Creator Spotlight: Capturing stunning images with Dan Schykulski

Photography plays a crucial role in storytelling, especially in the tourism industry. For travellers, photos preserve special moments and serve as lasting memories. On the flip side, they act as visual invitations, helping potential visitors picture themselves in a destination. Whether showcased on social media, in marketing materials, or on websites, compelling photography influences emotions and shapes perceptions, making it a vital tool for tourism businesses. On travelalberta.com, visual storytelling through photography and video is what sets our destination apart as we encourage travellers to choose Alberta, spend more, and stay longer.

In this instalment of our Creator Spotlight series, we talk to Dan Schykulski, a sought-after Albertan landscape photographer who has worked with the Travel Alberta team on many projects. Dan shares tips on how to set yourself up for success from the preparation phase to the editing phase.

Did you know? Travel Alberta offers industry members access to thousands of professionally captured images in our multimedia library. This is a free resource for our industry!

Three tips to take better photos of your tourism offerings

The process of capturing and editing high-quality photos can be daunting, however it is an important step for tourism businesses and contributes to the overall success of promoting your tourism offerings to potential travellers in a variety of mediums.

Here are Dan’s easy tips to level up your photography, so you are putting your best face forward online:

Setting yourself up for success

The preparation stage is arguably the most important part. Ask yourself these questions to make sure you’re prepared for any kind of photography shoot.

• Who is your audience?
• What do you want your audience to take away or feel from these photos?
• What is your brand’s aesthetic and style?
  • Pro tip: create a reference list of example photos that align with your vision.
• Do you have a shot list to ensure you capture all necessary images?
  • Pro tip: make sure to capture a variety of shots, from landscapes to close ups. Take more than you think you will need.
• Do I know which settings I should have my camera on for the ideal shot?
• What story are you trying to tell and how can you capture that through photos? A product shot can tell just as much of a story as an image with talent.
• Are you prepared for any kind of weather during the session?
  • Pro tip: prepare an emergency kit for your car if you are doing outside photography.

You don’t need fancy equipment to take high-quality photos

Thanks to advancements in technology, you don’t need a professional camera to take great photos. Dan shares these smartphone photography tips:

• Treat your phone like a professional camera—explore its settings and watch tutorials to maximize its potential.
• Think about composition: Identify your focal point, then build around it using the foreground, midground, and background. Don’t be afraid to incorporate people or animals to help bring the scene to life!
• Enhance your scene: Incorporate reflections or objects to add depth and interest.
• Use gridlines to create a stronger composition. The “rule of thirds” is a common photography trick where the frame is divided into three equal parts, and the subject is placed on one of those dividing lines.
• Stabilize your phone, especially in low-light settings—don’t hesitate to use tripods or selfie sticks.
• Capture a variety of shots for different marketing needs. Consider the recommended image dimensions for various channels – an aspect ratio of 4:5 works well for Instagram posts, but Instagram stories must have an aspect ratio of 9:16.

No, editing your photos is not cheating.

Editing is the final piece of the puzzle. If you’re not comfortable with professional software, start with your phone’s built-in editing tools. You’d be surprised how much you can enhance an image with just a few adjustments.

Photo editing can also help align photos to a consistent brand standard so they consistently look and feel the same.

When it comes to promoting your business, strong photography can make all the difference. Visit travelalberta.com for inspiration and to see how visuals and written content can come together to sell Alberta to the world.

Dan Schykulski Biography

Dan Schykulski is a photographer specializing in landscape, lifestyle, and brand photography. With a keen eye for detail and a deep appreciation for the environment, Dan has been capturing captivating images since 2018. His landscape work evokes a sense of wonder, while his lifestyle and brand photography showcases a diverse range of subjects. Dan partners with tourism companies and travel businesses to create compelling visuals that inspire travel and exploration."