A Travel Journal Illustrated with Sketched Photos

A travel journal makes a trip last. Adding sketch-style pictures gives it the feel of an artist's notebook, with no drawing needed.

What to include

Element	Ideas
Daily notes	where you went, what you saw and ate
Sketched photos	a landmark, a street, a view
Tickets and receipts	small mementos to stick in
Small maps	hand-drawn or printed routes
Quotes and overheard phrases	words you loved
Local words	new vocabulary you picked up

Capture on the go

1. Take photos as you travel, with an eye for simple subjects: doorways, market stalls, rooftops, a café table.
2. Note the place and time as you go, in your phone or a notebook.
3. Choose your favourites each evening.
4. Apply a sketch effect to a few of them.

Choosing what to sketch

• Places that summarise the day: a viewpoint, a station, a market.
• Small details: a tiled wall, a bowl of fruit, a sign.
• People and moments, with permission.
• Skip the crowded, blurry shots.

Layout ideas

• One big sketch and a paragraph per day.
• A page of small sketches like a contact sheet.
• A route map with sketches at each stop.
• Before and after: the photo and its sketch beside each other.

Digital or paper

• Paper journal: print small pictures, glue them in, and add handwritten notes.
• Digital journal: use a photo book or a simple document, and add text.

Prompts to write

• What was the first thing I noticed today?
• What did I eat, and how did it taste?
• Who did I meet?
• What surprised me?
• What would I do differently?

Keep it manageable

You don't have to fill every day. A few good pages for each trip will be treasured.

Practical tips

• Back up photos while travelling.
• Be mindful of data when uploading; wait for Wi-Fi.
• Respect privacy and local customs when photographing people and places.
• Keep originals of your photos.

Sharing

A short selection of sketched pictures makes a lovely way to share a trip with family and friends, without overwhelming them with hundreds of photos.