You’ve got the camera and the plane ticket, now here’s how you can take your vacation photos to the next level, earning more of those Insta-likes.

Professional photographer Deborah Sandidge, who works as an ambassador for Nikon, says you just need a bit of “planning and exploration” plus some gear.

The first step is to map out your location and shots, which will also dictate the kinds of lenses and filters you’ll need. Speaking of lenses, she says she always keeps a wide-angle one on her for cityscapes and landscapes.

Depending on where the photo is taken, the time of day can matter. Also, take more than one shot and play around with the settings.

When you travel, do you bring along a camera rather than just your phone? What do you do with the pics after you take them?

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