Your big summer holiday is just around the corner, and you’re hoping to catch all kinds of magical summer moments on camera.
Taking great holiday snaps for Instagram is one thing, but you can also turn your summer photos into unique wall art prints that brighten your home (and help you relive your amazing holiday all over again).
You’ll only want the very *best* holiday snaps up on your wall, so how exactly do you take perfect summer photos?
From gorgeous sunsets to jaw-dropping cityscapes, we’ve put together our favourite summer holiday photo ideas that will make perfect wall art.
1. Sunrises and sunsets
Whether you’re on a relaxing beach holiday or an action-packed city break, the sun will always be your best source of light for holiday photography. Thanks to the softer light and golden tones, sunrise and sunset will typically be the best times for using natural light to take great summer photos.
These “golden hours” are great for experimenting with silhouettes, capturing unique weather effects, and using colourful reddish skies as a gorgeous backdrop to your photos. This lighting adds some real depth and beautiful colour to your photos, which is why snaps taken at these times will make perfect summer wall art!
2. Delicious food and colourful drinks
Sometimes (or maybe all the time), the best part of a summer holiday is all the delicious food you’ve eaten. It could be a colourful market stall, a cosy cafe or a fine dining experience - your holiday foodie moments make fantastic wall art to display in your kitchen.
Colourful fruits, ice creams and cocktails are particularly good subjects for summer photography, but it’s worth taking close-up shots of any meal or drink you never want to forget. Photographing food can be a little tricky, so we recommend taking photos at a few different angles, so that you can choose the best one for your wall art when you’re home!
3. Jaw-dropping landmarks and architecture
You’ll be soaking up all kinds of unforgettable sights on your holiday. City breaks are great for taking photos of famous landmarks, bustling markets and dazzling lights at night, but you can capture shots of impressive architecture just about anywhere.
It might be the Taj Mahal, a Gaudi masterpiece, or simply a distinctive building you’ve caught at the perfect angle. Whatever it is, try using architecture as either the main subject or backdrop to your holiday photos, and you can then create stunning wall art that reminds you of all the amazing sights you’ve seen!
4. Fun in the sand and sea
The beach is probably our favourite place for taking summer holiday photos. There’s just so much room for creativity here - you could capture the horizon, have a picnic on the sand, take underwater snaps, build impressive sandcastles and do a zillion other things here.
You can take beach photos with props (such as umbrellas or beach towels), take more relaxing scenic shots, or take action-packed photos that show the family splashing in the sea or playing in the sand. The key here is for your photos to capture the overall vibe of your beach day, so that your wall art lets you relive it again and again!
5. Beautiful flowers and local wildlife
Ahh, there’s nothing like exploring the great outdoors when you’re on holiday. Nature serves up all kinds of unique colours and patterns to use in your photos, and we love holiday photos that feature colourful flowers, as bright, vibrant summer blooms can make your photo wall art really pop.
If you really want to get in touch with nature on your holiday, then try taking photos of birds, insects or any other wildlife you see on your travels. After all, summer’s the perfect time to discover local wildlife!
6. Spontaneous moments with family and friends
Let’s face it, you can’t always plan the perfect summer holiday photos. Your holiday is all about having fun and sharing happy moments with loved ones, so some of the best photo opportunities will arise naturally during your trip.
From laughing with friends to sharing adventures with the kids, these spontaneous moments give you the chance to take more candid and natural holiday photos. These photos often feel more authentic and better capture the best memories of your holiday, so try to remember to grab your camera when these moments happen.
7. Scenic landscapes and aerial shots
Cosy sandy beaches. Rolling hills. Glorious mountain ranges. Summer holidays are the perfect chance to take photos of some seriously beautiful landscapes, especially if you’re heading out on a hike or hitting the beach.
Landscapes look absolutely jaw-dropping during the golden hours around sunrise and sunset, so it’s worth positioning yourself somewhere with an amazing view either in the early morning or late evening (which probably depends on how good you are at getting out of bed!).
You can make use of colourful skies, gorgeous scenery and stunning reflections to take beautiful landscape photos, while you could also consider using a drone to capture a totally different perspective from above. Either way, scenic landscape shots like this look incredible on canvases, posters and all kinds of other wall art!