Tourist & Travel Photoshoots in Sri Lanka: The Best Locations

A holiday in Sri Lanka gives you a thousand phone photos and almost none with you in them. A travel photoshoot fixes that. Here is how I plan them, and the locations I suggest most often, from Colombo and Galle Fort to Sigiriya and Kandy.

What a travel photoshoot actually is

A travel or tourist photoshoot is a relaxed portrait session in a place you are visiting. It might be a couple on honeymoon, a family on their first trip to Sri Lanka, a group of friends, or someone travelling solo who wants a few proper pictures of themselves. Sometimes it is a proposal, or a small pre-wedding shoot before a destination wedding.

I have photographed people in Sri Lanka, India, the United States and Japan, and the brief is always the same: make it feel like the trip, not like a studio. I work mostly in natural light, so a lot of the planning is about picking the right place at the right time of day.

Best locations for a photoshoot in Sri Lanka

Colombo

Most visitors pass through Colombo, and it is an underrated place for photos. You get colonial-era buildings with deep verandas and tall windows, busy market streets, temples, modern hotels and the sea on one side of the city. Galle Face Green is popular at sunset, with the ocean behind you and the city skyline to one side. For something calmer, the shaded streets and old buildings of the Fort area and Cinnamon Gardens work well in the middle of the day, when the sun is too strong in the open.

Best for: city portraits, couples, short sessions if you only have a day in Colombo.
Best time: early morning or the last hour before sunset; open shade at midday.

Galle Fort

If I could only pick one place for a travel shoot in Sri Lanka, it would probably be Galle Fort. The old Dutch fort on the south coast is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and almost every corner is photogenic: the ramparts above the ocean, the lighthouse, whitewashed churches, quiet lanes with colourful doors and bougainvillea. I have also photographed Galle Fort Hotel, and the old buildings inside the fort have the kind of soft window light I love.

Best for: couples, honeymoons, pre-wedding shoots, families.
Best time: early morning before the day visitors arrive, or sunset on the ramparts.

Sigiriya and Pidurangala

Sigiriya, the ancient rock fortress in the Cultural Triangle, is one of the most recognisable places in the country. It makes a dramatic backdrop, but it is a hot, busy climb, so it needs planning. Many people prefer to take portraits from nearby Pidurangala rock, which looks straight across at Sigiriya. Sunrise there is spectacular, and it is worth the early start.

Best for: adventurous couples and solo travellers who want a big landscape.
Best time: sunrise. Bring comfortable shoes and change at the top if you want a dressier look.

Kandy

Kandy, in the hills, has a completely different feel from the coast: cooler air, the lake in the middle of town, and green hills all around. The area around the lake and the Temple of the Tooth is lovely for gentle, documentary-style pictures. Temples are active places of worship, so we dress modestly, follow the rules on photography, and are respectful of people who are there to pray. I always check the current rules before planning anything at a religious site.

Best for: families, cultural travel portraits, quieter sessions.
Best time: morning, when the light over the lake is soft.

The hill country and tea estates

Around Nuwara Eliya, Ella and Hatton you get tea estates, misty mornings and old bungalows. The light is often softer up here because of the cloud, which is great for portraits. Ella's Nine Arch Bridge is famous, but it gets crowded, so go early if it is on your list.

Best for: couples, cosy and moody portraits, misty landscapes.
Best time: early morning; plan around the weather.

The beaches

The south and west coasts have long sandy beaches and palm trees, and the east coast has its own season. For a beach shoot the light is everything. Midday on the sand is harsh, but the hour before sunset can be beautiful, with warm light and calm colours.

Best for: honeymoons, families, relaxed holiday portraits.
Best time: late afternoon into sunset.

How to plan your travel photoshoot

1. Get in touch early. Send me your travel dates and where you will be. I can suggest the best place along your route instead of adding a long drive.
2. Think about the season. Sri Lanka has two monsoons that affect different coasts at different times. I can help you pick a location that is more likely to be dry on your dates, and we keep a backup slot just in case.
3. Choose the time of day first. Sunrise and the last hour before sunset give the softest light. In the middle of the day I look for shade, verandas and windows.
4. Pack one outfit for the photos. Light, flowing fabrics in plain or soft colours look great against Sri Lanka's greens, blues and old walls. Avoid big logos.
5. Respect the place. At temples and heritage sites we follow the rules, cover shoulders and knees where needed, and never pose in a way that is disrespectful to religious images.
6. Leave room to enjoy it. The best pictures usually come when you stop posing and just walk, talk and look around.

Destination weddings and pre-shoots

A lot of couples come to Sri Lanka to get married, or to do a pre-wedding shoot before a celebration at home. Galle Fort, the south coast and the hill country are all popular. I photograph weddings and functions as well as portrait sessions, and you can see a full wedding story, Jay & Serene, on the homepage. Because I have worked in Sri Lanka, India and the US and photographed a story in Tokyo, I am also happy to talk about travelling for your wedding.

What it costs

Every travel shoot is a little different. It depends on the location, how long you want, how far I need to travel, and how many people are in the photos. So I quote each one to the brief. Send me your plans and ask for rates.

Book a travel photoshoot in Sri Lanka

Email me at sacithkodikara@gmail.com or message me on WhatsApp at +94 77 580 3911 with your dates, where you are staying, and the kind of photos you want. If you are curious about how I use daylight, read my guide to natural-light portrait photography in Colombo, or see more of my work in the gallery.