As I looked through my grandmother’s travel photos, I couldn’t help but notice that she was never in any of them. Like me, she preferred to stand behind the lens and I suspect she probably felt vain or strange asking people to take photos of her. I feel the same way sometimes, or at least I used to.
Little by little, I came to feel sad that year after year I was hardly in any of my photos. I was always content to be behind the lens and finally realized, anyone could have been there, anyone could have taken that.
Over the past year, I’ve put a concerted effort into being in my photos and putting other people in my photos more. Now when I look back on them, I find they’re much more interesting than landscape photos without a person to show scale or inspire intrigue.
I don’t mean to say “I’m wonderful and everyone just loves looking at me,” but rather, humans can make a photo more interesting.
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Consider the example below. If my friend had not gone swimming at that exact moment, (and had I not grabbed my camera to sneak candid photos of her like some kind of paparazzo), this would just be another sunset beach, but she adds an emotional element to it:
So how do I manage to be in my photos if I travel solo 99% of the time? I get questioned on this a lot on my Instagram account, so here is the full answer, and how you can do the same on your travels:
Get Equipment that is high quality and easy to use
I wish I had used a nice camera rather than my phone for photos during the earlier days of my travels. My photos would have been so much better! Cell phone photos are better these days than they were even four years ago, but they really can’t compare with what a high-quality camera can capture.
- GoPro: especially if you want an affordable and resilient camera that takes great photos in all kinds of lighting situations without you needing to know how to mess with the settings.
- My Camera is awesome for whatever level you’re at: It can communicate with my phone (which I can use to see what it’s taking a photo of, great for selfies!) and has a bunch of programs that make it super easy to use. It’s also lightweight and takes super sharp photos.
Stop Caring if Others See You Taking Selfies
I feel awkward and like everyone’s staring at me when I take selfies. But the downside of leaving a place with no photos of myself in it is greater than the temporary shame I might feel from the stares of a few perfect strangers.
So I decided not to care if people look at me and judge because I’m posing or running to get in place for a timer selfie. The less I care, the better the photos turn out, and the less I even notice if anyone’s around because I’m busy thinking about how to frame the shot.
I’m probably never going to see any of those random people again, anyways.
Do something in the photo
In order to feel more comfortable in my photos, I do something silly. One day I hope I’m comfortable enough in front of a camera to smize at it, but for now, I like to dance, do yoga, frolic, or jump in my photos.
I know it seems weird, but it actually helps with relaxing in front of the camera. My friend Kelsey in Namibia said to me, “You know I never liked being in photos before, but when we frolic or dance it’s interesting and I like those photos of myself.”
Embrace the frolic:
Set it up yourself then ask someone else to take it
I often get the complaint that when others ask someone to take a photo of them, it comes out badly. There are a few ways to ensure that whoever takes your photo, it’s likely to come out looking good:
- Ask someone with a camera around his/her neck to take your photo. If he/she paid for an expensive camera, chances are better that he/she learned how to use it properly. This person is also unlikely to run off with your camera if she already has one herself. Best practice is to offer to take a photo for that person before asking. Maybe she’ll even offer back without you needing to ask!
- Ask them to hold it in that exact position and take it for you. Compose the shot before you even ask, and tell them exactly what you plan to do in it so that all of the artistic direction is already dictated by you and not by them.
- Ask someone else if the first time isn’t to your liking. Politely wait for that person to walk away, then try again. It takes an extra five minutes but might result in the perfect photo.
Timer settings and remotes
Part of getting over feeling weird in photos for me was just to take them of myself until I got comfortable with being in front of the camera. If someone else is taking my photo I immediately look less natural. This is why, even if others are around, I still prefer a selfie.
I used to just balance the camera on something and then set the timer and get — sometimes by running — into the position.
In the example below, I ran up and down stone steps no fewer than six times to get that shot:
Get a tripod
I resisted a tripod for three years before finally buying one. I figured that they would compromise my ability to travel carry-on only and that it would also be heavy and maybe even expensive. It turns out that Amazon makes one for under $24 plus it’s super light. Besides, it’s really the only way to get awesome night time and long exposure shots.
In these situations, the camera needs to be still, so hand-holding isn’t possible. I used to balance my camera on anything nearby. However that was a full-bodied DSLR Nikon camera and it could handle being balanced (and the occasional drop). My new camera is much lighter and I love that thing more than a logical person should love an inanimate object so new baby gets a tripod. (If you’d like to read all about my camera gear and photo-taking techniques, check out this post)
Selfie sticks are okay (really)
These are all taken with a GoPro:
I was a bit self-conscious the first few times I used a selfie stick. It felt really dorky and feared it made me appear excessively preoccupied with myself. Then I realized that the photos can be pretty cool using one of those, and if no one else is around or you’re in a place where you can’t use a tripod, what else are you supposed to do, really?
I know some people who see me posing with it might be silently judging me for taking selfies with a selfie stick, but I also don’t care. I don’t know them, I won’t see them again. I will have that picture of myself in that beautiful place forever, though. Here are some situations where that selfie-stick are necessary:
Where’s he supposed to put a tripod (also is anyone else going ‘Dear God, noooope!’ looking that photo?)
I used it creatively here by swinging it over my shoulder.
Get a remote
My cameras have the capability to let me use my phone as a remote control which I often use when taking selfies and/or long exposure shots. I love this capability because then I can see exactly what the camera sees before pressing the button and taking the photo. That’s a big advantage when I’m not standing behind the viewfinder because I want to be in the photo. I use this with my GoPro as well, which is how I got this photo:
Pro tip: If you don’t want your phone in your hand for the photo, set it to a 10-second timer and put the phone down or in your pocket while the seconds are counting down.
If your camera doesn’t have the phone capability, get a cheap remote (they’re easy to set up), and take photos with that. Plus, they’re easy to hide in the photo thanks to the small size.
Now you have all my secrets! I hope you’ll embrace the selfie, see that it’s not a vain way to take photos, and maybe give a few of these ideas a try yourself. If you do, please share them with me in the comments or on social media!
If you have any tips to add, please share them in the comments. I’m always open to learning new tricks of the trade.
Further Reading: My photography equipment and top items in my bag
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This is genius! I didn´t know about that phones could be used as a remote! And I always have problems taking selfies. And I always hate when people take pictures of me, but dancing ecc in the picture is such a great idea! It´s not that boring picture of someone smiling, but a photo of someone being alive and doing something!
THANK YOU! Just to be curious: I am looking for a new little camera to take with me everywhere: how is your new camera? I googled it and it looks great, but maybe knowing something more from someone actually using it would be more helpful!
Thanks!
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Hey Arianna, I go into a lot more detail here about why I like the camera and would recommend it, hope it helps! https://www.bemytravelmuse.com/how-to-improve-my-travel-photography/
Absolutely whole-heartedly agree. I just bought the same camera that you’re now using this past weekend. Thanks for the timer/phone tip. I’ll be sure to look into it. Great post!
For sure! Be sure to mess with the settings because I noticed when I use my phone for some reason it doesn’t shoot in RAW format so when I’m back to civilization and have time to mess with it I’ll def be fixing that.
Nice ideas! My hubby and I NEVER have pictures of ourselves but we are trying to be better at it. I still refuse to use a selfie stick though! 🙂
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I’ve noticed you were in a lot more of your photos recently (as I’ve been silently judging you for using the selfie stick).
I still stay out of my photos, but I have a good reason: I’m just far too good looking, to be honest. I’m trying to highlight the natural beauty of my surroundings with my photos, not outshine it.
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Understandable, the world just isn’t ready.
… and embrace the selfie stick!
It can be hard to into the mentality of taking travel photos of yourself – especially when you wander solo. Hopefully, I can gradually start to make the change too. Thanks for sharing the tips.
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I love your pictures and will for sure try a few of your tips on my next trip! I’m curious to hear what camera you have that is so light and takes amazing pics…my dslr makes great pictures, but is bulky and quite heavy to carry around.
It’s here! https://www.bemytravelmuse.com/how-to-improve-my-travel-photography/
These are some fantastic tips! I’m also so self conscious when taking selfies…I feel like a total tool. But then my mom yells at me when there are no pictures with me in them. I definitely need to look into using my phone as a remote for my gopro though! Genius.
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Great tips, Kristin.
I’ve also been guilty of not being in ANY of my travel photos for many, many years. In my last trip alone I decided to make an effort and started using my camera’s timer. I still can’t get myself to bring a tripod (even though I have one!), but you can often find suitable places to lay your camera on.
I also did what I never thought I would and bought a selfie stick. Like you say, the first two days I felt self-conscious about using it, but after that I didn’t care any more. The good thing about the selfie-stick is if you lean it against something, it can double as a monopod of sorts for taking photos and shooting video with your phone.
I still need more practice to get nice results like the ones you showed, but at least I came back with some photos of myself that I’ll be glad to look at in the future. Also, my family were quite happy to see me on some photos for a change!
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I love this! I’m so embarrassed to take selfies, so i hardly have any photos of when I’ve travelled solo! 🙁 Thank you for the great tips! 🙂
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These are great tips! I always feel like a dork when I’m in my own photos but I’m always sad when I’m in so few. I get self-conscious when I ask strangers help me take a yoga photo. Thinking I just need to suck it up or forever stay behind the lens.
Just suck it up! Tell yourself you’re never going to see that person again so who cares? I also started offering to take and edit photos for my travel friends if they’re willing to put in the time to go on little photo adventures with me and take my picture too. They’re usually so happy with the result that the next time I ask around the group, I have several excited volunteers.
Finally a post that will help me embrace my inner model! Kidding! But you are so right about the people around me never seeing me again, plus isn’t this the time of our lives to embrace the fact we work hard to be in the places we are, doesn’t that justify all our lovely selfies!?
Amazing post! Thanks for sharing this! I love the frolicking pics….seriously so cute!
I also wanted to tell you how much I love your blog. I find your personality really shines through, and you seem to have a beautiful soul!
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Thanks so much Maria! Glad that’s communicated through the photos, and I’m so glad you found the post helpful.
Great tips Kristin. No wonder your photos are always so beautiful and storytelling.
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Thanks so much!
I get kinda’ embarrassed about talking photos of myself, but since I travel solo, I barely ever have photos of myself in things. Number 1 tip for me from this is just ignore other people like you said. Won’t ever see them again. And I’ll actually be able to be in my photos haha. I’ve found some creative ways to use a selfie stick for photos and video, but almost never for actually taking selfies haha. Love that over-the-shoulder shot though, totally stealing it =P And I really need to invest in a portable tripod finally, that Aurora shot is jaw-dropping Kristin. Rad tips especially for someone who is never in photos like myself!
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Do you ever worry about some stealing your camera when you set it up on a tripod?
The only situations where I’d do that is somewhere out in nature rather than a city. The London long exposure shot was actually in a super crowded area but with a gorilla pod – my friend Steve set it up on top of a sidewalk barrier and stood right around it as he took the photo. If it was a full-sized tripod in such a crowded area it wouldn’t have been possible
Hey miss!
I was wondering what image settings you use for your GoPro as you don’t have that “ended horizon” in your shots at all? Or do you “cure” that when editing?
I definitely need to look into getting a remote. Unfortunately, my camera doesn’t work with my phone (I think), but my GoPro does (I think – I clearly need to check this:D).
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You mean the curve from the fish-eye lens? It depends on how you hold the camera and the angle. You can see as you take the photo how it’s going to end up. I also only use the GoPro when I can see a natural bend or curve in the landscape and know that the GoPro would be the best possible camera to use to encompass and enhance it. I’d say it’s appropriate for 10-15% of my photos and the rest of the time my Sony is the better choice 🙂
Yups, I meant the curve!
I also prefer using my camera but find that hard to mount on a selfie stick. For selfies, I still love the GoPro:)
Thanks!
tripod!
great tips
AHHH!! This post is amazing. I never realized you were by yourself during these trips! I always actually thought to myself “how nice she has someone to snap pictures of her.” I recently took my frist trip abroad – I had been dreaming of the trip for about ten years. I was heartbroken when I came home, and the reactions from friends and family were lackluster because I wasn’t in the pictures. My mom told me it was almost as if I had never gone, because I have no proof that I was actually there. I guess I have to live with it, but these are great ideas for next time! 🙂
Well they’re still your memories and I’m sure the pics are awesome regardless. I also started to offer whoever I’m randomly with to take and edit their photo if they’re willing to take the time to go on a photo walk with me. I did that in Mozambique and at first I kind of had to coax them into it but after they saw the photos I suddenly had EVERYONE volunteering to go with me because they ended up with awesome photos too! I’d stage the photo with them in it then tell them exactly where to hold the camera to take my photo. Worked brilliantly.
I really enjoy this post because I feel usually feel a little weird in front of the camera too so there is quit a few of me jumping. I will try dancing next time =)
Love this post! I travel alone a lot and I’m the worst with posing for pictures… your tips make it easier to practice by myself and don’t get ‘double chin’ photo’s all the time I’m taking a selfie…
Ah the dreaded double chin! I get it too 😉
Basically i don’t like to take photos. Only if my family members are gathered i go for taking photos. i don’t like to go front of camera to take self image. But you showed the tips as i interested to take selfies and images with those poses. highly recommended
Arent you afraid that someone is going to swipe your camera when it is counting down the self timer? that’s my one concern!
I wouldn’t do it in cities or places where theft might occur. That’s more for nature situations.
Absolutely love how you use the selfie stick over your shoulder! Am going to try it for my next trip as well!
Yea, selfie sticks are just like another gadget to play with.
There is no point to feel irritated about it. New tools are always
created to solve problems, and selfie stick is one of them.
Hello! I know my comment is a year too late but I just came across this article and absolutely appreciate the tips! The one of putting the selfie stick behind your back is genius! Why haven’t I thought of that before haha. And your IG pics are really beautiful. Taking full shots of yourself (well,, myself) is something I don’t have a lot of experience with other than selfies. I definitely want a remote now.
A timer works really well too until you get a remote! You can also use your phone as one if you have a camera with Wifi capabilities like the gopro or the sony that I have!
Fantastic tips! We travel as a family so there are always plenty of hands for photos, but recently I found myself at a lose because I went to New York City with hubby. He was in business meetings all day and I ventured out into the city by myself. Alone I found myself wondering how to get good photos. I had my phone and a camera. I took selfies and had people take photos of me.
Mercy! My face looks fat and puffy because taking a selfie using just my arm has the camera WAY too close to my face!! LOL! Then, as you suggested I asked people who had nice cameras to take a photo of me. In short…all of my photos from that afternoon were sad and mediocre at best. Not for showing anyone. Even I don’t want to look at them! LOL!
Needless to say, I was in dire need of this article and now, armed with these tips, I’ll be able to get great photos on the rare occasion that I’m traveling alone! Thank you!!!
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Yeah the best is to just take it yourself or hold it exactly where you want it and tell them to hold it right there and take the photo, when in a big city 🙂
This is definitely a fantastic tip. I had asked Lauren Juliff at Never Ending Footsteps how she usually takes her photos and she linked me to your article. I also have always used a tripod, but I had a fear of my gear being swiped when traveling. I guess it is still mostly beneficial for rural or nature trips.
Aw that’s nice of her to send you over! I wouldn’t use a tripod in a city but in that case I’d just ask a person with a camera because they will know what they’re doing/probably won’t swipe yours.