Taking photographs on a cruise presents unique challenges. The inside of a cruise ship has very different lighting conditions than the ports the ship visits. Many people return from cruises with cameras full of blurry, badly framed, poorly lit images. With a little attention to detail, though, you can return from your cruise with spectacular photographs of your experience.
Get the right equipment before you leave. Your camera should be small and convenient enough for you to take wherever you go on your cruise. Big, bulky cameras get annoying and tempt you to leave them in your cabin. It is essential that you have your camera with you constantly, if you plan to photograph all the good times on your cruise. Test your camera before you leave. If it doesn't work right, repair it or buy another. Bring all the batteries, memory cards, film and accessories you will need with you. Buying replacement photographic equipment at tourist destinations is expensive.
Imitate the cruise-ship photographers. Cruise lines love to sell pictures to passengers. It is a huge money-maker. They charge ridiculous prices for photos you can easily take yourself. Whenever you see a cruise-ship photographer snapping a picture, take the same photo yourself. No cruise-ship employee will object to this.
Back up when you photograph people in front of scenery. When taking pictures at cruise-ship ports, many amateur photographers take snapshots of people standing right in front of something huge. The sad result is that either the people appear tiny or the huge object is cut off. Instead, place the subjects of the picture far enough from the scenery so you can see all of it in the camera viewfinder. Tell the subjects to stay where they are, then back up the camera 10 or 20 feet. Use your zoom lens if necessary to frame the people in the shot so that they are relatively large and the scenery is also in the shot. Since they are both somewhat far from the camera, both will be in focus.
Zoom in on smiling faces. Photographing the expressions of people is the best way to convey how much fun they are having on the cruise. When taking pictures of people, fill up the frame with their faces. Cut out unnecessary distractions surrounding them.
Use a fill flash to get rid of shadows. Cruise-ship lighting is everywhere and often casts shadows on your subjects. Compensate for this by telling your camera to flash, even when there is enough ambient light. Do this by setting your camera to manual then pressing the flash button until a lightning-bolt symbol appears. A fill flash gets rid of shadows and brightens the people in your picture.
Take pictures of the cruise ship itself. Many cruise passengers forget to do this. Remember to photograph the decor and any features you are impressed with. Be sure the light is good. Some interior areas of cruise ships tend to get dark. Ask if the areas are lit brighter at different times of day. Don't forget to photograph the food. Spectacular meals are often served on cruises. Take a picture before you take a bite.
