A photography trip to Myanmar is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Myanmar is one of the few places in the world where traditional lifestyles remain deeply rooted, with minimal influence from the modern Western world. The country’s unique culture and daily life offer endless opportunities for stunning Myanmar photos. However, with tourism rapidly growing in recent years, some of Myanmar’s most iconic destinations may soon lose their untouched charm.
If Myanmar is on your list of dream destinations for travel photography, now is the perfect time to visit. To make the most of your journey, here are some expert tips for Myanmar street photography to help you capture its vibrant streets and timeless beauty.
Where to visit in Myanmar?
Myanmar offers countless untouched corners to explore and capture through your lens, aside from a few restricted areas. Most tourists stick to the popular itinerary of Yangon, Bagan, Mandalay, and Inle Lake, which can easily keep you busy for at least two weeks. You can even add a few extra days to relax at the beach or explore remote regions by plane for a more diverse experience.
If street photography is your main goal, avoid package tours. While they offer convenience, nice hotels, and pre-arranged plans, they often keep you far from the action. These tours typically include isolated hotels and tight schedules that leave little room for authentic experiences, such as interacting with locals or capturing dynamic street scenes. Hopping on and off a bus all day is not ideal for street photography.
Instead, plan your trip around what you want to see and shoot. Work with a local expert who specializes in street photography and understands the needs of foreign photographers. Myanmar has many authorized tour operators, so connecting with the right one who can provide expert tips and tailor-made programs is essential to meet your expectations. With thoughtful planning, your Myanmar street photography journey will be a truly rewarding experience.
Will trip be expensive?
Not really , off course , you can be able to spend thousands of dollars if going on a luxury package trip. If staying in low cost hotels with the most suitable location for photographers, traveling by bus, and eating at good local small restaurants, you are to spend around $ 45 less and more per day . If you prefer to fly internally between destinations and stay in mid range hotels, your daily expenses will be about $ 80 per person. So overall, Myanmar is not too expensive as you think , the daily traveling expense depend on where to stay , what to eat and how to travel.
What to shoot ?
As soon as you are landed in Myanmar, whatever you see will make you grab your camera to shoot the men and women wearing their traditional outfits and all women with traditional sun screen on their face to protect from sunburns .As for the city itself, its intense life on the street and overall state of deterioration makes it an amazing (maybe not for locals) setting for street photography. Mandalay, the second largest city of country located in the center of Myanmar will give you a similar environment, yet the concentration of monasteries being very high there, you’ll have a lot of opportunities to include monks in your shots. As for the other principal destinations (Inle Lake “Magical Water land of Myanmar& Bagan “Archaeological Treasure Of Myanmar ), you’ll see more the country side of Myanmar.
Where to shoot ?
You are to get away from the main streets and tourist attractions . it is where you’ll get a real feel of the locals’ way of life. Monasteries, temples, markets and train stations are great interior alternatives for street photography when tired to walk around
When to shoot ?
Most of Myanmar has a wide thermic amplitude. Meaning that temperature will go up to close to 40 celsius during the day and drop to about 15 degrees at night. Therefore, another suggestion is to get up early. What I mean here is to wake up around 06:00 am due to considerable advantages for shooting like no others. The proper reason to wait up early for shooting as follow ; 01- Local people get up early and not later than 07:00 am , daily activities is already interesting and intense . 02- Sun usually goes up before 07 ( between November to February) and earlier after February because of the begging of Summer season .So Interesting street activities with morning soft lights will be the first and best bonus of your shooting day . 03- Photographers don’t love tourist while doing street photography, early visit and shooting will get you away from the group of tourists and also if you get to every shooting ground and tourist attractions earlier than other tourists only locals will be engaged in trade and souvenir sellers won’t even be there. Same applies to temples and monasteries; the last thing you want is pictures full of backpacks in the background. As you are done, time to head back to your room to download your pictures, recharge your camera batteries and rejuvenate yourself for afternoon shooting around 04:30 pm. Nevertheless, if you want to keep shooting, head to a train station or monastery, you’ll always find good scenes in their interiors.
Shooting in Myanmar: A Unique and Friendly Experience
Myanmar is one of the easiest places in Southeast Asia for photography, thanks to its friendly and welcoming people. Most locals enjoy being photographed and often smile when they see their pictures on your camera screen. However, a small number of people might feel uncomfortable with large cameras, so it’s important to approach everyone gently and respectfully. A warm smile and a simple greeting in Burmese or the local tribal language go a long way in building trust.
Before taking photos, make an effort to connect with people and help them feel at ease. While some scenes may be highly photogenic, always consider human dignity before clicking the shutter. In certain situations, children may ask for money to be photographed. It’s better to kindly refuse, as giving money encourages them to skip school and continue this practice, often at the expense of their education.
To start on the right foot, greet locals with a smile and say “hello” in their language. Myanmar is a must-visit destination for street photography, offering a blend of captivating characters and rich cultural experiences. To truly immerse yourself in the Burmese way of life, avoid luxury tours and opt for local exploration.
If you’re planning your dream photography journey to Myanmar, we’d be honored to assist with practical tips and tailored tour packages to help you capture the heart of the country through your lens
