Being a travel writer is a dream gig. Whether you’re doing it for a living or just for fun, there are some basic principles to follow. We caught up with travel blogger Ryan Brown of the awesome blog Just Chuckin It! to get his tips, tricks and awesome pics.
Cheapflights: So, how did you get started with a travel blog?
Ryan Brown: Travel blogs were really what originally inspired me [to travel], so as I was leading up to my first trip abroad, I had the urge to share the experience with everyone else. I had recently become addicted to Tumblr and it seemed like an easy way to start a blog so I began there.
CF: What are your top three tips to anyone starting out with a new blog?
RB: My top three tips are:
- Don’t begin one with money on your mind. Any artistic endeavor that is started with money as the end goal will fail. It will cloud your mind and block your creativity, and soon you’ll find yourself checking stats more than seeing the world.
- Don’t pick a niche, write with the goal of creating your own…even if you happen to possibly fall into one later. This way you won’t be held back or restricted by thoughts of fitting into a blog category.
- Write from the heart. There is so much restriction to dreams, art and passion these days that if you start on this road of travel, you should open up and be a beacon for others. It seems like people can really connect with my stories when I write from the heart.
CF: Who are your favorite bloggers to follow?
RB: My favorite bloggers are: Be My Travel Muse, Seattle’s Travels, Yomadic, Spark Punk, Dangerous Business Blog.
CF: What’s your favorite place you’ve been?
RB: I will have to say my favorite country so far is Haiti because it was so different than what I expected. With every image of Haiti being about pain, suffering and destruction, I expected just that when I arrived. After being there for less than 24 hours, I realized that most of what you see is just on the surface, and the country has some amazing things to offer. I remember peering out over the edge of a sandstone castle wall over-looking a lush valley from 3,000 feet in the air. I was awe-struck by how vast and beautiful the country was, and the fact that I was atop a massive mountaintop fortress, something I would have never imagined in Haiti. And beside the beautiful beaches and the rich history, the people are so passionate and positive and the culture of the country is fascinating and rich.
CF: What’s the best picture you’ve taken?
RB: Here it is!
The clouds retreated back over the mountains as the sun rose over the rolling green peaks. Light danced and shimmered on the morning waves as Labadee, Haiti came to life. Some of the most vivid colors I had ever seen.
CF: Do you have any photography tips for fellow travelers?
RB: Make sure your photo is straight unless you are going for abstract or interesting angles. Kneel down and stand on something – straight forward shots can be taken by anyone. Put the camera down (huh?). Yes, because though you want to catch everything and share it, you’ll miss the experience for yourself. Ask to take photos, especially in countries that aren’t your native language. It is rude to just be snapping photos of people in their face as they go about their normal lives, and if you can’t discreetly snap a photo and want to capture it, be respectful.
(Main image: Ryan Brown)
