30 Best Photo Practices for Tour Operators: Capture, Share & Sell More Tours
Great photos can make or break your tour business. They don’t just tell stories...they sell experiences. Snapping the perfect shot isn’t always easy. Whether you’re using a smartphone or a professional camera, knowing the right techniques can take your photos from average to amazing.
In this post, we’ll cover 30 top photo tips that will help you capture the best moments, show off your tours, and seamlessly use these images on your website with the right resolution. Plus, we’ll explain how your photos can integrate dynamically with
Resmark Systems booking software, making your tour pages more engaging.
Why high-quality photos matter for tour operators
High-quality photos are more than just pretty pictures, they are powerful marketing tools. They inspire potential customers, build trust, and tell the story of the experience you offer. A great photo can evoke emotions, create desire, and push someone from considering a tour to booking it.
When customers browse your website or social media, photos are often the first thing they notice. Blurry or poorly framed images can make your tours look unprofessional, while vibrant, well-composed photos convey excitement, beauty, and professionalism. Plus, with the right images, you can seamlessly integrate them into your website and booking pages, enhancing the user experience and increasing conversion.
30 best photo practices for tour operators
1. Know Your Tour’s Story
Every tour has a story! What vibe does your tour give off? Fun and energetic? Calm and scenic? Plan shots that tell this story from beginning to end. Capture guests laughing, exploring hidden gems, or admiring breathtaking views. Include photos that highlight the journey, not just the destination. These candid moments resonate more than stiff, posed photos because they feel authentic and relatable.
Check out these awesome photos from our client
Four Season Guides.
2. Learn Your Camera—Phone or Pro
Smartphone cameras today are incredibly powerful. Learn settings like portrait mode for beautiful depth, HDR for balanced lighting, and burst shots for action moments. If you’re using a professional camera, get familiar with ISO, aperture, and shutter speed. Practice switching settings in real time so you don’t miss key moments.
Pro Tip: Always bring a charger, extra memory cards, and backup batteries. You don’t want to miss a perfect shot because of a dead battery.
3.
High-Resolution Photos for Websites
Website photos should be crisp and fast-loading. For hero images, aim for 1920 x 1080 pixels at 72dpi. For gallery images, 1200 x 800 pixels works great. High-resolution photos enhance professionalism but won’t slow down your site if properly optimized. Use tools like
TinyPNG or
Squoosh for compression without losing quality.
If you'd like to know how fast your website loads, use Page Speed Insights.
If you notice your website is loading slower than it should, learn how you can increase website page speed.
4. Shoot During Golden Hours
The best natural lighting happens just after sunrise and before sunset. These “golden hours” give photos a soft, warm glow and reduce harsh shadows. Plan your tour schedules to take advantage of these times for the best lighting conditions. Midday shots can look harsh and flat, so avoid them when possible.
5. Take Candid Shots
Skip the stiff group poses. Capture guests laughing, reacting naturally, or engaging with their surroundings. Candid photos show authentic experiences, building trust with potential customers. These images make viewers feel like they’re already part of the adventure.
6. Use the Rule of Thirds
Most phones let you turn on a grid. Place your subject along the lines or at intersections for balanced, dynamic photos. This simple technique instantly elevates the composition of your shots and draws the viewer’s eye naturally to the most important parts of the photo.
7. Try Different Angles
Experiment with high, low, and side angles. Unique perspectives stand out on social media and add visual interest. Capture a waterfall from below or take a bird’s-eye shot of a scenic overlook. These creative angles add drama and excitement to your visuals.
8. Keep Your Lens Clean
Fingerprints and dust ruin photos. Wipe lenses regularly, especially on smartphones. A simple microfiber cloth can make a world of difference in photo clarity and quality.
9. Focus on Details
Zoom in on interesting details like local dishes, intricate architecture, or unique textures. These details tell richer stories and highlight what makes your tour stand out.
10. Edit Thoughtfully
Adjust brightness, contrast, and saturation without overdoing it. Consistent edits build a recognizable visual identity. Use editing apps like
Lightroom or
VSCO to keep your photos looking professional but natural.
Here's a quick video on how to use Lightroom like a champ!
11. Horizontal vs. Vertical Shots
Horizontal (landscape) shots are ideal for websites and banners, while vertical shots work well for social media stories and mobile viewing. Plan your orientation based on the platform where the photo will be displayed.
12. Use a Tripod for Stability
A tripod ensures steady, blur-free images—essential for group shots, long exposure, and time-lapse videos. Compact travel tripods are perfect for on-the-go shoots.
13. Include Happy, Smiling Guests
Photos with people connect better emotionally. Capture guests having fun or relaxing in stunning surroundings. Always get consent before sharing their images on any platform.
Check out these smiling
Western River Expeditions guests.
14. Don’t Overcrowd the Frame
Highlight the subject with a clutter-free background to reduce distractions. Simplicity in composition often leads to stronger, more impactful visuals.
15. Use Burst Mode for Action Shots
Capture fast-moving action—like rafting, biking, or hiking—with burst mode. This gives you multiple frames to choose from, ensuring you get the perfect shot.
16. Tell a Story Through Series
Document the start, key highlights, and end of the tour for a cohesive narrative. This storytelling approach draws viewers in and helps them imagine participating in the experience.
17. Utilize Natural Frames
Use doorways, windows, or trees to frame your subject naturally. This adds depth and focus to your photos while guiding the viewer’s eye.
18. Mind the Background
Check for background distractions and reposition your shot for cleaner, more professional results. A beautiful subject deserves an equally stunning backdrop.
19. Capture Motion
Motion adds energy—waves crashing, guests jumping, or wildlife in action. Use fast shutter speeds for sharp action shots or slow shutter speeds for creative motion blur.
20. Stay Ready for Spontaneous Moments
Keep your camera or phone accessible at all times. Unplanned moments...like wildlife sightings or surprise reactions often make the best photos.
This photo is from our client Costa Rica Travel Experience. We actually used this photo when getting inspiration for the entire website design!
21. Consider Photo Orientation for Social Media
Plan shots based on platform needs - square for Instagram, vertical for Instagram Stories and TikTok, and horizontal for Facebook and Twitter.
22. Invest in Accessories
Polarizing filters reduce glare; external lenses widen shots. These tools make a big impact on photo quality and variety.
Here are some of our favorite Amazon phone accessory buys that help make a world of a difference:
23. Capture Emotions
Capture peak emotional moments—laughter, awe, or surprise. These shots build stronger connections with your audience and convey the essence of your tours.
24. Master Lighting Techniques
Experiment with backlighting, silhouettes, and reflections. Light dramatically affects photo quality, and learning how to use it can transform your images.
25. Plan for Bad Weather
Overcast skies can soften lighting, producing flattering shots. Rain and snow add drama and mood, making for striking photos that stand out.
Check out this moody photo from
Western Canoe Kayak.
26. Experiment with Reflections
Use water surfaces, mirrors, or sunglasses for creative reflective shots. Reflections add depth and intrigue to photos, giving a unique perspective.
27. Create Depth
Position subjects with foreground and background elements for a 3D effect. This technique adds dimension and makes photos more engaging.
28. Capture Local Life
Showcase local culture, markets, and street scenes. Including these elements adds authenticity and depth to your tour's story.
29. Show Behind-the-Scenes Moments
Guests love seeing how tours are prepared. These moments build transparency, trust, and provide a fuller picture of the experience.
30. Integrate Photos with Booking Software
Use your photos on tour pages to drive bookings.
Resmark Systems allows photo integration on your website for engaging, high-quality tour pages that increase conversions.
Check out the image our client
Croydon Estates has on their tour page. This photo was added on the backend of Resmark Systems and automatically presented on the tour page.
Increase bookings with stunning tour photos
High-quality photos do more than just look good, they inspire, connect, and convert. The images you share set the tone for your brand and give potential customers a glimpse of the experience they can expect. From the perfect lighting to thoughtful edits, these 30 tips will help you capture memorable moments that sell tours.
But it doesn’t stop at taking the perfect shot. How you present and integrate those photos into your website, booking pages, and social media matters just as much. Dynamic photo integration with tools like Resmark ensures that your website remains visually appealing and easy to navigate.
Seamlessly displayed, high-quality images not only make your site look professional but also help build trust with potential customers.
Photos that showcase genuine guest experiences, highlight unique destinations, and tell compelling stories create emotional connections. This connection makes potential customers more likely to envision themselves on your tour, increasing the chances of booking.
Check out these photos from
Moab Adventure Center.
More content ideas
Looking for more ways to showcase your stunning photos? Consider how strategic content can complement great photography:
- Pairing Photos with Captions: Stunning images become even more engaging when paired with well-thought-out captions. Captions provide context, evoke emotion, and encourage viewers to take action.
- Storytelling Through Social Media: Highlight behind-the-scenes moments, guest testimonials, and tour highlights. Use photos to narrate the journey and build anticipation.
- Content Planning for Seasons: Tailor your posts based on seasons or holidays. Showcase seasonal tours with relevant visuals and themed captions.
For even more inspiration, don’t miss
19 Travel and Tourism Social Media Post Ideas for 2025. This guide offers creative prompts that perfectly complement your photography - whether it's tips on highlighting tour experiences, engaging questions for followers, or promotional content designed to drive bookings.
Ready to increase bookings?
Want to work with a marketing company that knows the industry and wants you to succeed?
Book a free discovery call today! Let’s turn your tours into unforgettable stories that sell themselves.
