Mindful photography is being fully present in a moment and using your camera (or, your cell phone) as a tool to enhance your awareness and connection with your surroundings. By quieting our thoughts and becoming calm and present, you may notice and feel more, through increased sensitivity to your environment.
Rather than just capture what you see, the goal is to also capture what you feel and transmit that to your viewers. If a landscape fills you with wonder, try to make an image that captures that sense of wonder and tells the story of both the place and how it made you feel. Capturing the essence of a scene or a subject, is a reflection not just of appearance, but the emotions and stories within the scene.
There are three main components to mindfulness practice: Attention, intention, and attitude. “When these three characteristics of mindful behavior intertwine, how we relate and respond to events is transformed.” Let’s see how each of these components relates to adopting a mindful photography practice.
Attention: Being Present in the Moment
To practice mindful photography, start by grounding yourself in the present moment. Take a few deep breaths, clear your mind, and focus on your surroundings. Allow yourself to fully experience the environment before you even lift your camera. Slow down and just be in one place for a moment and observe what is happening around you.
What do you hear? See? Smell? Note colors, textures, flow of everyday life. Find something that interests you and then, if necessary, move to a position that allows for good composition (think, framing, light, etc.). Then, wait. Wait until the moment you are hoping for arises. This may mean you stay in one place a few minutes (or, longer) more than you expected. If you do this, you will be attuned to the present moment instead of thinking about what is coming next.
Intention: Why Am I Taking this Photo?
We live in a world where most of us carry a very high quality camera in our pocket. With this privilege comes a responsibility to ourselves and to those around us to be mindful and intentional about who and what we are photographing. When you travel to a new place, always ask yourself: why am I taking this photo? What about it is worth capturing?
Mindful photography, much like mindful travel, is about more than just seeing a place—it’s about truly experiencing it. It’s the difference between simply setting foot in a new location and saying you’ve been there versus immersing yourself in its essence by connecting with its people, food, and culture. It’s about observing with respect and curiosity, noticing how locals live, and embracing their ways—whether it’s through what they eat, how they walk, travel, or rest. Ultimately, you have the power to decide how you show up to engage with and connect deeply with the world around you.
When you incorporate mindfulness into your travel and creative practices, you are less likely to contribute to the digital noise and clutter that can occur when you take on a haphazard approach? Stopping to notice, connect, and reflect will absolutely translate through the images you capture.
Attitude: Letting Go of the Need to Capture the “Perfect” Shot
Release the pressure to take perfect photos and give yourself grace and space to be experimental. Mindful photography is about the experience and the feelings it evokes, not about technical perfection. Trust your intuition and let your creativity flow.
Tips for being a mindful photographer
Now that we have covered some of the core values of mindful photography—answering your why, the power of presence, and letting go of perfection—let’s get into some of the technical aspects that will make your images that much more evocative and impactful.
Tip #1 Ditch Your Zoom & Move Your Body
Once, when I was teaching on a National Geographic Student Expedition Photography program in Italy, our visiting photography expert, Gianluca Colla, led students in a portrait assignment. Each student was tasked with taking a portrait of a person they did not know that captured both the subject’s personality and their story. The rule: no zoom lenses. Colla wanted to teach the students two things with this assignment:
#1: The importance of approaching a subject and engaging with them, being curious, asking strangers about themselves and making sure you have their permission to take their photo.
#2: In order to capture a powerful portrait with a prime lens (non-zoom lens), you have to move your body to frame the shot you want.
There is a disconnection between human subject and photographer when using a zoom lens. Instead, approach people with kindness, respect and curiosity. If possible, sit and chat with the person for a few minutes before snapping their picture, this may allow you to better capture their essence, because it will build trust and help them relax.
When I was traveling and teaching photography in Italy and Greece, I photographed dozens of local people. What made the images special were the stories they shared about their work, their town and their families. By being on the receiving end of these stories, I felt a tremendous responsibility to convey their stories respectfully.
Tip #2 Be Patient – Channel Your Inner Nat Geo Wildlife Photographer
In a summer photography training session, I listened to wildlife and natural history photographer, Drew Rush, speak about his process and experience as a wildlife photographer. What stuck with me the most from his presentation were the following messages:
Be patient—when you think you want to pack up and go home, wait a little longer. Failure or a series of “bad photos” are essential to the learning and creative process. And, sometimes your patient is rewarded when it ends up on a National Geographic cover.
Additionally, he reminded us that no matter how skilled you are at taking photos, there is an element of luck to it all, and sometimes you have to be at the right place at the right time. He shared a story of a photographer who was out in the field waiting to capture video and images of a rare snow leopard for over a month. Finally, he had to depart and another photographer replaced him in the same spot. Only a few days in, the snow leopard revealed itself and the second photographer captured the shot!
Tip #3 The Moment After The Moment
You ask someone to pose, they look at you and smile, but then they look away and laugh. This happens a lot with portraits, especially with couples and kids! Try to keep your camera on your subject after you think you got “the shot” there is always a second moment that sometimes ends up being the most beautiful shot.
Tip #4 Focusing on Small, Overlooked Details
Shift your focus to smaller, often overlooked details. This could be the texture of a leaf, the intricate design of a building, or the candid moments of people going about their day. These details can tell powerful stories and some of the strongest photos are ones that you are not sure what they are of until you see the zoomed out full perspective photo.
Tip #5 Experimenting with Different Perspectives
Challenge yourself to see the world from new angles. Crouch down, look up, or find an unusual vantage point. Different perspectives can offer fresh insights and unique compositions.
Tip #6 Reflection, Organization and Printing
Remember to take some time after shooting to reflect on the photos you have taken that day. If you are really organized and ambitious, you can back up your photos immediately and decide which ones you will print or begin creating a photo book with.
In the age of digital photography, we tend to overshoot and do not have a process for culling our digital photos and then printing (frame, book, gift). I encourage you to incorporate reflection, organization and prints into your mindful photography routine.
The Lasting Impact of Mindful Photography
Practicing mindful photography can be a powerful tool for reducing stress and finding inner peace. It allows you to slow down, focus, and connect with the present moment. Through mindful photography, you will cultivate a greater appreciation for and connection to the beauty and complexity of the world around you.
When you commit to being more mindful and intentional about how you approach travel photography, you will not only advance your photography skills and quality of the images you capture, but you will hopefully deepen your appreciation for the people and places you were able to connect with and the stories you are able to tell.
We Would Love to Hear from You!
Do you have any other thoughts or questions? Try any of the tips from the blog above and tag us in your work on Facebook or Instagram to share your experiences and inspire others. We would love to hear from you!
Meet the Author
