Elevating Your Summer Travel Photography: Geotag Your Shots Accurately with a Reliable GPS System

When looking back at old photos from summers gone by, sometimes it's hard to remember where you captured an image. Perhaps you have a beautiful picture of a beach you visited a couple of years ago but can't recall its location. Or you have a photo of an unidentifiable restaurant you want to visit again. 

Geotagging can help in these scenarios. It's the process of allocating GPS coordinates to your summer photos so you can identify where you took them on a map. GPS camera units let you store geotagging data in the metadata of your images. 

Using a GPS tracker, like those made by LandAirSea (LAS), alongside a GPS camera unit can elevate your summer photography by protecting your camera equipment and letting your loved ones know where you are when traveling. 

How to Geotag Your Photos Accurately With a GPS System

Many modern digital cameras, including smartphone cameras, will automatically geotag the photos you take this summer. All iPhone models, for example, embed location metadata in images by default, allowing you to identify the location of your photos.

But how can you geotag shots if you have an older camera? 

Depending on the type of product you own, you might be able to attach an external GPS system like a GPS camera unit to your camera. These devices embed GPS data into the EXIF metadata in the images you take. You can then upload photos from the camera unit to the internet and pinpoint where you took your images on a map. 

Some GPS camera units have their own battery, while other products rely on your camera's battery to record GPS coordinates. If a device does the latter, it could drain your camera's battery. However, camera units are a great way to add location information to images if your camera doesn't have geotagging capabilities. 

So, how do external GPS systems work? These devices receive signals from 32 satellites that make up the Global Positioning System. They then use a process called trilateration to determine the location of whatever item is attached to it, like a camera. GPS camera units use this location information to store data about photographs in the form of EXIF files. You can then find out where you took a photo, as well as other information about an image, such as exposure levels. 

How Else Can a GPS System Elevate Your Summer Photography?

GPS trackers are another type of GPS system you can use this summer. These trackers don't generate EXIF data but can still be incredibly useful when taking photos. Like a camera unit, a tracker receives signals from GPS satellites orbiting the planet and determines the precise location of any item attached to it. These products sync with your smartphone or tablet so you can identify the location of an object wherever you are in the world. 

Using a GPS tracker from LAS alongside another GPS system for geotagging can help you in the following situations:

Find your camera equipment

Say you place a GPS tracker in your camera bag. During your summer travels, you find the perfect photography spot but can't remember where you put that bag. Perhaps it's in your car, in your hotel room, or somewhere else entirely. Thankfully, you'll be able to locate your camera bag by opening up an app on your phone or tablet. You can then retrieve your camera bag, return to your photography spot, and start taking photos!

With LAS devices, locating missing items is easy. These products sync with the Silvercloud app, available on iOS and Android devices, helping you determine the location of all the assets you need for taking photos. You can also attach a LAS tracker to photography equipment like lights, tripods, and even memory cards. 

Locate stolen camera equipment

Camera equipment can be expensive, with the price tag of even a basic digital camera ranging up to $900. Criminals often steal this equipment to make a quick profit. That's why you must protect your photography valuables this summer.

One of the best ways to safeguard your camera equipment this summer is to invest in a GPS tracker. By attaching a tracker to your equipment, you can quickly identify its location in the event of theft and try to retrieve it. 

LAS devices let you create a geofence around a real-world location, such as a beach where you plan to take photos this summer. If an item attached to one of these devices, like a camera bag, leaves that geofence, you'll receive a notification on your smartphone or tablet. You can then log into the Silvercloud app and see the location of your stolen item. Sharing this location data with law enforcement via LAS' Sharespot feature can increase the chances of recovering the asset. 

If someone steals your camera equipment this summer, you can also share geofence information with your insurance company. Doing so might speed up your claim and provide the funds needed to purchase new equipment. 

Provide loved ones with location information

Perhaps you plan to travel to a remote area to take photos this summer. If that location doesn't have Wi-Fi or cellular reception, it will be difficult to stay in touch with loved ones and let them know where you are. 

GPS trackers solve this problem by allowing you to share your location with anyone you like on your summer photography adventure. LAS devices, for example, let you communicate your whereabouts with friends and family in real time. Just use the Sharespot feature to send loved ones a live map of your location. If you don't return to your hotel after taking photos, perhaps because you got lost, they can try to find you or alert law enforcement. 

Why Choose LAS Devices for Summer Photography?

Using an LAS tracker alongside another GPS system for geotagging can improve your summer photography experience by protecting your camera equipment, supporting any insurance claims you make, and letting loved ones know you are safe. With more than 25 years of experience, LAS has a couple of devices perfect for summer photo getaways:

LandAirSea 54

The LandAirSea 54 is a small and discreet GPS tracker that easily fits inside a camera bag or attaches to photography equipment. It's dustproof and waterproof, making it ideal when taking photos in all kinds of conditions, and lets you share location information via its Sharespot feature. Other features include a long-lasting battery and geofence alerts. 

LandAirSea Overdrive

The LandAirSea Overdrive's battery lasts four times as long as the one in the LandAirSea 54 and comes with a dark mode, making it easy to attach to camera equipment during nighttime conditions. Dustproof and waterproof, the Overdrive also generates geofence alerts, helping you quickly identify the location of any stolen photography equipment. 

Not sure which LAS product you should use when taking photos this summer? LAS can help! Contact us to find the best GPS trackers for your use case.

Elevate Summer Photography With LAS

GPS systems like GPS camera units can attach to a camera that lacks geotagging capabilities and generate location information about your photos. Consider using one of these products with a GPS tracker, like those made by LAS, to protect your equipment and communicate with loved ones when taking photos in remote locations. LAS devices are a great choice for summer photography because they're easy to set up, have long-lasting batteries, are waterproof and dustproof, and let you view location data on your smartphone or tablet.

Order a GPS tracker today and elevate your summer photography this year! Or email ian.conley@landairsea.com to learn more about GPS tracking.