You’ve scaled Kilimanjaro, skied off-piste in Patagonia, and sunned in the Seychelles. What do you have to show for it? Blurry, overexposed pictures. These easy tips will guarantee photos that are as great as your memories.

Before You Go
A point-and-shoot camera will do for most trips. Bring extra memory cards and lithium batteries. If using film, budget two rolls per day (400-speed is the best all-purpose). The dorky extra mile? Read travel books before you go (so you’ll know not to miss sunrise over the Serengeti) and bring a notebook if you tend to forget details.

Shooting 101
Midday light is the harshest. Take pictures in the morning and late afternoon when light is soft, the colors are sublime, and all looks peaceful. Overcast days are great, too. Ready to snap? Stand at least three feet from your subject to focus — but not too far or all you’ll get is background. The best composition keeps things a little off-center. In general, flash works best within ten feet of your subject. Is the sun behind you? It should be. Confused about composition? Try shooting through natural frames like doorways and windows.

Sun, Sand, and Sea
Sand + cameras = disaster. Pack a disposable with an underwater flash. Place the horizon in the top or bottom third of your picture to avoid bisecting a lovely scene. And it might seem strange to select “fill flash” in brilliant sunlight, but it will do wonders for shadowy bikini-clad subjects. By the way, the sunset will never look as good on film as it does in person, so don’t miss it as you fuss with the camera.

Subjects Matter
There’s nothing more mind-numbing than cliched vacation photos. When documenting your trip, try to think in terms of a narrative. Take snapshots of great meals before you eat them, reflections on the water, your best friend passed out in the passenger seat. Pics of road signs help you remember where you’ve been. Take out your camera when everyone puts theirs away. Candid pictures of travel companions as they are packing, waiting at the airport, or haggling with a cab driver end up being favorite keepsakes.

Family Fun
When photographing the folks, keep it simple. Arrange groups against plain backgrounds and don’t even try to pose kids or pets. Get in close, shoot at your subject’s eye level (that means you crouch if they’re little), and go for action shots whenever possible. People make great props, too. A silhouette against a vast seascape is more interesting and meaningful than just another postcard picture.

Mountain Highs
Capture those pristine peaks and valleys with 100-speed film (it’s slower and better for high-altitude light). If you’re shooting Zermatt, go vertical. Add a person to the scene to show the enormous scale of Old Faithful. Pick the “panorama” setting if your camera has one. And take pictures in bad weather; approaching storm clouds are pure drama.

Tripped Out
The worse the travel conditions and circumstances, the more important it is to take pictures. Record the moment everyone discovers the Tahitian “villa” is actually a “shack.” When you get lost in the El Yunque rain forest, photos of the wrong paths and your dirty, exhausted feet make funny commentary (well, eventually).

Now you’re really ready for your close up.