Travel Light, Shoot Smart: Roshani Shah’s Guide to Travel Photography

Introduction

Roshani Shah collects stories, while some tourists collect mementos. A travel and street photographer, she has an eye for the rhythm of everyday life, the hidden corners of culture, and those fleeting moments that often go unnoticed—a tea vendor pausing in the morning sun, a sudden splash of colour in a crowded lane, or the soft hush of dawn spilling over the streets.
For Roshani, travel is not just about moving from place to place. It is about forming quiet connections with people and traditions, and capturing those connections through her lens. In this candid conversation, she opens her travel bag and shares her creative journey, offering practical tips for anyone eager to explore the world and capture it in all its vivid, intimate detail.

Question: What does travel mean to you?

Roshani: For me, travel isn’t just about moving—it’s how I connect with people, places, and traditions. Photography is the way I hold on to those connections and the moments that matter.

Question: What does your photography or tech bag look like when you are trying to pack light?

Roshani: I carry one camera body, a wide and a tele lens, an extra battery, a lens pen for cleaning, and a few memory cards. Keeping it simple makes travelling easier and shooting more enjoyable.

Question: How do you keep your gear safe while travelling in crowded spaces?

Roshani: I keep my bag in front, zipped tightly, and often cover it with a napkin or a stole if the weather turns. Usually, the safest way to protect your equipment is to blend in with the crowd.

Question: Any small non-photography item that surprisingly improves your photography?

Roshani: A straightforward notebook is priceless. I jot down thoughts about a photograph or series, notes about places, light, or moods. It enables me to shoot with intention and recall details that a photograph alone might miss.

Question: How do you keep posting on the go when you are shooting with a camera?

Roshani: I use Wi-Fi transfer and the Sony Creators App. Mobile Lightroom’s quick edits make it simple to prepare and post content while still exploring.

Question: When someone picks up the hobby for the first time, what is the first gear they should pick up?

Roshani: Start with one good camera and a versatile lens. Don’t worry about having too much gear. Master one setup first and focus on understanding the art of light and composition.

Question: If you could give one piece of advice to someone travelling for the first time, especially if they feel pressure to see and capture everything, what would it be?

Roshani: Slow down. Don’t try to photograph everything. Feel the place and its essence, observe carefully, and let moments come to you. When you do that, you get a snapshot of something real and lasting.

Making the Most of Every Moment We are reminded by Roshani’s method that patience and presence are the foundations upon which the best travel photographs are built. Each journey can reveal moments that are intimate, genuine, and enduring if you travel light, remain curious, and pay attention to the minute details. By slowing down, feeling the rhythm of daily life, and letting experiences unfold naturally, travellers can capture images that tell stories without words. It is in these quiet, fleeting instants—the sun spilling across a cobbled street, the laughter of strangers, the subtle play of light and shadow—that the soul of a place truly comes alive. Travel photography, she shows us, is not about chasing everything, but about seeing deeply and capturing the poetry in every moment.