Learn how to Take your own Amazing Travel Pictures

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People always compliment me on my travel pictures (especially my travel pictures on Instagram) and wonder how I take them. I wish I always had someone with me at all times to take my travel pictures. However, that’s not very realistic. I’ve summed all my best tips and tricks to get the best travel pictures by myself! Hopefully, it can help you guys take some amazing travel content too!

Arrive Early

First of all, arrive early! This tip is my favorite one when taking any kind of pictures. Whether you are abroad, in your hometown, alone, with a group, etc. arriving early is the key to good pictures. I like taking my pictures around sunrise and/or sunset because that’s when the lighting is at its best.

At sunset, however, there are always so many people out and about (and most likely trying to take the same photo as you). That’s why I choose to skip sunset hour and aim for sunrise instead! Arrive early, plan your photos, and make sure you snap the perfect shot before all the tourists start arriving and photobombing you!

Use a Tripod and a Remote

I’ve had a tripod and a remote for a while and it’s been a real game-changer. It’s easy.. all you have to do is set up your tripod, link the remote to your phone/camera (with Bluetooth), and you’re all set! There are many tripods and remotes you can get online (especially on Amazon).

Here are a few photos I took over the years with my tripod and remote:

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Ask Strangers

If you don’t have a tripod and a remote, there is nothing wrong with asking strangers.

My best advice is to frame the photo before asking the person to take it. Frame the shot, explain it to the person, and ask them to take a few.

If you want to make sure the person takes a good photo of you, offer to take a photo of them first and make sure it’s a really good one! If you are kind and open enough to offer them a picture, they are usually happy to return the favor. Establishing a real and genuine connection is always the best way to get someone to do you a favor.

Use Burst Mode

If you want to take amazing pictures of yourself, burst mode will be your best friend. We all know how long it takes to finally get the perfect shot we’ve been working so hard for. With burst mode, you’ll save so much time. The best way to set this up (with either a phone or a camera), is to set up the timer and adjust the settings to take pictures every other second.

If you are using a camera, using the time-lapse function will be very useful. I love this function because it makes the pictures look so candid and natural (it allows you to move, laugh, smile, walk, etc).

If you are using a phone and a remote, you can definitely take as many pictures as you want by clicking on the remote. I use this technique to mimic the actual burst mode. You can also set up a timer like on a regular camera.

Here is an example of why I love burst mode so much:

Learn how to Pose

Okay so learning how to set up your camera with a tripod and a remote or asking a stranger are the easy parts. Now that you’ve mastered that, you need to know how to pose.

Since you can’t see the picture being taken, it’s important to know your angles. Knowing how to make yourself look your best is key. If you aren’t very comfortable in front of a camera yet, don’t worry. There are many ways you can practice and eventually feel more comfortable and confident.

I believe we should all know our best faces and what works for us when in front of the camera. Faces can be practiced in front of a mirror like models do! It may sound silly but it really helps to see yourself and find out how you look/feel your best.

When it comes to your body positioning, you need to experiment. You can practice posing when you have someone there to take your photos (try having someone honest that can help you and give you reel feedback). Choose a few go-to poses and recreate them over and over again (with a subtle twist each time).

This is how I learned to pose and found my best angles. Since then, I find taking pictures way easier and way more enjoyable.

Don’t Worry About People’s Judgment

How embarrassing is it to be taking pictures of yourself in front of a group of strangers? I think as travelers, we’ve all been there. However, over the years, you learn to just embrace the moment and not worry about people’s judgments.

To be honest, the feeling of not having the perfect photo you wanted is a lot worse than the feeling of having a few people look at you for 10 minutes. These people have no idea who you are and will most likely forget they even saw you anyways.

If you really want to learn how to take your own travel pictures, fear of judgment is something you have to overcome. So just do your thing and get that perfect travel shot you’ve been dreaming of!

READ: HOW TO STAY HEALTHY WHILE TRAVELING

Have fun

This seems quite obvious, but I often see people forgetting to have fun while taking pictures (or taking it too seriously). We all want the perfect photo for our social media, blog, or family album, but we have to enjoy the process.

Be part of the picture, feel it, and live it! If you don’t feel good or are not getting the photo you want, switch spots, and move on! Creating beautiful content is difficult but it should always stay fun. If it’s starting to feel more like a burden, you are definitely doing something wrong.

If your pictures don’t turn out perfectly after the first try.. it’s okay because we are all on the same boat! Let me share a few of my “not so good” photos.

So here it is, my guide to taking the perfect travel photo while traveling alone (or with your friends). I personally love taking pictures. It is so fun to learn how to take my own pictures without depending on anyone.

It definitely takes a bit of practice to get the perfect shot. With time and with the tools I’ve outlined in this article, you should be able to learn pretty fast. Also, please never forget to have fun with the whole process!

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