7 classic mistakes to avoid in your holiday photos
Every summer, millions of photos are taken on holiday. But how many of them really capture what you experienced? And, more importantly, how many are worth printing, sharing or keeping as precious memories?
Between unexpected blurring, poor framing and badly managed backlighting, some images miss the point. Not because of a lack of equipment, but often because of a few easy-to-avoid mistakes. Because a good holiday photo doesn't just depend on the setting. It's mainly about the attention you pay to it.
Here's a look at the seven most common pitfalls when photographing your holidays. The idea is not to make you feel guilty, but to give you some simple tips to help you capture those moments that matter.
1. Forgetting to check the focus: watch out for blurry photos
A blurry photo is often a photo you won't keep. And yet, it happens more often than you might think. Even with a good camera, the autofocus can be wrong. When shooting against the light, moving subjects or scenes with a lot of depth, a moment of inattention is all it takes for the focus to be in the wrong place.
Simple settings to adopt
Let's take a concrete example. You're at the beach and want to photograph a loved one in front of the ocean. You snap the shot quickly. But when you look at the display, the horizon is in focus, but not the face. The autofocus has focused on the background, which is too bright or too contrasty. The face is blurry. And the photo loses all its interest.
To avoid this kind of disappointment, you can activate useful options depending on the scene. Face priority mode allows the camera to automatically detect faces in the frame, even when they are moving. It is ideal for portraits. Subject tracking mode is useful for keeping a child or animal in focus even when they are moving.
Also, take a second to check the image right after you take it. If it looks slightly blurry on the screen, it's better to retake it right away than regret it later.
A camera that helps you stay sharp
For those who want to travel light while ensuring beautiful image quality, a well-stabilised Kodak compact camera, such as those in the PixPro range, can make all the difference. It limits blurring thanks to its built-in optical stabilisation and makes it easy to focus even in changing conditions. Whether you're walking around town or hiking in the great outdoors, the camera remains responsive and accurate. You get sharper images, even when shooting handheld or zooming in slightly.
2. Underestimating the light: beware of poorly controlled backlighting
When on holiday, it's tempting to take photos of bright landscapes or clear skies. But if the sun is behind your subject, the photos are likely to be disappointing. The face will be plunged into shadow, the sky will be completely white, and the image will lose its clarity.
Backlighting can quickly ruin a scene
Imagine you're photographing a monument at sunset. To the naked eye, everything looks beautiful. But once you've captured the image, the building is almost black, while the sky is burnt out, with no detail. This kind of situation is common when you don't take the direction of the light into account.
To avoid these mistakes, it's often enough to change your angle slightly. Move around the subject so that the light illuminates the scene better, or position yourself in a shaded area. You can also activate HDR mode if your camera offers it. This helps to balance the dark and light areas.
Another useful tip is to use the natural light of early morning or evening. It provides softer lighting, highlights textures and gives beautiful relief to faces and landscapes alike.
Proper exposure for balanced photos
Some cameras also allow you to unlock shadows directly when taking the shot. This option is invaluable for recovering details without having to retouch the image. With a little observation and good framing, you can transform difficult backlighting into a bright, lively scene.
3. Poor framing: too far away, too close or poorly centred
We often think that framing is just a matter of pointing and shooting. However, good framing can make all the difference. All too often, we end up with subjects that are cut off, too small or lost in the background. Or with a crooked horizon that makes everything look like it's about to tip over.
Simple but common mistakes
A child in front of a landscape cut off at the knees. A souvenir photo in front of the Eiffel Tower... but without the base. Or a face centred when the subject is looking to the side. These are small details, but they quickly give the impression of a “failed” photo.
Rethink your framing with visual cues
Framing your photos well, especially with the rule of thirds, is a valuable aid. It involves imagining your image divided into nine equal areas, using two horizontal and two vertical lines. By placing the subject or the horizon on one of these lines (or at their intersections), the image becomes more balanced and natural to look at.
Another tip: think about where the subject is looking. If a person is looking to the left, leave space on that side. This creates breathing space in the image and gives it direction.
Built-in aids for framing correctly
Most Kodak cameras have framing grids built into the screen. These help you straighten the horizon, centre or adjust a subject quickly. It's a simple but very useful tool, especially when you're just starting out or shooting action shots.
4. Don't vary angles and shots
When you look at your holiday photos, you may notice a sense of repetition. Same setting, same pose, same framing. A series of photos taken from the front, always at eye level, can quickly make for a flat, uninteresting album.
Vary your shots to tell a story
A good memory is also made up of different points of view. It's not enough to just photograph a place. You have to think about the atmosphere, the details, what makes that moment unique. Alternate between:
Overview: to set the scene, such as a busy square or a beach at sunset.
Close-up: to capture a smile, an expression, a hand on an object.
Details: a colourful plate, a typical sign, the texture of a wall... These are the images that give rhythm and richness to a report.
Explore different angles, even without professional equipment
Changing angles is easy, even with a compact camera. Sometimes all you need to do is crouch down, raise your arms or get closer to the ground. The tilting screen found on models such as the Kodak C1 compact camera helps you try out original framing angles without contorting yourself.
A portrait taken slightly from the side, a street scene seen from the side or from above. These small adjustments make all the difference.
5. Don't anticipate storage: full memory card, lost memories
It's a situation many people are familiar with. You've got your camera in your hand, a magnificent scene in front of you, and a message pops up: ‘storage full’. On holiday, this can happen faster than you think. Between landscapes, meals, portraits and short videos, your memory fills up quickly.
Plan ahead so you don't miss a thing
Special moments don't give you warning. You think you have plenty of space, but at the top of a hike or in the middle of fireworks, you run out. And often, it's too late to sort through your photos. To avoid this frustration, it's better to plan ahead:
Carry a spare SD card with you in your bag or pocket and regularly transfer your photos to a computer or hard drive. This frees up memory while keeping your images safe.
It's a simple step that saves a lot of regret.
Keep, sort, relive
Having space doesn't mean keeping everything. But it does allow you to take photos without stress, then sort them with a clear head when you get back or when you have a quiet moment. Select your best shots, delete duplicates, and keep what really matters.
Memories deserve a little space. It's best to plan ahead before you leave.
6. Photographing everything without intention: a difficult sorting task when you return
In the moment, you snap away. Every dish, every street, every face seems worthy of a photo. But when you return and are faced with 2,000 photos, fatigue sets in. Too many images look alike. Too few really tell a story.
Photograph with intention, not reflexively
Taking lots of photos isn't a problem in itself. But without intention, the emotion fades. Ten versions of the same sunset, framed almost identically, often leave no lasting memory. A single, well-chosen, well-composed photo can be enough to bring a whole moment back to life.
It's not the quantity that counts, but the attention you pay to what you capture.
Shoot less, but tell a better story
When on holiday, it's easy to want to capture everything. However, taking a break before shooting can make all the difference. By observing a little more, you can spot what makes the scene unique: a gesture, a light, a detail. It's often by taking your time that you get the most powerful images.
Instead of taking a string of shots without any intention, it's better to build a little story. An overview, a detail, a face. By varying the angles and framing, each photo finds its place. And when you get back, sorting through them becomes easier and more enjoyable. You share selected memories, not just a full gallery.
7. Forgetting to print your photos: they stay in the gallery
During the holidays, we take hundreds of photos. But once we get home, they stay in the gallery on our phone or camera, often forgotten. We tell ourselves we'll sort them later, that we'll look at them one day, and then everyday life takes over.
Print your photos
All too often, holiday photos lie dormant in a gallery. But printing them gives them new meaning. You choose them, you touch them, you see them every day. They become more than just images, they become objects in their own right, charged with emotion. A few prints are enough to bring a trip back to life. A small album on a shelf, a wall of photos in the living room, or a card sent to a loved one. These are all simple ways to bring your memories to life.
For those who prefer simplicity, the Agfa Photo Print website offers an intuitive solution. Prints, personalised albums, photo books: everything can be done online in just a few clicks. It's a great way to turn your photos into lasting memories, to give as gifts or keep for yourself.
Create at home: home printing and DIY albums
If you like to do things at your own pace, compact printers such as the Kodak Mini 3 Retro are ideal. Easy to use, they allow you to print directly from your smartphone. Select your favourite images and moments later they come to life on paper.
It's also an opportunity to create your own album, card or travel journal. A simple, creative activity to enjoy on your own, with family or friends.
Memories worth keeping take a little preparation... and above all, they take time to live
Holiday photos are memories we love to look back on again and again. But to ensure they stand the test of time, a little care is needed when taking them. Framing, lighting, focus, variety of shots... These are small habits to get into, but they make all the difference once you get home.
And don't forget the most important thing: your photos aren't meant to sit in a gallery. When they're printed, displayed and shared, they come to life. They tell the story of your travels, your emotions, the little moments and the big ones.
So, next time you set off, slip a camera you like into your bag. And above all, keep your eyes open.