Vacation photo-sharing etiquette: What’s acceptable?

Our honeymoon starts this week, and I can’t wait to go. We’re headed to a part of the world neither of us have been before, which will make it feel like an adventure.

Naturally, we’re going to take a lot of pictures. But when it comes to sharing those pictures on social media, I feel hesitant for a few reasons.

Mainly, how much is too much?

These days, it feels normal to want to share something cool you’re seeing with other people. It’s almost harder to keep it to yourself.

But we all follow people who overshare their trips on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, etc. And it can be annoying, because it sometimes feels more like they’re bragging than sharing. You’re like, “OK, I get it, geez. Good for you. Ugh.”

Plus, you start to wonder how much those people are actually taking the time to enjoy their trip versus just posting about it.

I don’t want to be “that guy” and I also don’t want people to think I’m ignoring my wife on our honeymoon by sharing on social media! Maybe I care too much about other people’s perceptions, but knowing my own views on vacation over-sharers, I’m quite conscious of it.

Still, I don’t know where the line is. Is it the sheer volume that makes vacation pictures cross from enjoyable to irritating, or is it the way they’re presented (the “look at me, look how great this is!” mentality)? I’m not sure.

I tend to err more on the conservative side of sharing trip photos, especially since many people following me are a lot of hard-working, blue-collar NASCAR fans who might not have the opportunity to rack up the frequent flyer miles and hotel points that result in free vacations (that’s how we travel).

The goal of sharing trip photos should be to bring your friends and followers along with you and give them a peek at what you’re seeing and experiencing so they can feel like they’re there, too. But if you go too far, you’re just rubbing it in and making people resent you.

So where’s the line? I’ll be curious to hear your thoughts.

6 Replies to “Vacation photo-sharing etiquette: What’s acceptable?”

  1. Upload everything to a photosharing site, and let folks decide if they want to wade through the hundreds of photos. Share a few good ones (~5) on social media. I don’t think it’s bragging, congrats on your wedding.

  2. Jeff,

    Go with your top 5 favorites, after the trip is over. That’s my go to on all of the vacations and trips my wife and I take. Honestly, our honeymoon was just over a year and a half ago and I didn’t share very much. That was a special time for the two of us and it felt like it was just us. I shared a few things here and there but not much. It felt like all of the sights were there for us. For Instagram I always share something interesting along the way. My first cold beer or a view from the room. Mostly I keep the phone in my pocket. Congrats to you an your new bride! Have a safe and great trip!

  3. Feel free to share away Jeff. I look at sharing photos as sheer joy and excitement for being in whatever location or situation your find yourself. Honeymooning is definitely an exciting time of your life so feel free to share with your followers. Also mousy people may not get to visit our may be planning to visit wherever you may be. FYI – if I find myself in the Virgin Islands I will be searching or a certain hammock identified by our friend @nascarcasm.

  4. Jeff I believe that many if not most of your followers would be interested in any photos that you might share. A couple of pictures that give everyone an idea of where you two are staying would be good. You’re right though, too many would be overkill. Congratulations and enjoy your honeymoon!

  5. share.. share share.. as much as you want.. i dont know too many people that would be
    “ok iget it, jeez”…..

  6. Share what feels right to you and Your beautiful bride. But I love to see new places or even old one’s if I have been there through someone else’s eye’s. But most of all enjoy your honeymoon and Congratulations see you in Daytona!

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