Aggie Lal Q&A: InstaTravel
We caught up with Aggie for an exclusive Q&A to talk about InstaTravel and ask her about some of her favourite destinations. We picked up some great travel tips and learned a few things we didn’t know along the way.
With so many different experiences available to travellers these days, more and more people are turning to social media for insights and inspiration on where to go next!
Aggie Lal is one of the world’s premiere travel influencers, known for her passion for exploring the world, taking great photographs, and sharing them on her successful Instagram page @Aggie— and now the author of InstaTravel.
Do you have any tips for balancing the fine art of taking great photos while still enjoying yourself on a trip?
It’s always a fine and very subjective line, but I think there is nothing more important than putting your camera down after taking photos otherwise you’re capturing an experience you haven’t actually had!
Animals often feature in some of your best photographs. What's been your favourite animal interaction so far?
The more I travel, the more I look for animal experiences that will allow me to simply witness the animals in their natural habitat versus interacting with them, including hugging, petting, or feeding them. My favourite interaction was hiking in the rainforest in Uganda and spotting some of the few gorillas left on the planet. They aren’t aggressive if observed from a safe distance, but the biggest challenge is to actually find them in the wild. It was absolutely my favourite experience because it was the way it should be.
How many photos do you typically take before you get that one perfect Insta-worthy shot?
If I find a location I really like, sometimes it takes 10–20 photos to get the best one. Other times I play around trying different angles and lenses and it takes 200 photos to get a good one! I try to move around and use the burst feature to catch a real moment in action so it quickly adds up on a digital camera.
If you only had room to pack five things for a trip, what essentials would you choose?
• Camera
• A warm layer no matter where I go (planes can get very cold!)
• Sun protection
• Swimsuit (you never know!)
• Good attitude and an open mind
If you could take only one more trip in your life, where would you go next?
The South Pacific. I spent a year there sailing from Mexico to Australia and it will always remind me of "my" place in the world.
What qualities would you say make for the ideal travel companion?
Being self-aware and mindful. Sometimes it’s good to be enthusiastic and jolly, and sometimes it’s better to be quiet and calm and do your own thing. When you can pick up on the energy around you and adjust accordingly, you become the best travel companion.
How important is research before taking a trip?
It is and it isn’t. On one hand, it’s super helpful to know what to do and where to go ahead of time so you don’t waste precious days on the trip trying to find out the basics. On the other hand, there’s nothing better than asking the locals about their favourite spots. The perfect balance would be to do your research but then arrive with an open mind and be flexible!
What are your preferred tools to review and edit your photos?
I created my own photo filters, called Aggie Presets, which you can use on a free app called Lightroom. To me, editing photos is my favourite part about photography because it allows the photographer to really share their personality and the way they see the world, and I’m happy to share my presets with my followers.
Is travel a good cure for a broken heart?
Absolutely. When we’re heartbroken, we have this illusion that we've lost the best person in the world and we will never meet anyone better ever again. Surrounding yourself with new people, experiences, and places really reminds you that at the end of the day, you are amazing and worthy of being loved and in a happy relationship.
Do you have one stand-out memory from the trips included in InstaTravel?
The Lantern Festival in Thailand—it’s featured all the way at the end of InstaTravel but it was an absolute personal highlight.
Have you ever been to Canada? If so, what did you love most?
I have been to Canada four times! While your national parks are absolutely unparalleled, I think my favorite part was Canadians themselves. You combine kindness, openness, and good sense of humour!