One of the most rewarding parts of solo travel is realizing everything that you can accomplish all by yourself. Sure, travel is probably easier when you have a friend, partner/spouse, or family member to help with issues that arise on the road, but solo travel pushes you to overcome challenging situations on your own, which often leads to more self-confidence and self-awareness than you could have ever imagined. One question that seems to be on the top of everyone’s mind when it comes to globetrotting the world solo is “how in the heck do you take photos of yourself?!?!” I’ve been asked this question about a trillion times (especially on Instagram), so I decided to write a post about it in order to let you in on my solo travel photography secrets! Let’s do this.

[Here Are 6 Ways to Become a Solo Travel Photography Master!]

1. Start Using a Tripod ASAP

When it comes to solo travel photography, your tripod is your BEST FRIEND. It acts as your extra set of arms so you can be hands-free and have the freedom to do whatever the heck you want in your photos. It also keeps your shot super steady which means a crisper image. I have two tripods that I love:

• • JOBY Gorilla Pod – this tripod is super lightweight and compact weighing under 1 lb and is only 12 inches in length. This is my go-to tripod when space and weight in my luggage are limited. It’s also the most inconspicuous tripod I’ve found and takes two seconds to set up (and by setup, I just mean extend the legs out and voila – you’re ready to shoot). It’s definitely the best tripod if you’re moving from destination-to-destination and don’t have time to be setting up and taking down your tripod each time you want to take a photo. In fact, a lot of the time I’ll just keep the tripod attached to my camera to save time! Something else I LOVE about this tripod is that it’s flexible legs can wrap around just about anything, so if you want to get an image from a different angle, you can wrap it around a pole, a tree, or whatever else you can find! However, if you can’t find anything to wrap it around, your photo will be taken from only 12” off the ground, which may not be an ideal angle for you.
  • Mefoto Backpacker Air – this tripod is also pretty lightweight and compact for being a full-sized tripod, weighing only 2 lbs and folds down to under a foot in length. At full extension, this tripod is about 5 feet tall, which is a great height for taking photos (about the same height if you had a photographer taking the photo for you). The only downside with this tripod is that it takes up a bit more room, takes longer to setup, and is definitely less inconspicuous than the JOBY Gorilla Pod.

2. Get Yourself a Remote Shutter

So you’ve got your camera all set up on your tripod and you’re ready to become a solo travel photography master. But then you realize that there’s no one around to actually click the shutter for you… That’s where a remote shutter comes in! A remote shutter is a wireless device that triggers your camera shutter without having to touch the camera. Think of the tripod as your extra set of arms and the remote shutter as your finger that clicks the shutter on your behalf.

Most remote shutters have a “2S” button which means it gives you a two-second delay before the shutter will open. I use those extra few seconds to stash the remote in my pocket, on the ground, or hidden behind me so that it won’t show in the photo.

I have a super cheap iRunzo Remote Shutter that works great, but you can’t be too far away from your camera or the signal won’t work. Additionally, you need to point the remote directly at the camera in order for the signal to work, which means capturing photos with your back to the camera may be a little more difficult. It may be worth looking into a higher-end remote shutter with better capabilities and better range, like the Sony Wireless Remote. Please note that you need to get a remote shutter that is compatible with your camera. For example, if you have a Canon, you can’t use a Sony remote shutter – you need to get a Canon Remote Shutter.

Nowadays, many cameras (like my Sony a7) have wifi capabilities which allow a connection between the camera and your phone, turning your phone into its own wireless remote.

3. Take Advantage of Self-Timer

This method requires a little more effort than with using a remote shutter, but I actually think it’s my favorite way to take photos! Almost every camera out there has self-timer capabilities, meaning you can change the drive mode from single-shot (meaning you press the shutter and it takes 1 photo) to self-timer (meaning you press the shutter and it gives you time to set up your shot and takes multiple photos without needing to be behind the camera). 

There should be an option for self-timer continuous, which will give you up to 10 seconds to get in the frame of your shot, and then will take 3-5+ rapid-fire images in a row. This setting is THE BEST for jumping shots (my specialty) or for any photos with movement (i.e twirling). The only downside to self-timer is that you will most likely be running back and forth between your camera and the frame of your shot, but hey, who doesn’t need a little extra exercise anways!

4. Use a GoPro on a selfie stick

GoPro is my favorite camera to use for adventure travel, like hiking in the jungle of Colombia for 4 days or swimming with sea lions in Peru. It’s also great if you want to get a wide-angle shot of a beautiful landscape. GoPro has a few features that are great for solo travel photography like the GoPro App and burst mode.

GoPro App connects your GoPro to your phone via Bluetooth and allows you to set up your shot without actually looking at the camera screen – it shows you what the picture will look like right on the screen of your phone! This makes it perfect for those “back of the head” shots we love so much on Instagram. I like to use the Go Pro 3-Way Grip as my selfie stick for these shots.

Burst mode is a setting on your GoPro that allows you to shoot hands free (kind of like self-timer but with more control over how many photos and how often they will take). For example, you can set the shooting options to 10/3 meaning 10 photos every 3 seconds, or you can slow it down to 1/5 meaning 1 photo every 5 seconds. This mode is great for capturing action shots like cliff jumping, though for that I would put the settings at 10/1 so that you won’t miss anything while jumping!

5. Don’t Be Afraid to Ask For Help!

Solo travel photography doesn’t always have to mean that you do it alone – you’ll be surprised to find just how willing people are to help you out. It’s a common theme when traveling solo! I typically try to find someone with a DSLR or mirrorless camera around their neck, as that tells me that they most likely know how to use it.

A key factor when asking someone else to take your photo is communication – don’t be afraid to tell them exactly how you want the photo to look. Make sure the settings are correct, your zoom isn’t on, and then show them whether you want it portrait or landscape. Sometimes I’ll even ask them to make sure the frame includes my shoes and the sky so that the photo isn’t cropped. Basically, frame the shot for them!

If there’s a language barrier and you’re not able to explain in words how you want the shot, explain with and gestures and a smile! Trust me, I’ve done this a time or two, and it’s amazing how far a smile will go – it’s a universal language after all 🤗. I swear some of my favorite photos from my travels have come from complete strangers who didn’t even speak the same language as me!

Note: As a courtesy, make sure to offer to take their photo as well!

6. Leverage Your Surroundings

No tripod or remote shutter on hand? No people around? NO PROBLEM! You can use just about anything to prop up your camera as a makeshift tripod. I’ve balanced my camera on a wooden pole, set it up on a pile of rocks, leaned it against my backpack on the ground – you name it! 

In combination with using self-timer, it’s possible to capture some cool photos even without any extra gear. In fact, when you think outside of the box and get creative, you can achieve some really interesting angles.

Disclaimer: Please note that this method is risky, and there’s a chance that you will damage your equipment. Please practice this method at your own risk!!!

Listen, it will feel super awkward taking photos of yourself at first and people will most definitely stare/give you what-the-hell-are-you-doing looks. But guess what? You’re likely never going to see them again and you’re going to have some epic travel photos, so who cares! You probably won’t remember the person staring or the embarrassed feeling, but you WILL look at your photos and remember beautiful experiences from your travels. It’s completely natural to feel uncomfortable at first, but don’t let it hold you back from capturing moments that you’re going to look back on for years to come.

Should we start a solo travel photography hashtag? #solotravelphotographytribe 😏

List of Gear I Use for Solo Travel Photography:

To make thing easier, here is a comprehensive list of all the gear I use for my solo travel photography. From what camera I use, to the lens I love, to tripods, remote shutters and other gear I mentioned in the post above – it’s all listed below!

• • • Camera: Sony a7
    • Lens: Rokinon 35mm lens
    • Tripods: Gorilla Pod, Mefoto Backpacker Air
    • GoPro: Hero 4, Hero 5
    • Selfie Sticks: Go Pro 3-Way Grip
    • Remote Shutters: iRunzo, Sony Wireless Remote (specifically for Sony cameras)
    • Camera Bag: MegaGear Messenger
    • Camera Accessories: MegaGear Camera Strap, Backup Batteries & Charger

  
  

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Wander On,

Wanderluluu xx