How to take and print the best holiday photos

Holidays are a time for making memories – and having a camera that captures those (hopefully) sun-baked days is an important part of reliving your favourite trips.

But, with a host of cutting-edge smartphones on the market, is it worth investing in an advanced camera and top-tier printer?

Our expert tips will help you find the best camera or phone for your holiday photos, as well as your best photo printer options.

News, deals and stuff the manuals don't tell you. 

Choosing the best equipment

The best cameras for holiday photos

If you're trying to choose the best digital camera for your holiday, you'll have to decide between compact, mirrorless or DSLR.

But depending on what kind of holiday you're planning, there are some other features to consider:

Portability:Zoom range:Low light performance:Battery life:Image stabilisation:Weather resistance:

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 III

Billed as an enthusiast's compact, the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 III camera can be easily popped into a jacket pocket. It has a 20.1Mp 1-inch sized sensor, up to 2.9x optical zoom, and can take Full HD video and stills. It also has an LCD screen which can tilt; handy when getting shots from awkward angles, and unlike a lot of compact models, it has an OLED viewfinder so you can better frame your shots. 

Canon EOS R100

The Canon EOS R100 is one of the cheapest mirrorless cameras on the market, with a wide range of interchangeable lenses and a decent-sized APS-C sensor. Weighing 554g (including a lens and cap, strap, battery, and memory card) its light enough to carry around - and with multiple auto-modes and autofocus it's easy to pick up and shoot. It also can record video in 4K resolution, and Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connections make it easy to control remotely and share photos and videos online.

The best phone cameras for holiday photos

Smartphone cameras have evolved in leaps and bounds, becoming many a traveller's go-to for capturing memories.

Their compact nature means you're always ready to snap a moment without carrying extra gear. Modern smartphones have features like optical zoom, portrait modes and impressive low-light capabilities. Integrated AI and software enhancements also aid in producing stunning shots. 

While they might not match the nuanced capabilities of dedicated cameras, their straightforward convenience makes them a formidable contender for holiday photography. The best camera is the one you have with you – and chances are that's your phone.

In the market for a new phone? Check out our guide on .Samsung Galaxy S23

One of the most popular phones on our site is the Samsung Galaxy S23, released last year. With a 50Mp main camera, a 12Mp ultra-wide camera and a 10Mp telephoto sensor with 3x optical magnification on the back, it certainly has tech specs impressive enough to rival lower-end digital cameras. 

It sounds great – but you'll have to read the  to find out how well it actually performed.

Tips for taking memorable holiday photos

Capturing the essence of a holiday begins with understanding your environment and camera, whether it's a dedicated device or a smartphone. 

Golden hours:Rule of thirds:Perspective shift:Understand your settings: 

From a practical standpoint, always use protective cases and lens caps, especially in sandy or wet locales, to prevent damage. Try to carry a spare or portable charger, too – especially if you're out for the whole day. Nothing's worse than seeing a perfect shot opportunity and having a dead battery.

For more photography tips and an overview on camera settings, find out .

Printing your photos

Photo printing online or on the high street

Both online platforms and high-street stores offer services to transform your holiday memories into keepsakes. Online services provide the convenience of uploading photos directly from your digital devices. With a few clicks, you can choose sizes, finishes, and even create photo books or calendars. 

High-street stores may offer expert advice and be more accessible for those less digitally inclined.

Below, you can see the prices for a single 6x4-inch print (about the size of a postcard) through various online services. Because most of these services offer discounts on bulk orders their price per photo varies - the following costs are calculated from an order of 100 printed photos on standard glossy paper. 

Prices are correct as of March 2024, and do not include offers or delivery costs. .

The best holiday photo printers for home

Modern home printers – especially those designed for photo printing – have become increasingly sophisticated, enabling users to produce high-quality prints with vibrant colours and sharp details.

Coupled with the right photo paper, the results can rival professional print services. While there might be an initial investment in a good printer and ink, the convenience and personal touch of home-printed memories often make it worthwhile.

Our  cover everything from print quality and speed to running costs and premium features. Epson Ecotank ET-8500

The Epson Ecotank ET-8500 is marketed towards those who print a lot of photos, and it's one of the most popular printer reviews on our site. It's an ink tank printer, so has built-in ink reservoirs that you can fill with bottled ink, rather than cartridges. Though most ink tank printers have four ink tank reservoirs, this one has six – the additional two being used for grey and ’photo black’ ink.

Canon Pixma TS5150

The Canon Pixma TS5150 printer comes at a low price, and you can use Apple AirPrint, Bluetooth, Google Cloud Print or the proprietary Canon PRINT app to scan and print from your smartphone. You can also print directly from digital cameras that have PictBridge compatibility. 

Read the full  to see how it compared against other printers. Alternatively, check out our guide to the 

source https://www.which.co.uk/news/article/how-to-take-and-print-the-best-holiday-photos-a8c9C1J1LXsl