Crafty business! How to transform your travel photos – and earn money from them

Get your travel photos published or turn them into a home décor masterpiece – these creative ideas will transform your travel pictures into works of art and treasured keepsakes

4 mins

1: Send them as a postcard

Send a personal note (TouchNote)

Send a personal note (TouchNote)

Share photos of your travel adventures (TouchNote)

Share photos of your travel adventures (TouchNote)

Show off that natural carefree glow to friends and family on a customised postcard. Nothing boasts you’re having the time of your life travelling like a grinning head shot in far flung corners of the world. Postcards are a great keepsake and add a personal touch to your message that you found time to think about your loved ones while revelling in the sun.

TouchNote offers customers a personalised stamp, as well as postcard image and is straight-forward to use through online and mobile app devices.

2: Build a digital portfolio

Follow @wanderlustmag on Instagram for travel inspiration (Instagram: @wanderlustmag)

Follow @wanderlustmag on Instagram for travel inspiration (Instagram: @wanderlustmag)

Building your own digital gallery is not only a great way of sharing your travel experiences with the masses, but it’s a chance to style a visual portfolio of beautiful images and take pride in being published. It’s also a good excuse to sort through the stream of photos stored in your phone’s camera album and share them with fellow travellers around the world.

Instagram is a free and easy-to-use mobile app that allows its users to share photos amongst a global network of social media-goers. Take the opportunity to transform your profile into an artistic online gallery and showcase your passion through photography.

3: Showcase them at home

Cut them into the shape of countries or states (cutcraftcreate.blogspot.co.uk)

Cut them into the shape of countries or states (cutcraftcreate.blogspot.co.uk)

Framed polaroids (notonthehighstreet.com)

Framed polaroids (notonthehighstreet.com)

From retro polaroids pegged on fairy lights to mapped photo cut-outs in the shape of countries, there are endless ways to transform your home into a hub of travel inspiration.

Get an enlarged photo printed on canvas for a warm-welcoming centrepiece in the house, or invest in a collage of coasters for an added touch of character to the coffee table.

Pinterest is packed with crafty DIY ideas that are shared online by fellow creatives.

4: Hide the embarrassing ones in a travel journal

Make your own travel journal (Dreamstime)

Make your own travel journal (Dreamstime)

Any leftover photos that didn't make it to the shortlist of pictures for the wall of fame at home, or are simply too embarrassing to have on public display can be slotted into a personal journal. They’re great for prompting travel writing notes and even better to reminisce on with laughter.

5: Share them as a gift

Add a personal touch (Wrap.me)

Add a personal touch (Wrap.me)

Hand-wrap your gift (Wrap.me)

Hand-wrap your gift (Wrap.me)

Put as much thought into the final gift wrapping touches as the present itself by sharing your favourite travel memories on specially printed paper. Select and customise your own collage of photos to share with friends and family as an affordable alternative to giving the gift of travel. No more last-minute crises: this is the perfect fix that will last for special occasions throughout the year.

Wrap.me prints up to 30 different square images in a check-board layout on high-quality matte paper.

6: Earn money from them

Practice your photography skills (Dreamstime)

Practice your photography skills (Dreamstime)

Online photo libraries are a great way of potentially getting your images published on other sites, or even in magazines or newspapers; you earn a share for each download. The libraries are looking for high quality shots, and if you have original images or good shots off-beat places you could be successful - photo researchers can struggle to find photos of remote locations of the world, or of finding a new take on a more popular destination.

For additional tips on making money from your photographs, learn from our industry experts on how to become a travel photographer and get paid to travel the world.

7: Store them in crafty keepsakes

Store them in a box (Kate Mathis)

Store them in a box (Kate Mathis)

Use them to create artistic travel pages (Instagram: @nici_holluber)

Use them to create artistic travel pages (Instagram: @nici_holluber)

Save any leftover photos from the darkness of the attic and store them in rustic keepsake boxes or books around the house.

Shelf-size wooden chests are a cheap storage solution and easy to add a personal touch with a brush of paint. They’re also a hassle-free way of accessing photos for the days you want to reminisce on old times, or simply drift your mind to a picturesque landscape.

8: Get them printed in a photobook

Get your photos printed in a Bob Books photo album

Get your photos printed in a Bob Books photo album

What better excuse to free up phone storage of unused digital images than getting them printed in a personally customised photobook. Transform your favourite travel and family photos into a printed album of past-time memories that will last a lifetime.

Bob Books have a range of hardback and paper covers and offer an exclusive discount for Wanderlust readers. Learn how you can get 10% off here.

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