5 vacay pics we love to take!

After the fog cleared. Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, Abu Dhabi

We are a nation obsessed with vacation pics! Don't believe me? Scroll through your Instagram and Facebook feeds right now and you'll see dozens of posts from your friends' vacations! No seriously, stop reading this post and go check your timelines. What do you see? Fabulous, eye-catching, filtered pics from all corners of the world!

Photos are just as crucial to any vacay as an excursion or museum stop. It's what helps us capture the moment in the moment. And it's so freaking easy to do these days with just your smartphone and a good photo app (insert the *side eyes* of all my photographer friends with expensive professional cameras!). I mean this is how Instagram got started and became the go to spot for sharing photos in all of its filtered glory.

There are a few types of pics that always seem to make its way to social media feeds. I'll admit I'm soooo guilty of taking these kinds of pictures myself. Here are the top five vacation pics we love to take:

The Selfie Pic
Once smartphones added the selfie feature on cameras, it was on! This is one of the most popular ways to capture yourself and your dope location in the same pic. There are many think pieces about how selfies are ruining our lives. This won't be one of the posts. But It's fascinating to watch and observe how selfies have become the must have photo for any vacation. 

The "Formation" Pic
There's the group pic and then there's the group photoshoot aka "get in formation" pic. Typically staged and filtered with beautiful people.  

The Deep Thought Pic
Someone else is typically taking this picture of you in deep thought or reflection with the backgroup of a majestic location. 

The Black and White Pic 
This is the pic that makes you feel like a professional photographer. It's so serious and provocative. On every vacation, there's at least one pic you decide to give some black and white love. 

The #NoFilter Pic
There are some moments we capture where the beauty of the world needs no filter. And so we make no changes. We add no filters. We don't manipulate the color or saturation of the pic. We just let it be and post. Then we add #NoFilter so everyone knows it's for real. 

Public Service Announcement: Okay, so I'm sure this list could have been a Top 10! or 20! I love taking fun pics while on vacation. (As a travelpreneur, it's also a must for promoting travel!) But we all have to remind ourselves sometimes that while taking pics are fun, taking in the beauty of the moment is much more fulfilling in the long run. There is NOTHING like watching the sunset in real time. Or sitting in silence as we appreciate the magic of the highest mountain. Or listening to the sounds of waves crashing at beach. Or admiring the unbelievable talent of some artist whose work is now housed in a famous museum. 

Let's not forget the reason why we booked our vacation in the first place. For many, it's to relax and get away from the hustle and bustle of the every day. For others, it's to fall in love with a culture, a cuisine, a group of people outside of your own. Travel is an amazing adventure and it's absolutely worth capturing both on our smartphones and in our memories forever.