoot locations. We discussed a few, and we picked out our favorite.

Here’s Shelley’s profile page on Logalgrapher.

The day of the shoot, we met our photographer, Shelley, at the shoot location. She asked us what type of photos we wanted (solo shots, couple shots, or single photos of the kids, and so on).

Once we decided what we wanted, our one hour photo shoot started.

Our photographer Shelley was friendly and professional. I especially love that she was able to get us all to relax and have fun with the camera. She made our time in front of the camera fun and easy, and that’s no easy feat.

We always struggle, especially, with getting our kids to relax and smile for photos. Shelley really helped the kids enjoy the photo shoot, getting bigger smiles, and better photos than we could have.

We were a bit short on time, and couldn’t reschedule, so we were a little disappointed that we ended up with a cool, overcast day. Honestly, though you wouldn’t know it from the photos – she did a terrific job on a day that was extremely overcast.

Of course, what matters in the end is how the photos turned out.

Our family loved the photos. We’re going to print out some of the shots and put them in a picture frame that we’ve had in storage for years, and hang it at home.

Since I’m the person taking the photos 90% of the time, I really loved the chance to have a few pictures taken of myself.

Charles also had a chance to get a few photos taken of himself.

Booking Details

You can book your photoshoot on Localgrapher.com.

Prices start at $250 USD.

After the shoot, you’ll get the photos in four working days. You’re able to download your photos from your gallery, see them in a slideshow, or even compare photos side by side.

You own the photos, so you’ll get the digital copies to download. I really love this, since some photographers keep the digital copies and require that you print out your photos through them. That gets expensive fast!

With Localgrapher, you own the digital copies, so you can print out your photos whenever, and wherever, you choose.

What if you don’t like your photos?

Here’s what Localgrapher has to say:

We believe in our service and quality of our photos so much that we decided to offer a 100% money back satisfaction guarantee for your photo shoot. If you don’t like your online gallery once we deliver it, you can contact us within 7 days and claim your money back.

Are you a photographer?

Localgrapher hires local photographers all over the world. You can find out more here.

Our photoshoot was provided free of charge by Localgrapher, but they didn’t tell us what to write. As usual, all opinions are our own.

When AKASO reached out to us to try their V50X action cam, which sells for under $100, we jumped at the chance. I’ve wanted to get my hands on a more affordable GoPro alternative for a while now.

So why buy an AKASO instead of a GoPro? PRICE. The AKASO retails for under $100 USD, while the newest GoPro is about four times that!

We own a GoPro Hero Black, and while I really love the camera, I’ve never loved the price. The newest GoPro is around $400 USD for the camera, and that comes without any mounts, but does include the micro SD card.

See the AKASO V50X on Amazon here. 

See the official AKASO website.

Here’s a quick look at the AKASO capabilities, and what’s included for your hundred dollars.

Specs:

• Video resolutions: 4K 30 fps video or 2K 30 fps or 1080P 90 fps
• Photo resolution: 12M/10M/8M or 4M @jpg format
• Waterproof up to 131 feet
• Input/output micro USD / HDMI
• WiFi connectivity (via the RoadCam app)
• Touchscreen (only when not in waterproof case)

What’s included:

• AKASO V50X action cam
• waterproof case
• remote control (included)
• two – 1340 mAh batteries
• mounts and accessories
• requires a micro SDHC card (not included)

The AKASO does not come with a microSD card. You can buy buy a cheap 16 GB SanDisk MicroSD for well under $10, all the way up to a more expensive 512 GB Samsung Micro SD Card for around $80.

Here’s our unboxing video, so you can see exactly what you get for your $100.

The AKASO V50X also doesn’t come with a carrying case, which is a bit of a bother. I don’t want to get the lens of either the camera, or the plastic covering the lens on the underwater case, to get scratched. For now, I’m carrying the AKASO around in an old sunglasses case to protect it.

Mounts are compatible with GoPro accessories, so if you have a GoPro, you can use these with the GoPro as well.

Of course, what really matters is if the video and photos are good, so we’re testing that out next.

Is the AKASO V50X easy to use?

To really test how easy the AKASO V50X is to use, we handed it to our 11 year old to take photos and videos of our kitten.

She was really happy with the assignment.

I showed her how to turn the camera on, what button to hit to change mode from video to photo, and that’s it.

She was up and running instantly, and tested out photo, video, and slow motion mode. She also tested the microphone by recording the kitten purring.

Her videos were awesome, but most of the photos she took were a little blurry. I think that may be because there wasn’t a lot of light, plus she hasn’t quite mastered holding the camera still when taking photos. I didn’t have any issues with blurry photos when I used the camera.

That said, she did take this hyper close photo, which makes our cat look alien and makes me laugh every time I see it.

How’s the AKASO V50X microphone?

Action camera’s aren’t known for great sound quality, so my expectations were pretty low here.

I found that when it’s in the waterproof case, the microphone is definitely muffled. That’s the scenario for even higher end action cams with outer cases and definitely something the case bound GoPro’s had in common. The AKASO V50X does come with a outer case that has holes cut out for the mic (not for use under water!), so you can get better sound when using a mount.

When my 11 year old recorded our cat purring without the case, I thought the sound was pretty good for an action cam.

The AKASO V50X does support an external microphone, if you want to improve your sound quality.

How is the AKASO V50X stabilization?

Overall, the image stabilization seemed decent.

We haven’t had a chance to try it out mountain biking, or any other high impact activity, but the image stabilization is pretty decent when handheld, even by our 11 year old.

How long does the AKASO V50X battery last?

The Vikaso V50X battery is easy to charge. The included AKASO charger base fits both of the two included batteries, which charge via USB.

However, I find it easier to just charge the AKASO camera directly with a USB cable.

What’s cool is that you can charge the AKASO V50X while you’re using it, if you connect it to a power bank or have a long USB cable.

AKASO says each battery will support 60 minutes of video recording in 4 K at 30 frames per second (or 180 minutes if you’re recording at 1080p). In practice, I found that I was getting about 40 minutes out of a battery recording at 4 K at 30 fps.

What is the AKASO V50X like underwater?

The V50X camera is supposedly waterproof up to 131 feet, which is pretty impressive. It also has a diving mode in the menu settings, which AKASO says will compensate for the lack of red light in underwater scenes. Water filters out red light, so unedited or unfiltered underwater shots often have a lot of green and blue tones, while reds don’t show up well.

It’s pretty easy to switch between modes like Photo, Video, Self Timer, and Time Lapse with the underwater case on the camera. However, I don’t think you can access settings to change the resolution, self timer time length, and so on while the underwater case is on. This is a bit of a bother.

Unfortunately, we didn’t get to test the V50X camera outside underwater. It’s pretty cold here in Canada in the water, and none of us were willing to go for a Polar Bear swim to test it! I’ll update this section when we’ve had a chance to try it out.

How do you get your photos and videos off the AKASO V50X camera?

It’s fairly simple to get your photos and videos onto either your computer, smartphone or tablet.

To get your content to a computer, either manually insert the micro SD card into your computer (we use a micro SD adapter, since our computer only reads standard SD cards).

Tip – Click USB Storage on the AKASO menu that pops up when you connect your AKASO to your computer via USB. You’ll then be able to see and browse the AKASO MicroSD card on the camera.

Since the AKASO V50X doesn’t come with a Micro SD card, you’ll need to buy one before you use the camera.

A SD card can range in price from around $5 to around $80 or more, depending on the storage. If you’re going to be taking 4K video, especially, I’d recommend at least a 256 GB micro SD, or you’ll start running out of storage room pretty quickly!

• 16 GB SanDisk MicroSDHC UHS-I Memory Card with Adapter
• 256 GB Samsung EVO Plus Class 10 UHS-I microSDXC U3 with Adapter
• 512 GB Samsung Memory MB-MC512GAEU Evo Plus Micro SD Card with Adapter
• SanDisk MicroSD to SD Memory Card Adapter (MICROSD-Adapter)

AKASO V50X codecs and H.265

Like almost any other action camera out there, the AKASO uses H.264 or H.265 video compression (you can choose which in the settings). The H.265 gives you high quality video, and a smaller file size, but it does mean that you may have trouble viewing or editing the videos, especially if you have an older computer.

If you’re like me, and using an older PC using Windows, you may need to install a HEIF image extension(free) and/or a HEVC video extension (currently 99 cents) to be able to watch 4K HEIF videos or images in HEIF format. There’s more info here.

I had to install this codec, then power off and restart my computer before I could play my AKASO V50X video natively on my PC laptop.

Since Charles is smart, he set our AKASO settings to record in H.264, which is a bit easier for my old computer to use. H.265 does make file sizes smaller, but it can be much harder for older computers to read. Since newer computers have H.265 decoders built in, if you’ve bought your computer in the last 4 years, you should be fine with h.265 otherwise it might be best to stick to H.264 for now.

It should be noted that YouTube supports both codecs so, even if your computer can’t play it straight out of the camera, you could always upload it to YouTube then view and/or edit it that way.

We did make the mistake when first shooting of forgetting to remove the date and time stamp on videos and photos. In our defense, it is buried deep in the settings menu. You may notice the date and time stamp on some of our first video.

What’s the V50X documentation like?

A quick reference guide comes with the AKASO, but it’s pretty basic, with only a simple diagram of the camera’s components. Inside, there’s a link to the online user guide, which you can find here.

The user guide itself covers all the necessities, like switching between modes, and menu options. The user guide also has a helpful section on how to mount the camera to different things, like a bike, helmet, or tripod.

Using the RoadCam app with the AKASO V50X

You can use the RoadCam app to take photos and videos, and also download photos and videos from the AKASO. This is especially useful if you have the AKASO on a tripod, and want to set up your video or photo by looking at your phone screen.

Though we like the camera itself, I’d give the entire RoadCam app experience a 3/5. It does work, but the functionality is limited, and it feels a bit like an add-on.

To set up the RoadCam app with the AKASO V50X:

• Install the RoadCam app to your smartphone or tablet (Android and Apple)
• Turn on the AKASO WiFi signal by pressing the up button for 3 seconds
• Sync your smartphone to the AKASO WiFi. To connect to the AKASO WiFi on your smartphone you’ll need a password. The password is in the user manual, but you may need to look it up in the French section.
• When you’re done, click the up button once to turn off WiFi on the AKASO.

Note: When WiFi is enabled on the AKASO, you can no longer see or navigate the AKASO menu.

I did catch an error in the AKASO manual’s English instructions, where it said to activate AKASO WiFi by turning the camera on and pressing the up button. However, in the French instructions (I’m Canadian, so I read a little bit of French) it also says to press and HOLD the up button for 3 seconds to run on WiFi. Turns out the French instructions were correct!

The English section is also missing instructions for using the RoadCam app with the AKASO V50X.

You can use the RoadCam app to take a photo or video. I found it to be a bit buggy – when I took a video, the view in the RoadCam app never changed as I moved the camera, making it really hard to judge what I was recording.

You can also download photos or videos to your smartphone, using the RoadCam app. This would be really useful for uploading to social media, or moving photos and videos to an editor on your smartphone. You can also delete photos and videos using RoadCam.

You can’t edit photos or videos in Roadcam but you should be able to once the file is copied to your device using the built in tools or by downloading one of the hundreds of video editor apps out there.

You also can’t see the AKASO battery remaining in RoadCam (or on the AKASO either).

I can’t say for sure, since I didn’t test this extensively, but it seemed like the AKASO battery ran down pretty quickly when in WiFi mode. I had it in WiFi mode for less than 10 minutes, and the battery was already at about 70%. The AKASO also felt a bit warm in WiFi mode (not too warm, but it felt warm like it was definitely working to capacity).

Final thoughts on the AKASO V50X

Overall, I think the AKASO V50X is a great little action cam for under $100.

The overall build quality makes it feel well made, and it does a great job of its basic functions of taking quality photos and videos. It definitely excels in outdoor shots with plenty of light. Inside shots aren’t bad either as long as there is plenty of light otherwise shots can look a little grainy.

Some people also use their AKASO V50X as a dashcam (there is supposedly a dashcam mode in the options) so it’s nice to know that even as time progresses and technology changes this camera could still be useful years from now.

I would definitely recommend the AKASO V50X for someone who wants to take decent quality action cam photos and videos, but who doesn’t have the budget for the newer GoPro’s and wants to save money.

The included accessories are a nice bonus as well as the dual batteries, the waterproof casing and the remote control. The app could use some love and the sound can be a bit muffled at times but you definitely get a lot for your money with the AKASO V50X and, at the sub $100 price point, that’s a great thing no matter what.

See the AKASO V50X on Amazon here. 

Creating clear, beautiful videos is incredibly important. As a mom, videos are important too, because I want to preserve memories that we’ll treasure forever.

A friend once recommended that I use Custom Lapel Pins to permanently preserve the beautiful photos I took, which I think is a very good idea.

For the past few years I’ve used a different professional video editor (it’s not an Adobe product). While I can create beautiful videos with it, I find it’s just way too complicated and clunky. Sometimes, finding out how to do the simplest thing takes an hour of reading or watching tutorials.

As a busy parent, I don’t have time to fiddle with complicated software, so I’ve been looking for an easy to use software that can still create great videos.

When I had the chance to try out Adobe Premiere Elements 2020 video editing software, I jumped at the chance. It looked like it was easy to use, with enough functionality to create great videos.

Spoiler: After editing a couple of videos for the blog, Adobe Premiere Elements 2020 has lived up to my hopes. It’s much easier to use than my old software! I can already create quality videos, but Adobe Premiere Elements makes it easy with auto-generated video creations, intelligent editing, and easy organization and sharing!

Adobe Premiere Elements 2020 Review

Adobe Premiere Elements 2020 is a simplified version of Adobe’s successful professional video-editing tool, Adobe Premiere Pro. It’s made for beginner or intermediate video editors. I’m solidly in the intermediate camp, but always looking for a video editor that’s especially easy to use.

While Premiere Elements is a simpler version, it still offers plenty of options for making videos stand out by adding elements like background audio and the ability to edit video quality.

What I really like is that Adobe Premiere Elements is a one time purchase, not a subscription model like its more expensive cousin.

Here’s the first video that I edited using Adobe Premier Elements: an unboxing of the AKASO V50X action camera (under $100). It’s far from perfect (since I’m still learning!), but I think it’s a great start. Even though I was using Adobe Premier Elements for the first time, it took me about half the time to edit this video than it would have in my old software!

The second video I’m almost done creating is a video highlighting our travels over the years, from way back in 2003 when we started travel as a couple, to today. If you want to see it when it comes out, be sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel here.

What does Adobe Premier Elements do?

Here are some of the things you can do with Adobe Premier Elements.

• Use the Reduce Noise effect to improve grainy low-light clips
• Make time-lapse videos, animate skies in photos (and more!) with Guided Edits
• Bring together, and customize, the best scenes based on the style of your video with Smart Trim
• Make movies easily and quickly in the Quick Edit mode, using the Sceneline feature to add your clips, transitions, text, effects and more
• Find videos as easily as photos with the Adobe Sensei-powered smart tags and automatic people recognition
• Create GIFs using bounce-back effects and share on social media
• Use the home screen to find tutorials, ideas, and new fun things to do
• Upload your creations to YouTube or Vimeo, burn to DVD, or send them to your HDTV

How Adobe Premier Elements works

Adobe Premiere Elements has three editing modes: Quick, Guided and Expert. It also comes with Adobe Organizer, which helps store and organize photo and video clips, which I’ll talk about a little later.

Quick mode is perfect for almost all family video editing. I created about half of my videos in quick mode. Quick mode lets you add photos and video clips quickly, and then trim them or perform quick edits like improving picture quality, adding text or creating transitions.

In Guided mode, Elements helps you through specific steps of creating a video. What I like is that it’s not just a passive tutorial. Instead, the Guided mode gets you to select one of your videos, and shows you how to do things like add clips, save them as a movie, adjust color, contrast and brightness, or even add, animate and edit titles (plus more).

Expert mode offers more editing control. I found that I needed the Expert mode to help me snip my video. I needed to cut a lot of the AKASO unboxing out, especially, to make it more concise. Expert mode also let me cut out short bits of audio (where I was rambling, lol), but leave the video intact.

Click here to see Adobe Premier Elements at Best Buy.

What did I like?

One of my favorite features is how easy it is to capture an image from a video in Elements. Just go to Freeze Frame, select a moment in the video, and export it as a photo. I absolutely love this feature, as it helps me grab a photo I may have forgot to take in the moment.

It’s also simple to add transitions between video clips, create a slideshow, and edit videos for contrast, saturation, and more.

For more advanced users, you can pan and zoom, extract candid moments, and speed up or slow down a video.

Exporting a video is pretty easy too. You can either use Quick Export (which I didn’t use because I wanted a higher video quality), or Export and chose the quality for export.

What didn’t I like?

What I didn’t love was that the initial startup screen wasn’t intuitive to me.

Maybe that’s because I’m not used to Adobe video or photo editing software, but it took me a couple of minutes to figure out I was supposed to click on the little Video Editor button in the bottom right of the screenshot below.

After that, I found using the software pretty easy overall. I needed to consult a tutorial to figure out how to trim videos in the Expert mode (by hovering on the little scissors), but I managed to figure out almost everything else myself or in the Guided mode.

About Adobe Organizer

Adobe Premier Elements video software comes with Adobe Organizer.

Adobe Organizer keeps all of your photos and videos displayed in one place. Plus, you can use Organizer to find all media from one location, images or videos with a specific person, or find specific events.

I wasn’t sure I’d love the Organizer, but I have to say it’s nice to keep all of my videos and photos in one place, rather than trying to sort through almost 20 years of photos and video clips to find something.

Both Adobe Premier Elements and Adobe Photoshop Elements use Organizer for easy access to all photos and video.

What’s the difference between Adobe Premier Elements and Adobe Photoshop Elements?

Adobe Premier Elements is a video editing software.

Adobe Photoshop Elements is the photo editing software.

You can buy Adobe Premier Elements alone, bundled with Photoshop Elements, or you can buy Adobe Photoshop Elements alone as well.

Final Thoughts

Adobe Premiere Elements 2020 is easy to use and has lots of cool, intuitive effects that help beginners and experienced users create spectacular videos with just a few clicks.

Adding text and audio is super easy and I found it generally pretty easy to just jump in and create videos.

I definitely liked Adobe Premier Elements 2020 enough to keep using it for our home videos and for the blog.

Who is Adobe Premiere Elements good for?

I think Premiere Elements is a great bridge video editor for an intermediate user (like me) who’s not quite ready for a professional video editor, but who still wants to make great quality videos.

It’s also a great tool for a beginner who wants to go just a little further with creativity and video editing in their home videos.

Premier Elements is also a great choice for beginner or intermediate video editor who wants to have Adobe support and helpful tutorials and features to inspire their creativity.

That said, it’s not the right software if you’re looking for an advanced professional grade video editor. Adobe’s professional video editor is Adobe Premiere Pro (with a subscription model).

Technical details:

Operating System: Windows 10, Windows 8.1, macOS 10.13, macOS 10.15, macOS Mojave 10.14

Compatible Platform(s): Mac, Windows

Physical System Requirements: 2GHz or faster processor with SSE2 support; 4GB of RAM (8GB recommended); 6.1GB HDD (Win), 8GB HDD (Mac); 1280×800 display resolution (at 100% scale factor)

Internet connection required for product activation and content download

How You Can Get Adobe Premiere Elements 2020?

You can pick up Adobe Premier Elements at Best Buy. Click here to see Adobe Premier Elements at Best Buy.

You can buy Adobe Premiere elements on its own or in a package with Adobe’s image editing app, Photoshop Elements.

Finally, one thing I love is that Adobe Premiere Elements 2020 is not subscription-based, so the price you pay is a one-time fee.

We’ve visited dozens of castles on our trips to six continents (we haven’t made it to Antarctica yet, but there are no castles there, anyway), and we’re always amazed by the sheer size and beauty of the castles we’ve visited.

Of course, the best or most beautiful castle in the world really depends on your point of view. In this post, we’ve included some of our favorite castles that visually made us say “wow”, and that have a cool history or story behind them.

Our best castles in the world list includes the biggest castles in the world (either the Prague Castle or the Windsor Castle depending on who you’re talking to), what we think may be one of the oldest castles in the world (Goreme Castle, Turkey), as well as cool and unusual castles built into the surrounding rock like the mountainside cave covering Predjamski Castle or castles built on Tibetan mountaintops (Potala Palace) and so forth. Some of these are among the most famous castles in the world as well as some you probably have never heard of before.

What got them on this list is that in their own way, each one is an amazing castle in its own right.

So, before we start, what exactly defines a castle? Can a monastery or church be a castle? Turns out, the definition of a castle is pretty simple. The Merriam Webster dictionary says a castle is “a large fortified building or set of buildings”, “a massive or imposing house” or “a retreat safe against intrusion or invasion”.

The Best Castles in the World

Here they are: our top 20 most beautiful castles in the world, with beautiful castle photos to prove it.

Schloss Schwerin Castle, Germany

The Schloss Schwerin Castle in Germany is about as close to a fairy tale castle that you’re ever likely to find. It’s surrounded by lakes and forest, and features stunning towers that reach into the sky that are topped with golden domes and pinnacles.

Schwerin Castle was built between 1847 and 1857 by Grand Duke Friedrich Franz II of Mecklenburg-Schwerin. It’s said there has been a building on the site since around 1160. You can visit this castle at the Schwerin Museum, Germany.

Blarney Castle, Ireland

The medieval Blarney Castle is near Cork, Ireland, and it dates from way back in 1446. It’s one of Ireland’s most famous attractions, and brings in thousands of visitors who want to climb to the top and kiss its famous Blarney Stone.

While there’s the castle itself to visit, there’s also over 60 acres of gardens, waterways, and grounds to explore.

There’s an admission fee to visit, but it can be well worth the cost if you take the time to walk around the ample grounds and check out the castle’s interior.

Osaka Castle, Japan

Osaka Castle is beautiful in and of itself, but it really comes to life during cherry blossom season, when the blooms turn the landscape of Osaka Castle Park gorgeous shades of pink.

The castle is one of Japan’s most well known attractions, and was built in 1583 by feudal lord Hideyoshi Toyotomi, whose love of gold is seen in the gold embellished exterior of the castle.

Uchisar Castle, Goreme, Turkey

We caught our first peek at this ancient castle in Turkey on a balloon ride over Cappadocia. (See the video here).

The castle is made out of solid rock, with rooms and stairways hollowed out of the rock itself. I couldn’t find any confirmed information on the castle’s age, but UNESCO says “It is believed that the first signs of monastic activity in Cappadocia date back to the 4th century at which time small anchorite communities, acting on the teachings of Basileios the Great, Bishop of Kayseri, began inhabiting cells hewn in the rock.”

Today, Uchisar Castle is largely a crumbling ruin, and visitors are banned from visiting due to the risk of collapse. Most of the rooms on the north side of the castle are now used as pigeon houses.

Neuschwanstein Castle, Germany

Neuschwanstein Castle looks like it was plucked straight from your favorite fairy tale, and it’s easily one of the most famous castles around the world, with up 6,000 people visiting a day.

It’s located in Bavaria, Germany, and was built for King Ludwig II. The name means “new swan stone”, and was named after Wagner’s the Swan Knight.

There are only 14 rooms currently finished inside the castle, and they’re all on view for visitors.

Bonus Note: Neuschwanstein’s white limestone facade and blue turrets are rumored to the inspiration for the castle in Disney’s Cinderella.

Lichtenstein Castle, Germany

Lichtenstein Castle (Schloss Lichtenstein in German) is privately owned, and operates as a tourist attraction today. It’s located in the Swabian Jura of southern Germany, an hour’s drive south of Stuttgart.

The Lichtenstein Castle is popular with German tourists, but fewer international tourists visit these days. The current castle was built between 1840 and 1842, however the original castle on the site was built back around 1200.

In terms of size, Lichtenstein is a relatively small castle, however, with stunning views of the Echaz Valley and Swabian Alps it more than makes up for that with its beautiful scenery.

Pena Palace, Portugal

We visited the Pena Palace on a cool spring day a few years ago, and it absolutely wowed us.

You’ll find Pena Palace (Palácio da Pena in Portuguese) just outside of Lisbon, standing high above the municipality of Sintra, Portugal.

It’s a fine example of 19th century Romanticism style of architecture. It was built by King consort Ferdinand II in 1847, and purchased by the Portuguese State in 1889. Today, it’s a museum and tourist attraction, and we’d say it’s well worth a visit.

Tip! Don’t forget to check out the expansive grounds when you visit. It makes a perfect place for a picnic!

Prague Castle, Czech Republic

The Prague Castle is thought to be the largest ancient castle in the world, at about 70,000 square meters (750,000 square feet).

The castle has a long history, dating back to the 9th century, and it has been used by kings of Bohemia, Holy Roman emperors, and presidents of Czechoslovakia. Today, the castle is the official office of the President of the Czech Republic.

Bonus tip! Don’t expect to be alone when you visit. With 1.8 million visitors every year you’ll have plenty of company.

Mont Saint Michel, France

The Mont Saint Michel is one France’s most stunning sights. Mont Saint Michel is a medieval monastery that’s perched high on top of a small island.

The island is located about a kilometer off the coast, and dates back to 709.

Today, Mont Saint Michel is one of France’s most iconic tourist attractions.

Matsumoto Castle, Japan

Matsumoto Castle is an easy day trip from Tokyo. A National Treasure of Japan, and the current structure dates back to 1594.

The Matsumoto Castle is also known as the crow castle because of its black exterior.

It’s a beautiful place, and an especially good choice for visiting Japan with kids.

Eilean Donan Castle, Scotland

The 13th century Eilean Donan is one of the most iconic and visited castles in the Highlands of Scotland. It’s situated on an island at the point where three great sea lochs meet, making for some stunning views.

Want to stay on the grounds at the Eilean Donan? It’s possible to stay on site at the Eilean Donan Cottage only a stones throw from the ancient castle.

Egeskov Castle, Denmark

Egeskov Castle opened in 1554, and it is Europe’s best preserved Renaissance water castle. It’s located near Kværndrup, in the south of the island of Funen, Denmark.

There’s a lot to enjoy here, from touring the castle and grounds, to enjoying exhibitions and events involving lots of amazing local food and drinks.

Windsor Castle, England

Windsor Castle is unique in that it’s a currently active royal residence. In fact, it’s the oldest and largest inhabited castle in the world. The original castle was built in the 11th century, and it’s still possible to visit. If you’re lucky, you may even catch the Queen in residence!

Duart Castle, Scotland

Duart Castle (Caisteal Dhubhairt in Scottish Gaelic) is a castle perched on a craggy cliff on the Isle of Mull, off the west coast of Scotland. The castle dates back to the 13th century.

It was brought back from ruin in 1911, and to this day, it’s still privately owned by the MacLean clan.

Swallow’s Nest, Ukraine

Swallow’s Nest is a small castle perched precariously over the Crimean Sea.

It overlooks the spa town of Gaspra. While it looks like a castle architecturally, it’s not a castle in the truest form, because it wasn’t built to protect its occupants.

A large earthquake in 1927 closed the castle for close to 40 years because of damage to the underlying rock. Today, it houses an Italian restaurant.

Peleș Castle, Romania

Peleș Castle is a Neo-Renaissance castle in Romania’s Carpathian Mountains. It was built between 1873 and 1914 for King Carol I.

It was originally used as a summer residence, and today it operates as a museum. Its extravagant looks led to it being featured in the 2009 movie The Brothers Bloom as well as many TV movies.

Potala Palace, Tibet

Admittedly, Tibet isn’t the first place you think of when trying to picture a castle.

That said, the Potala Palace has a long history, and was the residence of the Dalai Lama until the 14th Dalai Lama fled to India during the 1959 Tibetan uprising. Today, it’s a museum, and on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

It’s located in Lhasa, Tibet Autonomous Region, China.

Predjamski Castle, Slovenia

One of the world’s most dramatic castles, Predjama Castle is a Renaissance castle nestled within a cave mouth in south-central Slovenia. It’s in the village of Predjama, and was built around the 12th century.

In the summer, you can visit the caves underneath the castle.

Dundas Castle or Craig-E-Clare, New York

Dundas Castle is the lone castle from the USA in this list. It was built between 1915 and 1924, and is located in Roscoe, New York, and was modeled after Dundas Castle. It is also known as Craig-E-Clare.

Sadly, it’s currently abandoned, and has a long history of misfortune. The original owner, Ralph Wurts-Dundas, died in 1922 as the castle was being finished. His wife Josephine Wurts-Dundas, was committed to a sanitarium soon after. It was inherited by their daughter, who was swindled out of a great deal of money by the caretakers of the castle. She was admitted to a mental institution herself.

After that, the Dundas Castle went through various owners, including a time as a children’s summer camp. It was bought by a Masonic chapter as a retreat, but it was abandoned by the Masons (who still own the building).

Arolsen Castle, Germany

Arolsen Castle was built in the early 1700s, in Bad Arolsen, Hesse, Germany.

The baroque-style castle is still inhabited by Wittekind, Prince of Waldeck and Pyrmont and his family.

The castle is now a museum with daily tours.

Bride on the Steps of Cathedral Se, Porto, Portugal

While the Cathedral Se in Porto, Portugal doesn’t technically count as a castle (as it wasn’t built to protect its occupants), it’s so beautiful, and one of our favorite buildings in Portugal, that we’ve included it in this list.

Cathedral Se is located in the historic city center of Porto, and it’s still a working church, with mass celebrated at 11 am every day.

If you’re lucky, you’ll even see a wedding in progress, like the day we did!

Tip! Are you lucky enough to have visited one of these amazing castles? We’re always looking for ways to remember our travels. We realized long ago that if we took a souvenir from every place we’ve visited around the globe we’d now have a house full of fridge magnets and t-shirts!

Instead, we love to preserve our travel memories in other ways. There are a lot of amazing things you can do with your travel pics, including creating custom, photo themed smartphone covers, HD metal prints, and framed collages.

Would you visit any of these castles? Let us know in the comments.

I’m sure everyone has seen those amazing GoPro videos of surfers on a perfect wave, snowboarders carving down a mountain side, bikers taking 50 foot jumps or those extreme athletes jumping out of perfectly good airplanes or the side of a cliff. I love those.

See the 4K GoPro HERO8 on Amazon.

See GoPro’s newest GoPro HERO10 here.

Honestly though, if anyone needs a compact, hands free camera, it’s a parent. I find myself wishing daily for another set of arms, so carrying around a big, bulky camera just doesn’t work.

So, it’s probably no surprise that we get a lot of questions from fellow parents about the GoPro who want to know is it waterproof? Is it easy to use? How much does it cost? Does it take photos, too? Those are a lot of questions for one tiny camera.

So when Sport Chek reached out to us to review the new GoPro HERO 6 Black, we jumped at the chance. It’s a perfect opportunity to answer all of those questions and more.

First impressions

Before we got our new HERO 6, we owned the GoPro HERO4 SILVER. It’s a great little camera and we’ve gotten some great footage the past few years, but I always disliked how we had to keep it in an external casing.

That’s changed with the newer GoPros, namely the HERO 5 and Hero 6. Unlike older GoPros (like the GoPro Hero 4 and earlier) the HERO 6 doesn’t need an external case to make it waterproof. This is my favorite feature, as it makes the GoPro HERO 6 so easy and convenient to use, and I never have to worry about putting it in a waterproof case.

GoPro HERO 6 Video and photo quality

The GoPro takes great photos and videos. Even better, this tiny camera takes stunning 4K video, which means your family memories will be preserved in stunning detail.

To give it a real try, we took the GoPro HERO 6 Black with us on a early family winter vacation to Mexico and it was the perfect chance to test the GoPro Hero6 in a real world situation.

Take a look at the video below, filmed in 4K on our little GoPro HERO 6 Black. The video is raw and unedited, taken straight out of the camera. We didn’t always have the new image stabiliser on (our bad) and we’ve added titles and music, plus cut out some footage, but we haven’t done anything else. The video quality is just a sample of what you’ll get from this camera.

GoPro HERO6 Features

There’s a lot to like about this camera, and I’m especially fond of the burst feature for photos.

Like a lot of you, I always seem to just miss that perfect moment, like when my kids actually smile at the camera. With the burst mode, I just click the button, and the GoPro takes a burst of photos over several seconds. No more missed photos or that perfect smile.

The GoPro HERO 6 is waterproof to 33 meters. We’ve snorkeled with it, played with it in the pool, and even carried it with us as we boogie boarded in the waves. I let the kids carry it around half of the time, and they dunked it in the pool and the ocean dozens of times. Despite all of this, it remained perfectly waterproof.

Tip! We use a GoPro floating handle to hold the GoPro. This keeps it from getting lost in the surf, or sinking to the bottom of a pool.

How to use the GoPro Hero 6

Is the GoPro easy to use? Well, it’s not hard to use, but using a GoPro is a little different than a smartphone or other camera. If you take ten minutes to learn how to use the GoPro at the beginning, you’ll pretty much know everything you need to.

Thankfully, there are only a couple of buttons: a shutter button, and a mode/power button. There’s also a touch screen in back, which makes getting through the menus pretty easy. Unlike the older models, you can see the photos and video as you’re taking them on the LCD screen just like a regular camera.

You can also download the GoPro app and connect the GoPro to your smartphone to take remote shots or to easily control all the settings. It can also save the videos and pictures directly to your phone so you can easily share them on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

GoPro HERO 6 Voice Recognition

The GoPro HERO6 even comes with voice recognition, which we found works really well. Talk about hands free!

You can use voice recognition to turn the GoPro on and off, take photos and videos, and a lot more. It really makes mounting the camera to your helmet or chest strap easier than ever. Just tell it when to start and stop recording no matter what your hands are up to.

GoPro HERO 6 Video Quality

What’s the quality like? Video quality with the GoPro HERO 6 black is an impressive 4K video shooting at 60p, or 60 full frames per second. Those high frame rates per second also mean that it’s excellent at capturing slow motion video. As well as 4K, you can record in 1080p240, 1080p120, or the more classic 1080p60. What that means is that you can still record in high definition and still enjoy top rate quality with varying compression. This means that if space or extended recording is important, you can lower the resolution and not lose a great deal.

Here are a few nerdy facts about video compression for you. The GoPro HERO 6 Black uses a new video codec called High-Efficiency Video Coding (HEVC) H.265. It means that the video size can be smaller than the older H.264 protocol, but still retain higher 4K quality. Unfortunately, because H.265 is so new, many video editing software and devices can’t decode its advanced compression at the moment. Luckily, most of the newer Androids and iPhones can play H.265 natively, so wider support is guaranteed as more people get on board with using it. YouTube already supports the new H.265 codec.

GoPro HERO 6 Image Stabilization

The GoPro HERO 6 has digital image stabilization making for steadier video. Because it’s so tiny, we did find that we got some shake when the HERO6 was handheld, but there was less when it was mounted on something like a helmet, or the buoyant floaty handle grip we use. We also didn’t realize that we had turned image stabilization off for part of our trip until we had later watched the videos. For smoother motion, especially when it’s handheld, you’ll want to leave image stabilization on.

So is the GoPro for you?

Well, if you’re looking for a camera with 4K video, then yes, the GoPro HERO6 definitely does 4K video well and with it’s wide field of view or the new Superview, you won’t be missing anything as long as you have lots of good natural light.

Want a rugged, waterproof camera that you can take almost anywhere? Well, the GoPro HERO6 definitely fits that bill as well. With it’s small frame and rugged waterproof abilities, as well as the built in image stabilization, the GoPro can take what you’re giving and keep on recording.

Love playing with new technology? With it’s small touchscreen interface, voice recognition and it’s ability to connect seamlessly with your existing smartphone, the GoPro definitely ticks all the boxes when it comes to new tech. There’s a small learning curve, but it’s nothing that a few minutes watching how-to videos or a little reading can’t cure.

The GoPro HERO6 Black HD Action Camera transforms your adventures into incredible QuikStories directly on your phone.

Shopping for a GoPro in Canada? Sport Chek is an official supplier and carries all the latest GoPro devices and accessories.

See the brand new 4K GoPro HERO8 on Amazon.

Thanks to Sport Chek for providing us with the GoPro HERO 6 Black for this review. It was on the wishlist and we definitely enjoyed using it.

Today’s guest post is by Mark Condon, a Sydney based photographer from the UK. We’ve been meaning to write a post on the best travel tripods for DSLR and mirrorless cameras for a while, and we thought bringing in an expert would be the best way to go. After all, who knows more about the best lightweight DSLR or mirrorless tripods for travel than someone who uses them for a living?

Here’s what Mark has to say about the best travel tripods.

Before we dive headfirst into the world of our three-legged friends, you should ask yourself, do I really need to take a tripod on my next trip?

In most situations, even if you need a steady shot (for a long exposure night shot, or for a selfie with your family etc), you’ll usually be able to find a level place to put your camera to achieve the same thing. Lugging a tripod around on holiday, even if it is one of the best travel tripods, isn’t my idea of fun!

Having said that, for those of you who really need a tripod in your travel backpack, these are my picks of the five best travel tripods for DSLRs and mirrorless cameras available this year.

Let me know in the comments what tripod you’re currently using!

Joby GorillaPod Focus Flexible Tripod

Whilst every other tripod manufacturer concentrates on making lightweight tripods with rigid legs, Joby has been turning the rulebook upside down for years with this little gem of a tripod that was built to flex. Wrap the legs of the GorillaPod around anything you want to shoot that a rigid leg tripod can only dream about!

Micki’s note: We just bought the Joby GorrillaPod a few months ago, and we’ve been having a blast with it. It’s surprisingly sturdy, and it’s a lot of fun to tote around our DSLR on this. We end up using the GorrillaPod more than our larger MeFOTO Roadtrip tripod because it’s simply smaller, lighter and more convenient, especially when we’re trying to take photos with the family in tow.

Check Joby GorillaPod Tripod prices on Amazon.

MeFOTO Aluminum Roadtrip Travel Tripod/Monopod

Multi-function should be the name of the game for all your travel gadgets, and the MeFOTO Aluminum Roadtrip achieves this with its neat ability to switch from a tripod to a monopod. Choose from fourteen colors (9 aluminium and 5 carbon fiber), then smile all the way through customs since the MeFoto weighs only 1.6 kg – quite respectable for a tripod that extends up to 156 cm tall.

Micki’s note: We also own the MeFOTO Roadtrip tripod and love it. It may only weigh 3.6 pounds (around 1.6 kg), but we honestly find it a bit bulky to take along for most of our trips, especially since we try to travel carry-on only for our family of four. That said, the RoadTrip is wonderfully sturdy, easy to set up and use, and stylish. We use it mostly for short trips around our home base in Kelowna, BC. We have the red MeFOTO Roadtrip.

See reviews and prices for the MeFOTO Aluminum Roadtrip Travel Tripod.

Manfrotto BeFree Compact Aluminum Travel Tripod

From the Italian tripod manufacturer Manfrotto comes the Manfrotto BeFree Compact, with my favourite feature – flip-lever-locking legs (as opposed to twist to lock). Sliding each leg into itself and rotating it 180 degrees back on itself allows the legs to nestle neatly into the grooves of the sides of the ballhead. This kind of design is unique to the Manfrotto BeFree, and is testament to the attention of detail of Manfrotto products.

See Manfrotto BeFree Compact Aluminum Travel Tripod prices here.

ZOMEI Z699C Portable Carbon Tripod

Even though aluminium gives the best bang for the buck when it comes to price vs features with tripods, carbon fiber is definitely the gold standard. Usually the price of carbon fiber pushes it out of reach, but this isn’t so with the ZOMEI Z699C. For a relatively unheard of brand, this travel tripod has an impressive feature set, and an even more impressive price! If you’re willing to try something new, the ZOMEI Z699C is the most affordable way to get a carbon fiber lightweight travel tripod into your backpack.

More info and prices on ZOMEI Z699C Portable Carbon Tripod here.

Pedco UltraPod II Lightweight Camera Tripod

The aforementioned GorillaPod isn’t the only ultra-compact tripod on the block. If you’re not a fan of the GP’s bendy legs, then the Pedco UltraPod II really is your next best choice. Weighing in at a carry on friendly 119 g, the Pedco UltraPod II can just about fit in your jacket pocket, but allows an impressive 2.7 kg load to be supported to provide a stable shot (i.e. more than enough for a mirrorless camera + lens).

See Pedco UltraPod II Lightweight Camera Tripod prices and reviews here.

Best travel tripods for DSLRs and mirrorless cameras for 2018

So there you have it, a short and sweet selection of some of the best travel tripods for dslrs and mirrorless cameras available in 2018. To recap, they include the Joby GorillaPod Focus, the MeFOTO Aluminum Roadtrip, the Manfrotto BeFree Compact Aluminum, the ZOMEI Z699C Portable Carbon and the Pedco UltraPod II Lightweight tripod.

If you want to dig deeper into the best travel tripods (and find out other models that made the cut), you can head over to Mark’s dedicated camera gear site Shotkit.com. While you’re there, be sure to check out his most popular posts on everything from the best mirrorless cameras to the best camera bags to the best camera straps. All information that you will find useful for your next travel adventure.

Looking for a great mirrorless camera? Check out this list!

Bio: Aside from running Shotkit, Mark Condon is a wedding photographer and author of the popular ebook, More Brides, helping fellow wedding photographers book more weddings. Follow Shotkit on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.