Brits take 100 holiday snaps; but two thirds never see the light of day
EDITORIAL USE ONLY Betty-Leigh (6) and Lee Allinson from Hertfordshire playing at the launch of David LloydÕs new luxury all-inclusive Glamping retreat at their Hampton club, London. Issue date Wednesday August 11, 2021. PA Photo. The exclusive breaks have been gifted to the families as part of a trial run, with attendees chosen as the most deserving of a holiday, through public nominations and via the Captain Tom Foundation. Photo credit should read: Matt Alexander/PA Wire
Brits take an average of over 100 photos and videos during a typical week-long holiday abroad – but two thirds of them never make it beyond the camera roll, new research reveals.
The poll of 2,000 UK adults by London Stansted Airport found just 32% of photos taken on holiday are used, whether they’re shared with friends, posted online, printed or added to a photo album.
The research also found young people start capturing their holidays before they’ve even taken off, with one in five Gen Z (20%) photographing the airport, compared to just 3% of those aged 65 and over.
Once abroad, landscapes and scenery top the nation’s shot list (58%), followed by famous landmarks (51%) and pictures of family and friends (41%).
Social media is also shaping how holidays are captured, with products like phone mounts and selfie sticks becoming popular items found in passenger suitcases, allowing them to create content on the go.
Younger passengers are driving the picture-taking trend. Those aged 25-34 take an average of 127 photos and videos during a week’s holiday, more than double the 61 captured by over-65s.
While smartphones remain the camera of choice for most, nostalgia is enjoying a revival, with more than half of 18-24s (52%) also using instant or disposable cameras while travelling.
That appetite for retro photography is also evident at London Stansted Airport, where Fujifilm Instax film packs and disposable cameras accounted for more than half of all camera-related purchases at airport store InMotion over the past year.
Stephanie Chaker, Retail Marketing Lead from London Stansted Airport, said: “For many people, the holiday experience begins the moment they step into the airport.
“From a quick selfie at departures to a photo from the window seat, people are capturing memories before they’ve even taken off.
“It’s interesting to see that alongside smartphones, passengers are also rediscovering instant and disposable cameras, perhaps because having fewer, more tangible photos makes each one feel a more meaningful.”
