Travel Photography with the Wandering Lens
- Prathibha Muralidhara
- Apr 29
- 5 min read
It's a true privilege to interview and learn from a photographer who has greatly inspired my own creative journey. I'm excited to introduce you to Lisa Michele Burns as our featured guest for April.
Thank you so much for allowing me to talk to you and write about your travel photography and blogging journey. I am sure that everyone in here will love this interview, learn and get inspired from you.
Did younger Lisa always want to be a photographer? How did the love for travel photography start?
Younger Lisa wanted to be a tennis player, but didn’t like running haha! I’ve always loved maps and geography travel and have had a curiosity about far away places, cultures and landscapes, however, I never studied photography in school and actually wanted to be a pilot once I left school. After I very quickly discovered I got extremely airsick in the smaller planes during lessons, I turned to my second love, writing and journalism. It’s this path that led to capturing photos for my stories, and then eventually, the photography bug took over and I couldn’t stop taking photos!
Do you prefer spontaneous shots or planned compositions? Why? I love candid shots because it feels like the perfect blend of luck and creative skill, there’s always that happy dance feeling after a shot happened unexpectedly. That said, I do love researching and planning which destinations to photograph, especially when it comes to the more remote landscapes, or places that require a hike to reach, then I guess they’re less spontaneous but I like to still leave plenty of room for flexibility and surprise in terms of composition, you have to do that when working outdoors as the weather has the final say.
Winter and Spring Images by Lisa What advice do you have for photographers who want to transition from hobbyists to professionals, especially in travel photography?
This is such a huge topic and one that can go in so many directions as there are so many opportunities as a professional photographer in the tourism industry, but you do need to define where your skills and services lie and how you can best contribute to your future clients' marketing materials, editorials or social campaigns. I think one of the most important things to do when veering into the world of paid creative work is to assess your portfolio, your interests, how you want to work with clients, and then set about researching who your ideal clients may be, this can help save you a lot of time in approaching the wrong clients!
How do you overcome creative blocks when you manage photography and business?
Sometimes I find it necessary to stop scrolling social media because this is the thing that both hinders my creativity and productivity the fastest. I photograph more when I’m travelling than when I’m at home, as time is home is usually spent in my office, so to get over a creative block I always plan a trip, go for a hike, or a swim. Hiking without my camera is usually a quick way to get my creativity back, and the moment I wish I had my camera with me to take a shot, is when I know my mind is gaining clarity again 😊
What’s the most extreme condition you’ve ever shot in, and how did you manage it? I’ve photographed in lot of wild environments, the most extreme have probably been in the Arctic winters when the conditions have been hovering around -30 degrees in Greenland. I actually love those conditions and get such a thrill out of feeling that icy cold wind on my face! It’s just like anything, be prepared, stay warm, and stay safe. I find my best creative work is always when I’m freezing haha.
Our featured Photographer for the month 
Torres del Paine National Park Patagonia I love the way you work with light. It's very beautiful and inspiring. What are your top 3 tips for working with different lights in different seasons?
Thank you so much! I love working not only with light, but colours, so I tend to always photograph during golden hour, or when the subject is quite colourful during the midday sun.
My 3 tips would be:
Research your location and the timings for golden hour, know the direction of sunset and plan your shoot accordingly so you give yourself the best chance of capturing some gorgeous shots.
Experiment with using various elements within the scene to reflect light and create sparkles. Things like glass or shiny surfaces, even shooting with a narrow aperture and letting the sun just tough the edge so it creates a sun star.
Don’t be afraid of rules, have fun, move around and chase the light in all of its forms. Look for shadows too!
What are your top tips to pitch your work to tourism boards or brands?
When pitching, you need to focus on what your photography can do for the client, not what you can get for free or what places you get to visit. Focusing on your photography as a creative asset and a business will allow you to have the right frame of mind for approaching tourism boards or brands. Doing your research is also really important; knowing what style of work they use can help before approaching because you’ll likely get a more positive reply if you’re already shooting images that align with their marketing direction.
Monument Valley, Arizona Can you share a moment from your travels that profoundly changed the way you see photography?
When I first started working in photography I used to try and photograph anything and everything, from weddings, to underwater portraits, aerials, cities, events, hotels, astro, which was great for experience, but my solo trip in 2019 helped me to slow things down and focus on what I truly loved photographing. I think photographing alone in such remote environments in Chile, Greenland, Iceland etc helped me see what really inspired my creativity, and how photographing these landscapes felt really meaningful and also thrilling and exciting.
What’s your go-to camera setup when traveling light?
I shoot with OM SYSTEM gear so it’s nice and lightweight and my entire setup fits in my backpack and under cabin luggage weights. I currently have with me the OM-3 and OM-1 MKII, they’re both super plus three lenses, the 7-14mm f2.8, 12-40mm f2.8 and 40-150mm f2.8 to cover all bases! My go-to camera I’ll have on my shoulder at all times is the OM-1 MKII with the 40-150mm, this is always what I reach for first.
Final thoughts and your advice for photographers who want to grow their business in travel industry.
Stay curious, innovative and open to exploring new experiences. I think it’s quite easy to start comparing your work or opportunities to other photographers, but
staying focused on your own journey will help you to carve out a unique path in the industry.
Namibian Desert Learn more from this incredible travel photographer here:
Portfolio – www.lisamicheleburns.com
Instagram - @the_wanderinglens + @thetravelphotographyclub
Club + Courses – www.travelphotographycourses.com
Travel Guides + Photo Tips – www.thewanderinglens.com
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