What inspired you to pursue a career in travel writing/editing/photography, and how did you get started in this field? My mother was a travel writer, and she loved it. I gradually started taking trips and writing stories about my experiences.
How do you balance capturing the beauty and excitement of a place with the need for accuracy and honest reporting? They all work together. You must have basic reporting abilities and a strong respect for accuracy and fairness. Let the destination tell the story with its beauty and uniqueness. Don’t try to overdo anything. It will come out.
What are your go-to tools and techniques for staying organized and productive while traveling and working? I still take notes in a Reporter’s Notebook, and I also take all my photos. I keep everything from a destination and always try to note experiences that stand out to me throughout days of travel. You never know what might be around the corner. When I layout pages, I start with placing the photos on the pages first and then write around the allotted space.
What advice would you give to aspiring travel writers/photographers looking to break into the industry today? Write, shoot, write, shoot. Schooling will take you so far. Doing is the best advice I got when I started out in the business.
What are some of your favorite destinations to write about or photograph, and what makes them special to you? My favorite was Israel and Jerusalem. I was captivated by the history, people, food, etc. I couldn’t get enough.
How do you balance traveling for work with traveling for personal enjoyment? It’s not hard to balance. When I vacation, I go at my own speed. When I travel for work my approach is the same as if I was working on any other kind of story.
What key qualities or skills do you believe every successful travel journalist should possess? Continuous curiosity and professional behavior. Take good notes. Allow yourself time to be alone to put the story together. Once you have your lead and the two paragraphs after that, you’re off to the races.