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Every time my mom says, pack up we are leaving for a vacation first I get excited, then I think about what is going to happen. Parents have this thing about travel, family travel, and kids and travel. Our parents always want to snap that perfect picture, use it for the holiday cards (that is its own story!).
Being a high school student does come with an unwritten code of ethics for families and photos. Like, let us talk about how not cool it is to take a bunch of family photos and post them. The photos we take have to be of us, without really being of us. Trust me, I got you on this.
Get in the photos without really getting in, and yet your parents will be so happy! I heart my parents dearly but this helps me, navigate life as a teen and still be ‘ok’ with photos! The picture above was my personal authentication to share with you on how to do what I am about to share! I prefer to be prepared for all the photos start. Let me help out all teens who travel with their family.
Teen Travel Photography Tips: Get Snapped The Way You Want To Be
What do I use to take travel pictures? My iPhone. That’s it for now. I travel light and keep things simple. My dream brand to work with is Apple, I am Apple-Obsessed and that probably sounds like almost all other teens. See we have something in common and we hardly know each other yet. Now, I told you about my iPhone because it can either be our best friend or our worst, do we all agree on that too?
My tips are not about being rude to your parents, or your siblings, it is just about keeping things ‘buffered’ a bit. I am a teen, I am moody (yeah I will own up a bit), but give me my space and let me do it my way! Anyone else? Use my Teen Travel Photography Tips: Get Snapped The Way You Want To Be!
Get In But Really Not In
When your mom says, ‘Hey guys I need a picture’ run!!!! Ok, so my mom is a travel and food blogger and we always are in her pictures, but I am slick about it. Here I had my brother (you know him as #whereNikoTravels) step in front of me. Hey, she can reference I was there, but I was not getting in that photo!
Filters & Poses Keep On’
Keep your hands on your phone and snap the most idiotic poses you can of your siblings and then Snap them! Keep that streak running. Use Snapchat filters to dress them up and make them even better!
The Parent Facebook Issue
Don’t let your parents see the pictures (yeah I know, being sneaky). The issue here is if they see it and love it then they will put YOUR picture on Facebook and show all their friends. Oh my God, Facebook, so not where our photos are. Parents don’t get that Facebook is their age, not ours, we are Snapchatters and IG savvy.
Having your face show up on your parents feed (sorry mostly moms do this) is like the biggest way to lose ‘cool’ standings in the teen world of cool, simply not acceptable. Hopefully, Facebook is dying a slow death anyway and won’t be there much longer, because of that movement #DeleteFacebook, this would really help us out!
Eyeroll… dedicated to our parents!
Wait, please understand this if you are a parent reading this.. this is me rolling my eyes at you because this is really an important takeaway for us teens!
Your Sister
Do not let your sister take pictures. I made the mistake of taking an ‘Ussie’ , and it is crazy. Kallie likes to dress the pictures up in flowers. Seriously?
Keep Your Back To It All
My best advice as a teen travel pro, and one who is always stuck getting his photo taken…. keep your back to the action, and then, of course, your little brother can jump on an attempt to make you turn around. Guess who won here? Me or Niko? If you don’t see my face then I guess you know I won!
Look Cool and Look Down
Don’t look at the selfie when your sister is trying to take it or anyone else for that matter. Brush it off, stay cool, look down at your own phone, and use this as text answering time!
Of course, Kallie still managed to snap one of me, she tricked me and said, ‘Hey MJ’ of course I looked up and POP, here it is. Sometimes I can’t believe how many selfies SHE takes and I just look at her screen to see it’s crazy. #VictimofHerSelfies.
Ears To You
So Kallie decided to take a pic which was originally fine, then she did this, which is NOT fine. Then again, I am super comfortable in my own skin enough so that I want to share. Remember, too, we are teens, we need to be goofy in our own way, and I guess this pic does it. Thanks Kallie for reminding me, it’s ok to be odd!
I am MJ Vento a teen travel writer. Travel is a pure adrenaline rush from the time we get to the airport to each adventure. I am always looking for the best burgers and pizza after all at 6 feet tall, my stomach always needs to eat. If you are a destination offering adventures (ziplining, quads, snorkeling, etc), coasters, or an all-inclusive resort where I can just hang, I’d love to talk to you about visiting. Talk to me. Use my mom’s email she is in charge- [email protected]. #TMSJuniors travel writer