Travel blogging has never been just about words. Long before Instagram became the place we went to find travel inspiration, there were OG travel photographers and visual storytellers capturing the world through their cameras and sharing those journeys on their blogs.
These were the original travel bloggers who understood that a single photograph could make you want to book a flight, explore a new destination or add somewhere completely unexpected to your bucket list.
They weren’t just taking pretty pictures. They were documenting their travels, sharing the places they discovered and turning their personal experiences into visual stories that inspired thousands of readers.
Many of these travel photographers were creating long before influencer culture existed, and some are still doing it today. That’s what makes this generation of OG travel bloggers so special. They didn’t just follow the travel blogging industry. They helped shape it.
travelingmitch
Christopher Mitchell
Website: TravelingMitch.com
Started travel blogging: 2010
Are you still actively travel blogging?
Yes!
What keeps you blogging after all these years?
It keeps me engaged with the world around me, continues to bring in strong income, and I feel I can continue to put eyes on places that deserve it. I’ve shifted, in some ways, from the hot spot destinations to sharing real stories and experiences that are the antithesis of AI.
How many countries have you visited?
96
Favourite destination you’ve ever visited?
Kyoto, Japan
One place still on your bucket list?
New Zealand
Biggest change you’ve seen in travel blogging since you started?
When I started, you could be just a blog, and now you need to be a media company.
Favourite blog post you’ve ever written:
Newfoundland & Labrador Travel
Carry-on only or checked luggage?
Carry on
Window or aisle seat?
Aisle
Did Covid make a difference to the blog?
It did, but it’s also what forced me to get more local. During the pandemic, I focused in on expanding two of my other brands, Ultimate Ontario and We Explore Canada.
Does AI make a difference to the blog?
Of course, we’re playing in a totally different sandbox. That being said, there’s still plenty of opportunity to be had for bloggers and creators who are comfortable with a touch more uncertainty.
AI has changed the game, but really we can look to things like the HCU Update in 2023 as the start of this era, as that truly changed everything.
One piece of advice for someone starting today?
- The only thing that’s constant in this industry is change.
- You’re “for hire,” and not “for sale.”
Finding the Universe
Laurence Norah
Website: FindingTheUniverse.com
Started travel blogging: 2010
Are you still actively travel blogging?
Yes.
What keeps you blogging after all these years?
I still enjoy being my own boss and not having to get up to an alarm (except for those early flights).
How many countries have you visited?
Um, somewhere around 60? I don’t keep track really.
Favourite destination you’ve ever visited?
The Galapagos Islands
One place still on your bucket list?
Antarctica! We had a trip booked but it was in 2020 so you can guess how that went.
Biggest change you’ve seen in travel blogging since you started?
Well, other than the pandemic, the rise of AI, the switch from blogs being these hobby things to businesses, not much really.
Favourite blog post you’ve ever written:
Best Travel Camera
So this might not be the prettiest piece of writing in the world (the Pulitzer is still on hold), but it’s my favourite thing I’ve ever published, because it’s helped so many people over the years, which is why I got into blogging.
People find it halfway through what one reader called “drowning in information,” weeks of agonising over which camera to buy, and the comments have turned into a long back-and-forth where I get to help one real person find the one camera that fits their actual life. A land artist photographing her river installations. A portrait photographer finally chasing landscapes. One reader even described what she needed, I realised I’d missed the perfect camera for it, so I added it that afternoon and credited her. The conversations I’ve had under the post helping people find what they need have made it special.
Carry-on only or checked luggage?
Checked
Window or aisle seat?
Window
Did Covid make a difference to the blog?
Yes, both negatively and positively. Negatively because during Covid no-one was traveling or reading about travel. But then positively because everyone suddenly wanted to travel. And it was all going so well until AI.
Does AI make a difference to the blog?
Yes, more than Covid I’d argue. That was a blip. AI feels like a death spiral for the internet in general. We’re still creating content (and watching AI vacumn it up to serve it to people without compensation to us for the work we put in), but I’m not sure how long this is sustainable. If there’s no incentive to create content, at some point no-one will, then it’s going to be AI all the way down.
One piece of advice for someone starting today?
Everyone will tell you it’s too late and the robots have won. I probably should too, for less competition. The reality is that right now, AI can spit out “the 10 best travel cameras of 2026” before you’ve finished your coffee. Probably before you’ve even made your coffee. This means that generic stuff is now worthless (and the internet is overflowing with it).
The only writing left standing is the kind a machine can’t fake: the thing you’ve actually done, seen, or broken yourself. So write the posts only you could write, the one with your real photos and your real mistakes in it. Then treat the comments box as your own personal townhall, and answer every single one like it’s an email from a friend. Yes, it takes time and effort. No-one said this was easy.
My most popular posts aren’t popular because I gamed a keyword. They’re popular because a decade of real people asked me real questions and I actually answered them. Be the human on the other end. That’s the one thing nobody’s automating. Yet.
The TV Traveler
Shannon Entin
Website: TheTVTraveler.com
Started travel blogging: 2011
Are you still actively travel blogging?
Yes.
What keeps you blogging after all these years?
To tell my story and preserve memories! I wrote about it here: Almost Quit Blogging
How many countries have you visited?
7
Favourite destination you’ve ever visited?
Northern Ireland
One place still on your bucket list?
Italy – I want to hike the Dolomites!
Biggest change you’ve seen in travel blogging since you started?
I think the biggest change is the lack of attention span. It’s hard to get people to read a long travel blogging story with tons of useful info – the internet is all about 30-second clips these days.
Favourite blog post you’ve ever written:
Oooo, tough one! I guess it would have to be my favorite trip: Northern Ireland Itinerary for Game of Thrones Fans
Carry-on only or checked luggage?
Carry on
Window or aisle seat?
Window
Did Covid make a difference to the blog?
Yes, because I couldn’t travel the way I wanted, but it was also an opportunity to pivot to other types of travel content – like “hometown” or “townsizing” – visiting more local, small towns.
Does AI make a difference to the blog?
Absolutely. We all know (and are probably guilty of) the ease of just reading that quick AI blurb to get an answer. People seem to be less interested in the stories and just want a summary.
But I still believe that a good travel blogger can provide so much that AI can’t and hopefully those who are interested in planning a trip will still look to travel bloggers for in-depth info.
One piece of advice for someone starting today?
Get comfortable with video, learn to deliver quality info as quickly as possible, and do it authentically for yourself – not the algorithm.
The Island Drum
Vanessa Workman
Website: TheIslandDrum.com
Started travel blogging: 2012
Are you still actively travel blogging?
yes, about 2 blog posts per month
What keeps you blogging after all these years?
Living overseas means I’m still learning something new almost every day, so I never really run out of things to write about. While many travelers now turn to Facebook groups or AI for quick answers, I still believe there’s value in firsthand, boots-on-the-ground experience. Whether I’m exploring somewhere new, figuring out a tricky visa process, or learning something the hard way, I enjoy sharing what I’ve learned so others know what to expect and can hopefully have an easier trip.
After more than a decade, my blog has also become a bit of my baby. It’s grown with me over the years, and so has my writing. I’m no natural storyteller, but I enjoy the challenge of putting my experiences into words and finding better ways to share what I’ve learned. As long as I’m still learning, exploring, and finding things worth sharing, I don’t see myself stopping anytime soon.
How many countries have you visited?
16 (I think)
Favourite destination you’ve ever visited?
Malaysia
One place still on your bucket list?
Guam
Biggest change you’ve seen in travel blogging since you started?
The biggest change I’ve seen is the rise of travel “content creation.” When I started, blogging was more about sharing information and experiences. Now, there’s more focus on creating content that performs well on social media. Short videos are great for inspiration, but there’s only so much travel information you can realistically share in 60 seconds or so. Destinations are often more complicated than a quick clip can show.
Favourite blog post you’ve ever written:
Things to Do in Alor Setar, Kedah, Malaysia
Carry-on only or checked luggage?
Checked
Window or aisle seat?
Window
Did Covid make a difference to the blog?
Nearly killed my traffic. I was at my absolute peak traffic wise and had two back-to-back FAM trips scheduled..Covid was a real sucker punch. Traffics better now, but not quite what is was pre-pandemic.
Does AI make a difference to the blog?
Yes and no. One interesting thing to do is ask AI about a destination you know well and see what kind of information it gives you back. You quickly realize that some of the answers can be questionable because AI is drawing from existing information online. It can identify patterns and pull together information, but it isn’t actually out there experiencing a place or personally vetting every source it uses.
I also think the more generic a blog post is, the easier it is for AI to produce something similar. The value of a blog is often in the firsthand experience, the practical details, and the observations that come from actually being there.
One piece of advice for someone starting today?
Don’t let others rain on your parade (or dim your sparkle).
TRAVEL PHOTO DISCOVERY
Noel Morata
Website: TravelPhotoDiscovery.com
Started travel blogging: 2010
Are you still actively travel blogging?
Yes, but not full time
What keeps you blogging after all these years?
Have other websites that are more niche
How many countries have you visited?
90
Favourite destination you’ve ever visited?
Vietnam
One place still on your bucket list?
Egypt
Biggest change you’ve seen in travel blogging since you started?
AI and Google changes
Favourite blog post you’ve ever written:
Street Foods Vietnam
Carry-on only or checked luggage?
Carry on
Window or aisle seat?
Aisle
Did Covid make a difference to the blog?
No
Does AI make a difference to the blog?
Yes
One piece of advice for someone starting today?
Find a niche your passionate about and keep at it
OG Travel Bloggers
Love discovering the stories behind the original travel bloggers? Continue exploring the OG Travel Bloggers series:
- OG Travel Bloggers Still Going: The Original Travel Bloggers Who Built An Industry
- OG Family Travel Bloggers: The Original Family Travel Bloggers Who Changed Travel With Kids
- OG Couple Travel Bloggers: The Original Travel Couples Who Built a Life Around Travel
- OG Solo Travel Bloggers: The Original Solo Travel Bloggers Who Inspired a Generation
Explore With Erin Wrap Up: Celebrating The OG Travel Photographers
What I love about these OG travel photographers is that they didn’t just tell us where they went. They showed us. Finding the Universe, Travel Photo Discovery, travelingmitch, The Island Drum and The TV Traveler have each spent years capturing the world through their own unique lens, long before Instagram turned travel photography into the industry it is today.
These original travel bloggers understood something that hasn’t changed. A great travel photograph can make you stop scrolling, dream about a destination, and start planning a trip. But the best travel photography is about more than a beautiful image. It’s about the story behind it, the person who took it, and the experience that can never quite be replicated by a machine.
From breathtaking landscapes and local discoveries to practical destination advice and the little moments that make a trip memorable, these OG travel photographers have spent years documenting the world for us to discover.
And in an age of AI-generated images, instant itineraries and endless recycled travel content, authentic photography and firsthand experiences matter more than ever. These are the OG travel bloggers who were capturing the world before algorithms decided what we should see, and thankfully, they’re still out there showing us what the world really looks like.
Because sometimes, the best way to inspire someone to travel isn’t to tell them where to go. It’s to show them why they should.
