Eileen Aldis 

The travel vlogging world is filled with so many different personalities. But when I tell people I loved watching vloggers, I find sometimes this is met with a raised eyebrow. I think people have a very narrow idea of what a vlogger can be. And for me, Eileen Aldis is the very best of the best. She will put even the most skeptical viewer to rest. Her thoughtful narrations, wonderfully researched and informative videos paired with their incredible cinematography make for a perfect travel video! I find myself absolutely mesmerized throughout as she and her partner travel the world together. Eileen has a fantastic back-catalogue of videos to choose from. She travels to such unique and sometimes lesser travelled locations, making them even more fascinating to watch from your room!

Bald and Bankrupt

Benjamin Rich, better known by his YouTube channel name Bald and Bankrupt, is an English travel vlogger. He is mostly known for his travels to long forgotten states within the former Soviet Union. Most of these places are tiny villages and towns, that most of us would never put on our travel bucket list. But Mr. Bald, as his subscribers call him, sets out to explore them with unencumbered enthusiasm and has us all excited to see what they have in store for him. Rich speaks Russian fluently, which helps him greatly on his travels through these mostly undocumented parts of the world.

Rick Steves’ Europe

My travel guru has always been Rick Steves. When I was 14, I went on my first international trip, and I had his guide book with me like my bible. His voice guided me throughout the city. I will always thank him for such gentle and easy instruction for travelling. Rick Steves’ Europe is a series that Rick began producing for PBS in 2000. Since then, they have made over 129 episodes.! Each episode focuses on a different city in Europe and features Rick’s charming narration leading you through the best things to see and do while in town. Although the show is meant more as a travel planning guide, it is a great way to travel to these cities from the couch during the lockdown! Most of the episodes are now available on Rick Steves’ Youtube Channel.

The Chateau Diaries

The Chateau Diaries focuses on the busy life of Stephanie Jarvis. Jarvis bought the 16th-century “Chateau de Lalande” in the heart of France, 15 years ago. Ever since she has been slowly restoring the castle. A few years ago she opened it up as a B&B to supplement her renovation costs. But when the pandemic hit, all her guests cancelled their reservations and she was left with no monthly income. She had been vlogging periodically over the years but the shutdown inspired her to get serious about it!

But Garvis doesn’t live here alone! Her palace is filled with volunteers, each of whom possesses their own set of artistic skills and camera-ready stories. Her mother and her adopted brother are also two of the most hilarious personalities. This cast of characters makes watching her vlogs feel like you are stepping into her world and you get to know all of them as friends. Her channel has brought so much happiness to people all over the world. The Chateau Diaries were even covered in a recent CNN article! For those of us at home, dreaming of a life outside our four walls, her fairytale existence is just the thing we need to escape (at least virtually)! 

Crash Course

Crash Course is a series of educational videos created by Youtube royalty John and Hank Green. These two real life brothers have been on YouTube almost as long as the platform has been around and their content is some of the best of the site. This series, partnered with PBS Digital Studios, is meant as a literal “crash course” for anyone interested in learning more about world history. While the channel doesn’t physically travel to these faraway destinations, it instead dives deep into their histories and myths. From these videos you can better understand the cultural heritage of your favourite destination or learn a little bit more about someplace you’ve always dreamt of visiting. It’s endlessly fascinating and will keep you entertained for hours and hours! 

This Natasha

When I was planning my first trip to Japan, I sought so many YouTubers’ advice to learn about the country. And Natasha was my #1 resource. Natasha was lucky enough to live in Japan for a few years. Although she has now moved back to London, she has since visited Japan dozens of times and documented it for our viewing pleasure.

Natasha is the perfect resource since she has that comprehensive blend of being both a local and a tourist. Sometimes full-time locals don’t always see their cities in the same magical way that tourists do. Even the most ubiquitous things entertain me endlessly when I’m visiting a new city. And locals can’t tap into that curiosity in the same way. But Natasha has curiosity in spades! She is always investigating things and asking the questions we are dying to know! I love her trips into the country and the beautiful vistas that Japan has hidden away in the villages far away from the big cities.

Abroad in Japan

Abroad in Japan is a channel hosted by Englishman, Chris Broad. Chris is one of the funniest people on Youtube (in my obviously biased opinion). He moved to Japan from the UK in 2012 and has been there ever since. Although he started off in Japan working as an English teacher, his growing audience on Youtube allowed him to make Youtube his full-time gig. His videos focus on Japanese culture, Japanese food and travel in Japan. Since Japan hasn’t seen lockdowns as severe as elsewhere globally, he and his friends could still continue to travel the country. This series filmed during the pandemic is called “Journey Across Japan.” If you’re looking to have a laugh, see Japan from your computer chair and enjoy some exciting anecdotes, then that’s the channel for you.

Jay Swanson

Jay Swanson is an American who moved to Paris for a job and fell in love with the city so much, he has been there ever since! He loves Paris’ rich history, and his vlogs are full of fascinating anecdotes of what life in Paris is really like. Spoiler: it’s not all macaroons and berets! His life-hacks for travelling in Paris are unparalleled. And his wonderful video skills and unique vlog subjects always keep me coming back to watch week after week.

Cecilia Blomdahl

Cecilia Blomdahl is a vlogger who completely blew up this year with her addictive TikToks. Her newly created Youtube channel is all about her life on Svalbard, an arctic island close to the North Pole. Originally from Sweden, she has lived on this otherwordly island for the last 5 years. Svalbard is the northernmost town in the world! During the winter, they experience “polar night,” a phenomenon where the nighttime lasts for more than 24 hours. Conversely, in the summertime, they also have a “polar day” when the sun remains above the horizon for more than 24 hours! Whenever she leaves the house, she must be armed with a gun, in case of polar bear attacks! She is a drone instructor and her drone skills are UNREAL. All of this allows up to peek into life inside this unique village and its artful and historic glaciers that surround it.

Thomas Heaton

If you love travel photography and want to hone your skills during the pandemic, then Thomas Heaton is the channel for you! Heaton is a landscape photographer and travels to some amazingly remote locations to get shots that belong in an art gallery. His on-location videos are full of excellent tips and tricks for landscape and travel photography. Plus his destination vlogs clips take you with him on his photography adventures. His channel also has lots of technical tutorials and how-to videos to help you learn how to be a better photographer. If you find yourself with some spare time, his videos are an excellent resource for training up your skills.

Drew Binsky

Drew Binsky is probably the most well-known YouTuber on this list, but with good reason. His down to earth attitude is a refreshing take compared to many other vloggers and “influences.”. Drew’s goal is to travel to every country on earth, and he was less than 10 countries away from his plan before the pandemic struck. But that just means you have a lot of videos to catch up on! His vlogs are more like mini-documentaries, all about the unique people he meets along the way, the food they eat and the culture that defines them and their country.

I hope these vlogs help with the yearning to get out there and explore! Not only are these videos a great way to get outside your house (virtually), but they can also inspire some future trip planning. We will be back out there one day! Until then, enjoy these charming, binge-able travel vlogs!

Happy (Virtual) Travels, Adventurers

The post 11 Amazing Youtubers to Cure Your Wanderlust During Lockdown first appeared on The Creative Adventurer.

If I was travelling alone, any pictures of myself were awkward selfies or rushed self-timer shots. These were never perfectly composed and often blurry. If I was travelling with a friend, family member or even my significant other, they could easily take the shot for me. But then I’m was left without that person alongside me either. A few years ago, on our second trip to Japan, I made the decision to hire a photographer to help capture pictures of my husband and I travelling TOGETHER.

Hiring a photographer is going to cost money; there is no way of getting around that. And in an age where everyone has a camera on their phone, there is sometimes this feeling of “should I really be spending my money on this when I can do it myself?”. And yes, yes, you should! For every reason, I mentioned above and all the ones I’m about to talk about. After booking my first travel photographer, I knew that this was going to be something I would invest in every time we went somewhere special. It was worth every penny and not only that, and it made for an incredible experience as well! Here is why YOU should book a travel photographer on your next trip!

#1. They can Capture a Special Memory or Milestone

Often the only time in a person’s life, when they might hire a professional photographer, is on their wedding day. Avoiding hiring photographers for other events throughout the years is not only doing a disservice to yourself but also to photographers. These professionals have a real skills which are so unique and something which shouldn’t just be reserved for one event in your entire life. Photographers are perfect to hire if you’re travelling with the whole family. When else do you have the opportunity of getting everyone together in one picture?

Plus, you don’t need to worry about having to be the one who sacrifices being in the photo for taking it. If you’re a couple (like us) we love to capture our favourite spots in cities we love. We feel like it captures us in our most comfortable, happy place. If you’re expecting a baby, making a proposal or even just celebrating a momentous life event, hiring a photographer to capture that moment is the best way to remember it in print forever!

#2. No More Selfies

I’m pretty sure my dad invented selfies. Looking back at all his photographs from the 70s, I found dozens of selfies taken from his film camera. They all featured his blurry face in front of, what I think is, a famous landmark. And while they are indeed works of art (lol), I have not mastered that same genetic art of selfie taking. I never look quite right and more than that, the pictures never look natural. There is just something about stepping away from the camera, being in the shot, rather than in front of the shot that just feels more natural. You can see the space around you, interact with it and escape that dreaded double chin!

#3. You Don’t Need to Worry about Bringing Equipment

When I was trying to take my own vacation pictures, it always involved bringing my fancy DSLR camera, a tripod and a remote timer. I needed all these things to make even a half-decent photo. And even then, standing alone, posing across from a camera, can get pretty awkward. Let’s face it, most of us today use pretty much just our phone as the primary camera. I still love my fancy DSLR, but I have to admit when I leave it at home, I do feel freer and my bag is a lot lighter. Hiring a professional photographer means you can leave that camera at home and still get super high-res pictures that are frame-worthy!

#4. They Make a Great Souvenir

Speaking of framing, I have found that all my pictures we took on vacation are the ones that make it onto the wall. I love to collect images of my family and it just adds that little bit of extra interest when set in a fantastical place around the world. For anyone who visits our home, it’s a conversation piece. “Where was this taken?” “What building are you standing beside?” “Omg is that what Japan looks like?!” I’m always so happy to answer any of their questions and start an engaging conversation about my favourite topic: travel!

#5. Photographers Know the Best Places to Go

Photographers are locals. And they know those secret locations which can make for some breathtaking photos. Or, if you’re looking to head to the Eiffel Tower for an iconic shot there, the photographers know hacks to get the perfect photo without enormous crowds. Photographers not only know about photography but they also know a lot about the city you’re visiting. I always spend the majority of the shoot asking them about their favourite things to do or where we should head next. And they still have the most interesting responses.

#6. It’s a reason to bust out fabulous outfits!

Some of us buy one fantastic dress or outfit that we totally fall in love with, without really having somewhere to wear it. Well, a photoshoot is a perfect excuse to break out those extra special garments. No one knows you wherever you’re travelling so use this opportunity to become someone who would wear that outfit just out and about! Or after the shoot find somewhere fancy to go which also justifies such fancy attire.

#7 Photographers Know how to Help you Pose!

If you’re not someone who takes pictures often, coming up with ideas for poses can feel both awkward and uncomfortable. A photographer is practiced at this and has a thousand thoughts in their head to make your shots look interesting, dynamic and, most important of all, natural. I love taking direction from an expert and honestly, it makes it more fun and feels like a real experience! 

#8 If you’re a solo traveller – you can finally be IN the shot!

Solo travelling is GREAT, I love it. Travelling alone means you don’t have to compromise on anyone else’s schedule or interests. It allows you to do whatever YOU want. And sometimes, being alone lets you be a little more introspective, which is something we often don’t allow ourselves to be in this world of go-go-go. Solo travelling is tough if you want a picture of yourself, though. Usually, you have to resort to asking a stranger. Often this results in less than optimal images since strangers don’t know or care about getting a good shot or sometimes they don’t even know how to compose a picture at all.

A professional photographer is such a beautiful thing to splurge on for solo travelling as it allows YOU to be in the shot. To captures your travels without compromising on the shot. Plus, if you get a little lonely, it’s a nice chance to talk to someone new and perhaps even make a new friend!

Tips for Choosing the Right Photographer

Pick a Budget

If you have a bigger budget, there are plenty of companies already out there that have taken care of the search for a photographer around the world for you. Places like Localgrapher, Flytographer, Shoot My Travel and Local Lens have packages, at different price points, for you to choose from in cities all over the world. You can view the photographer’s profile, see past clients’ photos and read reviews. While all this is neatly put together in an easy to purchase a package, it does come at a much higher cost. These companies are very expensive, and often you don’t get many photos for the high price. But they’re reliable and efficient.

If you don’t have as big of a budget, try searching out burgeoning photographers. There are so many INCREDIBLE photographers on Instagram. By searching on there you can find, in my opinion, even better than the ones on those sites. Often, since they’re not affiliated with these companies, they have more flexibility in their prices and the number of photos they provide. This might mean sending a bunch of random Instagram DMs to find your perfect fit, but if you’re looking to save a bit of money, this is the best way to do so.

Make sure they Speak Your Language

While a photographer might email you in your native language, this could mean they’re using google translate to communicate. Be sure to ask if they speak your native language since communicating in real life with your photographer is essential to get those great shots.

Pick a photographer whose style suits you!

Picking a photographer who has a style that suits you is super important. Almost more so than price. What’s the point of paying for pictures which don’t represent your personal style, no matter how much they cost. For us, one of the most vital things is composition. We LOVE a well-composed photo. We don’t always need to be the focus of the shot. If we’re featured inside a stunning architectural feature – that’s the best! It combines the city and us together. Often we don’t even want to be looking at the camera, this was it feels more editorial. For others, this could be the complete opposite of what they want.

It’s essential to look at examples of the photographer’s work to see their style, both in the photo-taking and in the editing. If you like a more retro photo processing style, don’t pick someone who uses high contrast and modern colouring. Sometimes the photo editing is the photographer’s signature, and they won’t change it based on your preferences. So choose a signature you LOVE! Don’t think you can just fix it yourself afterwards or ask for the raw files. Plus half the reason you’re hiring someone is for their artistic flair and style. So chose the one you love.

Start Early in the Morning and on a weekday

Although your photographer will have a better idea of the exact time for your photos, as a general rule, starting early in the morning and on a weekday will mean you’ll have a more private, quiet experience. Especially if you have your heart set on a popular attraction or backdrop, you want to make sure you’re there before hoards of selfie stick-wielding tourists take-up the entire space. Early in the morning also means you’ll have some beautiful light as the sun begins to rise.

Check the Weather in Advance

Checking the weather a week or so in advance can help you plan out your outfit. Be sure to plan on two options just in case you get some rain or if it ends up being a touch chiller than perhaps you thought it might be. Starting early in the morning means it can be colder than the daytime high so be sure to plan on a jacket you could easily take off as the day wears on.

Make a Rain Plan!

While some photographers might be flexible on changing dates if it rains, most photographers won’t be as their schedule is already full up. So it’s always good to have a rain plan. Ask your photographer where they might think would be good spots around the area to escape to should there be a massive downpour. Rain might also mean that potentially busy places are empty. As long as you bring adequate rain gear, it could make for some iconic shots! Bright and colourful umbrellas are a real statement piece, and you can always find them in tourist shops for sale. Don’t make the weather a downer, make it an opportunity!

Our Fave Photographers

Our incredible photographer in Tokyo was KP Photography and the amazing photos from Mexico City were taken by Olga Koroleva. If you’re looking for a photographer in either of those locations do not hesitate to contact either of these true artists!

Let me know if you’ve ever booked a travel photographer and what your experience was like!

Happy Travels Adventurers

The post 8 Reasons Why You NEED to Book a Wonderful Travel Photographer on your Next Vacation first appeared on The Creative Adventurer.