How Slower Travel Makes You a Better Photographer
- Jennie Brand
- Jan 20
- 4 min read
Introduction: Why Moving Slowly Changes Everything
Traveling solo has always given me the freedom to beat to my own drum. I wake up when I want to, change plans without checking in with anyone, and I often find myself more open to meeting new people. When I am alone, I somehow become a softer extroverted version of my introverted self.
One of my favorite proverbs comes to mind when I think about this balance. If you want to go faster go alone, but if you want to go farther go together. It applies beautifully to photography. There are seasons when solo travel fuels my creativity and seasons when shooting with creators I admire pushes me farther than I could go alone.
The Lesson of Patience in Travel Photography
When we travel fast, we often do it because time feels limited. Tight schedules make it easy to rush from moment to moment without leaving space for the surprises that make travel photography meaningful.
In my last Vietnam journal entry, I talked about embracing a slower pace and how it helped me form authentic connections with local photographers across the country. Those friendships were the reason I was invited back eight months later to witness and film something rare and unforgettable. One thing I did not talk about in that entry is patience. True patience. The kind that stretches you beyond your comfort zone and rewards you for staying. They say nature is a one of the biggest teachers and I must agree. So is capturing wildlife. It teaches you patience, slow travel, how to work with light and forgiveness (especially when you miss the shot ha!).
A Morning Lesson at Borobudur Temple
In March 2025 I returned to Vietnam and then flew to Indonesia with my mentor, someone who has taught me countless lessons in the field. One morning he wanted to visit Borobudur Temple. I have seen many temples through my travels in Indonesia and Thailand, and when I found out sunrise entry was no longer offered, I was ready to skip going inside entirely.
He suggested we go to a viewpoint instead.It was the tail end of rainy season and the sky had formed a thick blanket of low hanging fog. If I had been traveling alone, I would have waited thirty minutes, maybe forty five, and then moved on. But together we waited.
And then it happened. As the fog began to lift, the largest Buddhist temple in the world revealed itself piece by piece. Light shaped the stone. Mist carved out depth. The entire scene shifted from muted grey to something surreal. One of my most unique temple photographs came from that moment.
Why Staying Longer Makes Better Images
Slow travel teaches you to let go of the urge to rush the moment. Photography rewards the ones who stay. Maybe you have experienced it before. You call it quits on a sunset that looked dull, you drive away, and five minutes later the sky starts burning behind you (I'm so guilty of this). Or you leave a forest too early before blue hour paints the trees in soft tones. Or in wildlife settings you leave after an hour only to find out the owl landed right after you packed up.
Slow travel challenges this pattern. It teaches you to:
Wait beyond your normal limit
Observe instead of react
Let nature reveal something unexpected
Keep your camera in hand even when nothing is happening
These quiet minutes often turn into the stories we remember the most.
Solo Travel and Community Both Shape You
Traveling alone lets you listen to your own instincts. Traveling with friends and mentors expands your perspective. Both will shape the way you see the world through your lens. Both will make you a better photographer if you allow them to.
So I encourage you to try both. Meet the locals. Learn from other creators. Stay for blue hour even when you are tired or cold. Practice patience even when the light feels flat.
The next photograph you fall in love with might be the one that appears when you choose to wait.
For more photography insights, travel moments, and behind the scenes from Vietnam and Indonesia, explore Travel Inspiration, Photography Tips, and Travel Wellness in the journal. If you are a beginner storyteller and want to take better visuals, check out my E-Guide, Travel Photography for Beginners.
xo,
Jennie
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