Woman standing in front of a safari vehicle. — *Allie on a safari through the Masai Mara.*

When I first met Allie Jorde a few years ago at my Arizona retreat, I knew immediately that she was special. Not just because of her incredible photography skills, but because of her infectious energy and genuine approach to capturing life's moments. Fast-forward to our Greece sailing trip last year where we literally couldn't be pulled out of the water (our skipper had to repeatedly tell us it was time to get out), and I knew I had to have her on the podcast.

Allie is what she calls "a 28-year-old desert rat with a camera and a deep love for noticing everything." Through Allie Jorde Creative, she documents retreats and travels around the world, but her approach is refreshingly different from the overly-staged Instagram photography we've all grown tired of.

Woman joyfully waving with one arm raised while standing in a golden harvested field. — *Allie in Peru—showing that infectious energy she’s always spreading.*

From Wedding Photography to Travel Adventures

Allie's journey into travel photography started somewhat serendipitously. After working in wedding photography in Arizona, she spent six years living in Guatemala, where she "dipped her toes into travel and retreat photography." As she puts it, "I was just in the right place at the right time."

Her path illustrates something important about following your passion—sometimes you don't need a master plan. You just need to be open to opportunities and willing to adapt as they come.

The Equipment Myth: Your Best Camera is the One You Have

One of the biggest misconceptions Allie encounters is that you need expensive, professional equipment to take great travel photos. Her advice? "The best camera is the one that you already have."

Whether it's a smartphone or an old Canon Rebel, you can create amazing content without breaking the bank. In fact, she actively encourages beginners to start with older equipment to really learn the ins and outs before upgrading.

"I think one of the biggest traps people fall into with photography is thinking that you need the latest and greatest equipment," she explains. For travel photography specifically, she recommends keeping it simple: a camera body, a 35mm lens (wide enough for landscapes but great for portraits too), extra batteries, and memory cards.

As someone who admittedly buys too much gear and doesn't use half of it, I can attest to this advice. Allie has watched me create content with just my iPhone that sometimes rivals anything shot on expensive cameras.

The Presence vs. Documentation Dilemma

One of the most challenging aspects of travel photography—especially when you're working professionally—is balancing being present in the moment versus focusing on capturing it. It's a struggle I know well, and Allie's approach is refreshingly practical.

"If I'm working, it's going to be a little different because that's my job," she acknowledges. But for personal travel, her rule is simple: "Take a photo of whatever I'm seeing and then put it down. It really doesn't matter if I got that shot... I'm still gonna have this amazing memory in my head."

This approach became particularly important during her recent safari in Kenya. "All you want to do is just be locked into that camera and try to get all of these incredible photos, but the real purpose of travel is to immerse yourself in that present moment."

Her advice resonates because it's so human—we've all gotten excited about seeing something for the first time and started photographing everything (including blurry, distant animals that we thought were amazing in the moment). The key is recognizing that usually, it's not the one rare moment you'll ever have to capture something. There will likely be more opportunities.

The Art of Authentic Storytelling

What sets Allie's work apart is her focus on emotion and authentic storytelling rather than just pretty pictures. "What makes it interesting is, is it evoking an emotion in whoever's looking at that photo? What are they feeling when they look at it?"

Instead of just capturing the classic white cliffside villages of Greece, she looks for the local fishermen or groups enjoying dinner together. "That for me tells a lot more about a trip... than just getting the landscape."

Her philosophy extends to heavily photographed destinations too. Rather than avoiding the Eiffel Tower or Taj Mahal entirely, she suggests creating "vignettes"—perhaps a Parisian woman having morning coffee with the Eiffel Tower in the background, or women in saris walking toward the Taj Mahal.

"You can take something that's grand and break it down into micro scenes and these little vignettes that you'll cherish a lot more," she explains.

Respectful Photography in a Digital World

One area where Allie takes a firm stance is photographing people while traveling. She has strict rules: never photograph marginalized communities or children without explicit permission and context.

"The only time I will take a photo of a child is if it's for an NGO that actively works with that group or that community that has ties with them. They know their names. They can tell their stories. If you don't know that kid's name, if you don't know their story, their parents, don't take a picture of them."

For direct portraits of adults, she always asks permission, often through gestures if there's a language barrier. "99% of the time people are gonna be thrilled to be photographed by you. And it also kind of segues into a really beautiful chance to connect with people from a different culture."

This approach has led to some of her favorite travel moments—connections that started with asking for a photo and evolved into meaningful cultural exchanges.

The Reality of Professional Travel

While travel photography might look glamorous from the outside, Allie is honest about the challenges. Like many of us who travel professionally, she deals with the constant pressure to document and create content, which can be mentally draining.

Her solution? Embracing cyclical creativity. "I am so cyclical in posting. I will go really hard for a month and then I need a month to be in the real world."

She emphasizes the importance of not putting pressure on yourself and recognizing when someone is "just trying to crank out content for the sake of it rather than them really having a good time with it and really enjoying it."

When creative blocks hit, she returns to what makes her feel most like herself—hiking in the Arizona desert at sunrise. "I find the most inspiration in the desert at sunrise. So if I'm feeling like I need a little creative juice, I will go take my dog out for a hike on my favorite trail and then I come back and I'm ready to get back into it."

Woman smiling warmly while standing with a black and white Border Collie on a sandy beach or lakeside at golden hour. — *Allie and her pup on a creative reset hike.*

Technical Tips for Real-World Travel

Beyond the philosophical approach, Allie shared practical advice that any traveler can use:

Gear Protection: Your camera is more durable than you think. Modern cameras are weather-sealed and can handle mist from waterfalls or light rain. Don't be afraid to use your equipment.

Backup Strategy: Always shoot on two memory cards if possible, format cards before shooting, and never delete photos directly from your camera. Keep photos in at least three locations before considering them safe.

Lighting Challenges: The hardest conditions she's encountered? Costa Rica's humidity (which fogs up lenses) and Antarctica's all-white landscape (everything is reflective and bright). For everyday travel, avoid harsh noon sunlight—look for shade, cloud coverage, or use hats as natural diffusers.

Editing Apps: She's currently "ride or die" for the Tezza app ($5/month), which offers more natural-looking filters than many alternatives.

The Anti-Perfectionism Movement

Perhaps what I appreciate most about Allie's approach is her stance against the overly-filtered, unrealistic standards that dominate social media. She aims for a "film style" that keeps colors true to life.

"I just try to keep the colors true so that I can show my grandkids in 50 years a photo that doesn't have this whack filter on it," she explains. "You don't look at old film photos and be like, what the heck is this edit? What are these colors? It's classic."

When clients ask her to make them "20 pounds skinnier" or "shave 15 years off," she gently redirects them toward authenticity. "We are who we are and we're not gonna remember our imperfections when we're on our deathbed and our kids are just gonna wanna see photos of us living life and having fun."

Her message is simple but powerful: just take the damn photo. You'll be much sadder in 50 years if you have no photos of yourself because you never thought you looked good enough.

Woman in a tan wide-brimmed hat and black outfit sitting on the floor next to a large silver disco ball, with one hand touching the hat and the other resting on the reflective sphere. — *Allie rocking it in front of the camera.*

Looking Ahead

Allie's photography bucket list includes some incredible destinations: Namibia for the striking desert dunes, Oman for the oases, and Mongolia for horseback treks and cultural photography. She's also planning an extended stay in Mexico City and is excited about returning to India after 10 years to see how her photography style has evolved.

The Bigger Picture

What makes Allie's approach to travel photography so refreshing is that it's rooted in genuine human connection rather than just creating content. Whether she's asking permission to photograph someone in India, refusing to stage another "flying dress" photoshoot, or simply putting her camera down to be present in the moment, her work reflects what travel should be about: authentic experiences and meaningful connections.

In a world where we're constantly pressured to document everything for social media, Allie's philosophy offers a different path—one where the experience matters more than the perfect shot, where authenticity trumps perfection, and where sometimes the best thing you can do is "shoot from the hip and snap."

Allie is a 28-year-old desert rat with a camera and a deep love for noticing everything. Through Allie Jorde Creative, she documents retreats, travels, and the in-between moments that often say the most.

Raised among cacti and creosote, she's built a life that moves — not out of restlessness, but reverence. She specializes in travel and retreat photography, capturing people as they really are: present, grounded, alive.

Whether she's walking dusty trails in Arizona or circling up at a retreat across the world, her work is about honoring the place, the people, and the way we show up in it. There's not a corner of the world she won't join you in.

Instagram: @alliejordecreative

Website: alliejordecreative.com