My Simple Summer Travel Photo Routine
My Simple Summer Travel Photo Routine
You know the drill: you come home from vacation, and suddenly your phone is bursting with hundreds (okay, thousands) of photos you meant to organize later. But then life gets busy, and those sweet memories get buried.
Over the years, I’ve learned a few simple habits I do during the trip that make all the difference. These tiny routines help me stay ahead of the chaos and actually enjoy our photos when we get home.
Let me show you what works!
Take 5 Minutes Each Night—Your Future Self Will Thank You
One of the best habits I’ve picked up on vacation? A quick little routine I call the daily delete.
At the end of each day, I take five minutes (usually while winding down in the hotel room or waiting for everyone to get ready) to scroll through the day’s photos and delete the ones I know I don’t need—blurry shots, duplicates, or the 14 versions of the restaurant sign I took trying to get it just right.
Oh—and yes, those helpful-but-random photos like the parking spot number? Gone too.
It’s a small thing, but it makes such a difference. Instead of coming home to a chaotic camera roll, I’ve already trimmed the clutter and made space for the memories I actually want to keep.
You Don’t Need All 17 Shots of the Waterfall
Confession time: I used to keep every. single. photo. Just in case.
But the truth is, when everything’s saved, nothing really stands out.
Now, while we’re still on the trip, I take a moment to scroll through those bursts of similar shots whether it's my kids jumping into the pool or the mountain view I tried to capture from five angles and I pick my favorite one or two. The rest? I let go.
It’s not about being perfect. It’s about making space for what really matters.
This tiny habit helps me enjoy our memories more later, because I’m not sifting through clutter, I’m reliving the highlights.
The Best Travel Tradition: Favorite Your Favorites
On the way home, whether we’re flying or driving, I like to take a few quiet minutes to go through my photos and tap the heart icon on the ones I love most.
It’s such a simple thing, but it turns my camera roll into a highlight reel.
These “favorited” photos become my go-to list for anything I want to print, frame, or include in a photo book later. No guesswork, no overwhelm—just a collection of the moments that made the trip extra special.
And honestly? It’s one of my favorite parts of the trip; reliving all the sweet little memories before we’ve even unpacked.
If You Have 15 Minutes, You Can Start Your Book
If I have a little extra time while we’re traveling home, maybe during a layover or once the kids are happily zoned out in the back seat, I’ll open up my favorite photo book app and start dropping in those hearted photos.
Nothing fancy. No pressure to finish it on the spot. Just a quick start while the memories are still fresh and the favorites are already picked.
And here’s the best part: even if I don’t finish it during the trip, I’ve already done the hardest part. So when we get home, I can finish the photo book in no time or print a few favorites to display around the house.
It’s such a small step, but it helps me actually enjoy our photos, instead of letting them sit forgotten in the cloud.
Make It Easier to Enjoy the Memories
These little photo habits might seem small, but they’ve completely changed how I document and enjoy our summer travels. Instead of feeling overwhelmed when we get home, I’ve already done the work, bit by bit, along the way.
Whether you try one of these tips or all of them on your next trip, just know this: your memories are worth preserving, and it doesn’t have to be complicated.
And hey, if your photos already feel like a jumbled mess or you need help getting started, I’d love to help. Photo organizing is kind of my thing.