Solo travel is a must but it’s hard to photograph yourself without someone else to shoot them for you.
Don’t fret– I share my tips on how to shoot photos of yourself when traveling alone!
The best photos taken while traveling alone are the ones that make people ask:
“You shot this by yourself? How’d you do it?”
These are the same questions I get whenever I post photos on Instagram.
All photos you’ll find in this post were taken by myself during my travels to inspire you that you can do it too. I’ve included details of how I shot each image in the description.
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Here is how to shoot Instagram-worthy travel photos of yourself while traveling solo!
Plan & Research your shots ahead of time
In order to shoot any kind of beautiful photo, planning & research is a must! Plan ahead by creating a bucket list of activities you want to experience so that way you can pack the appropriate camera gear.
TIP: Instagram & Pinterest are wonderful sources for photography planning & research!
Shoot when there’s less people around
The perfect time is usually right when these places open or when they are about to close. Although the latter is much more difficult as you have less time to work with and the sun might be down, making it harder to shoot (unless you’re going for a night shot and you want to use slow shutter speed!). Here are another 3 reasons why it’s best to shoot with less people around:
- You won’t feel as conscious taking photos of yourself if you’re not used to it.
- When you walk away from your camera to pose, you’ll feel better knowing that no one will take your camera. Especially if you plan on looking away from the camera.
- You might be able to shoot during sunrise or sunset, making your photos even more amazing.
Use a Tripod (Your New Best friend)
A tripod is staple in any solo traveler’s photography bag. You’ll really get the most use of your creative skill with a tripod because setting your camera on the ground or a nearby chair won’t do. Using a tripod also makes you much more intentional with your composition and creativity.
Here are the best travel-friendly tripods that fit in most carry-on luggages:
- AmazonBasics Lightweight Tripod with Bag – Classic tripod. Compact & light. Perfect for travel.
- TYCKA Compact Travel Tripod –Â For the traveling photographer. Heavy duty yet light & compact.
- Manfrotto PIXI Mini Tripod – Works great as a handheld or a tabletop tripod. A travel vlogger favorite.
Use Self-Timer / Remote Shutter / Time-lapse (Your other best friend that makes shooting easier)
Now that you have your camera set up, how do you press the shutter button? You have 3 options:
- Self-Timer – Very easy to use and all cameras come with it. Con: You might keep running back and forth until you get the perfect shot as self-timer only shoots 1 photo at a time.
- Remote Shutter – Works really well to know exactly when to pose because you’re physically triggering the shutter (remotely). Con: Might not work if you’re really far from your camera and don’t want a remote seen in your hands
- Time-Lapse – If you want to shoot as many photos as you can without running back & forth AND want to look natural and not too posed, this is the best option. Con: Doesn’t come with all cameras but might have an available app for download or accessory to buy depending on your camera.
Personally, I love time-lapse. I get to run around, move and pose much more candidly. I like to set mine to shoot every 1 second that way I have many photos to choose from. I’m one of those people who takes 328 selfies and only likes 1 (laughs).
SONY CAMERA USERS: Check to see if you can download the Play Memories Time-Lapse App into your camera. It’s an extra fee but totally worth it for travel selfies.
Use a selfie stick (the other best friend that you’re slightly ashamed of)
Not everyone likes it but it’s definitely taken the travel world by storm. And quite honestly, selfie sticks are amazing! They’re light, can easily fit in your purse and all in all, so easy to use that even my parents use it for their travels. It also works as a weapon if you’re traveling solo. But I do hope you don’t find yourself using it as a weapon. *prays*
Here are the best selfie-sticks you can get on Amazon:
- BlitzWolf Selfie Stick – A lighter yet steady selfie stick for digital camera & GoPro users.
- Fugetek Professional High End Selfie Stick – A sturdy selfie stick, strong enough to use for SLR users.
- Portable Universal Selfie Stick Tripod – A selfie-stick that can extend longer than most selfie sticks. It has mini legs and doubles up as a mini tripod.
Use Video (As a last option)
This is more as a last option if self-timer, remote, and time-lapse isn’t available. What I like to do is take a video of myself moving around in action and then later screen grab the image from the video and edit.
TIP: Shoot in 4k video or the highest resolution available that way your photos will be the highest quality it can be.
Use a wide angle lens
Wide angle lenses are great for close up shots and when you’re shooting with your hand. It easily works in a jiff. You’ll shoot a lot of background scenery and it comes across much more authentic and personal.
(PETITE GIRL) TIP: Use a wide angle lens in combination with a tripod and shoot upwards. You’ll make yourself appear taller!
Smile & pose (candidly)!
I’m not one for pose-y shots but I do love candid shots. Ask yourself this question, “How does this experience make me feel right now?” If it makes you want to jump for joy or sit down & relax, go for those poses! Doing this makes you much more present and in the moment with yourself. Which is why you’re traveling solo right?
TIP: Epic travel photos take a lot of time. Don’t stop shooting until you get THE shot!
Don’t let other people’s stares stop you from shooting
Here’s the thing. People WILL watch you and stare. They’ll either be obvious or sneaky about it. But in my experience, people won’t care after they figure out what you’re doing, so focus on your photography.
Besides, not only are you enjoying yourself traveling, you’re traveling solo. That makes you brave. And not one’s judgemental stares are going to stop you from doing you. (Plus you’ll most likely never see them again.)
Not necessary but proven to be useful: The Super Clamp
This is perfect for windy destinations. If you don’t want your tripod & camera to fall, keep the weight down with your bag by hanging it on a super clamp. A super clamp grips the neck of a tripod and comes with a hook attachment to hang your bag on. This is also useful if the ground isn’t ideal for you to leave your bag on (i.e. dirty floors, sand, wet mud).
Here are the best super clamps you can get on Amazon:
- Manfrotto Super Clamp – High quality & heavy duty. Perfect for SLR users.
- ChromLives Super Clamp – A little lower quality than the Manfrotto Super Clamp but much for affordable and works very well.
Embrace the bloopers
I actually always look forward to these shots because they are the most authentic shots I can get of myself when traveling alone. They’re always a laugh to back on too!
Use a preset or filter
Unless you’re a photo journalist debating the ethics of retouching, use a preset! Presets are especially useful when you want to save time & edit efficiently. You’ll find that every single photo I’ve posted here has been edited with a Lightroom preset. Here are the presets I’ve used:
Interested in achieving the same look? Sign up to my email list to get FREE access to my library of Lightroom presets (desktop & mobile). Click here to sign up!
When all else fails, ask a stranger!
Alas, sometimes these things can’t be done alone. When looking for a stranger, look for one with an SLR. Odds are they know how to shoot, compose and work your camera. Tell them to keep pressing the shutter or set your camera to High Burst Shooting mode so you have yourself a few options without having to go back and forth with them. Don’t forget to return the favor!
Hire a photographer
“Is this a little extra?” you might ask. The answer is, not at all! I’ve personally paid someone to shoot my travel photos especially when the activity calls for it. You can easily find a photographer through Airbnb Experiences AND it’s affordable!
And when there’s no stranger to ask or photographer around, ditch the camera
If the shooting conditions aren’t working in your favor or maybe you found out you brought everything except your memory card and battery (true story *sigh*), take it as a sign: put your camera away and look at what’s in front of you with an open heart. That moment right there is what makes solo travel a beautiful experience.
Conclusion
What was your biggest takeaway from this post? Share it with me in the comments below. I hope you’re inspired to shoot travel self-portraits and enjoy your travels much more!
Thank you so much for this helpful article. Looking forward for your next blog/vlog.?
You’re welcome Marnie! Thank you too
Wow Jojo! Great photos of yours. What a smart technique you used to have this amazing and perfect combination color of images. Thank you for sharing your talent continuously.
Thank you so much Bianca 🙂