Photography travel programs range in size, though the highest quality ones offer small groups and one-on-one guidance in the course of learning each new photographic skill. Some programs focus more on portraiture and city scenes, whereas others will focus primarily on landscapes and outdoor scenes. Ideally, programs should contain a mix of settings, subjects, and styles.

Most photography tours are not 100 percent adrenaline-inducing; after all, it’s hard to take a great photo when your heart is pumping or you’re running away from a tiger. That being said, if you can dream a way to photograph it, there’s likely a program for it. Want to swim with and photograph sharks? You can. Want to learn night-sky timelapse in isolated, rural locations? You can do that, too.

Another important note for travel photographers is to be mindful of using people as subjects in your photos. Ideally, you will obtain permission from strangers before capturing the memory. Simply smiling and pointing to your camera normally does the trick, even if the person you want to photograph doesn’t speak your language. Be sensitive when it comes to taking photos of children; ask the parent if he/she is present before you upload photos other people’s kids all over your social media profiles.