Every wonder how some photographers seem to have all the luck and always get great shots? They seem to be in the right place at the right time all the time? Well, I can assure you that there's a story and a lot of effort behind each one of those shots. I'll tell you what it takes to get your dream shots. It's not a step-by-step guide necessarily, but the concept is super solid.

It rained all night and was going to rain all day too. A cool, miserable spring rain in late March. The demotivating kind that makes you want to do nothing, not even think about photography. Stay warm and dry and edit images on your computer? Nope. No motivation there either. These can be tough days. But I warn you, if you fall into this trap every time it rains, you're going to miss something.

Beware…this is a family vacation, not a photo excursion. Everyone has expectations, wants, and desires from this trip. You can still get some great shots, but you have to be smart about it and find balance.