Influence begets responsibility. These days, travel Instagrammers have a lot of influence, yet aren’t always responsible in what they share. How they portray things – a place, a person, a culture– matters, yet too often people visit a place and take stereotypical photos that make foreign cultures look like the “other.” They’re not representing the entire image of a place, just what people want to see.
Influencers are not journalists, yet they’re accepted as experts, even though often they know nothing about the place they’re visiting or are being paid to be there. Of course there are exceptions, but sadly responsible influencers are far from the norm.
We’ve discussed travel influencers behaving badly here and ethical travel photography here. Now, we want to help you #beabettertraveler by helping you be a better travel influencer. Follow these tips, and people like @lostwithpurpose and @hownottotravellikeabasicbitch (and us, of course), to make your feed both beautiful and issue-free.
Share Facts
Pretty photos are nice, and if you’re posting something non-controversial (a landscape, a famous monument) that’s great. A little historical background makes it even better. That smoothie/bowl of pasta/cocktail looks amazing–what is it? Caption your Instagram photos as if you were captioning photos for a newspaper. Give us some useful info!
Bikini Photos are Fine
Really. They are! Everyone deserves to post photos enjoying a beach vacation. Just don’t pretend to be teaching your followers about the world through these types of photos. Posting a photo of yourself in a bathing suit on a beach that could be anywhere from the Caribbean to Southeast Asia doesn’t actually tell us much. If you want to showcase a destination, post actual photos of the destination, ideally with a caption that teaches viewers something about it, or at least explaining why you love it.
Don’t Over-Filter
Many of the most popular accounts on Instagram post gorgeous, filtered photos without contextualizing the social or environmental factors behind the shot. Your job isn’t to show a fake world to your followers; it’s to show the real world to people who might never have the chance to visit, or provide inspiration and useful information to people planning a trip.
But be Careful of Stereotyping
“It doesn’t have to be the most beautiful, but that also doesn’t mean you should share poverty porn and only misery,” says Alex Reynolds of Lost With Purpose. Avoid cliche imagery that makes entire nations seem poor or romanticizes the concept of a place “stuck in the past.”
Stop Staging Photos
There are so many things in front of you to photograph you shouldn’t go out of your way to stage something else. “I see so many people setting up their shots, finding a picturesque old person and setting up objects,” says Reynolds. Good photos should serve to represent your perspective on what you actually see in front of you.
Always Ask Permission
“I really started thinking about this subject when I went to Iran. The first city I stopped in was Tabriz. I was walking around in a bazaar and there was a tour group of Americans there all taking photos of an old man. There were probably 10-15 people clicking cameras right in his face and no one was talking to him and the man was just starting at them like why is this happening. It was absurd,” says Reynolds. “In India this is particularly an issue–foreign travelers coming in and taking photos without offering an exchange, seeing people as objects, not interacting. People walk up and take photos in someone’s face without asking, then disappear. Then they get upset when Indians take their photo. It’s a massive issue.”
Always, always ask permission before taking a photo of someone. This also gives you an opportunity to interact on a local level. Maybe you’ll get a great recommendation out of it, or gain some insight about the town you wouldn’t have otherwise. At the very least, it will give you a memory and probably a better photo.
This is especially important when it comes to taking photos of children. Would you like it if someone took photos of your children and posted them online without your permission? Probably not. Ask the children and their parents, and avoid any savior narratives.
Finally, show people their photos before you post them. If they don’t like the photo, don’t post it.
Highlight Local Voices
Try using your platform to boost local voices. Share tips from local Instagrammers and give them credit. Feature photos and advice from local experts, with their permission. Rather than you talking about a place on your Instagram stories, feature mini-interviews with local chefs/shop owners/tour guides telling your followers directly.
Think About Safety
Often, travel writers and influencers are put in privileged positions. They are sometimes escorted on trips to destinations or taken on experiences that might be dangerous for the average traveler visiting alone. If you’re traveling in this capacity, be careful about what you recommend to others.
Respect the Sights and Signs
Don’t carve things into ancient monuments or climb where you aren’t supposed to. Heed signs that say “No Photos” and “No Trespassing.” No photo is worth dying for, or worth defacing a World Heritage Site (not to mention the Internet scorn that will follow).
Don’t Get Naked
Posing naked at tourist attractions is, apparently, a thing. Please don’t participate. To you it might seem harmless and silly, but for many it’s disrespectful, especially when the attraction in question has a religious significance or is located in a country where public nudity is illegal and/or modesty is encouraged.
Consider what you’re wearing when you are wearing clothes, too. Temples, churches, and other sacred places usually require more clothing. Even when not at a sacred site, if you’re in a conservative country a photo of you in a strapless dress or shorts probably won’t play well. You might think these policies are restrictive, especially to women, and you might think you should be able to wear what you want. But you’re a visitor, and that means you need to be respectful in what you wear–on and off Instagram.
Avoid Animals
Don’t touch wild animals or lure them with food for better photos. If you’re on a safari, of course you’ll want to share wildlife photos, and that’s fine to do from a distance. But harassing animals or getting so close you can take a selfie can cause distress. Even in sanctuaries, touching is often discouraged. Luckily, Instagram has gotten on board with this one.
Always Ask “Why?”
Before posting, think about why you’re really sharing that photo. Does it provide insight into a place? Is it truly beautiful? Does it convey useful information for other travelers? Or, are you posting it because it fulfills some stereotypical, romanticized view of a place?
Same goes for photos of yourself, especially with children or at religious sites. Is the photo appropriate or could it be seen as offensive? Does it tell a story worth sharing or are you posting it to get some sort of credit?
Use Your Influence for Good!
Talk about sustainability. Talk about animal rights. Talk about politics. Teach people about the world. Use your influence to spread positive messages, to promote understanding, to share accurate information. Instagram influencers have a massive effect on their followers. Think about your influence before sharing.
