How to capture perfect pictures while solo travelling

Traveling is one of life’s greatest gifts. The opportunity to see somewhere new and explore another part of the world is truly special, particularly in these times. Sometimes, our trips are with family members and close friends and other times, we go at it alone, armed with nothing but a passport, hotel reservations and a great camera.

While solo traveling is incredibly rewarding, it can often be a bit lonely – especially when it comes to snapping the perfect picture in front of beautiful scenery and iconic landmarks. While you may not have someone with you to take your dream pictures or to help make sure you get everything you want in an image, you can still capture the perfect picture on your own. Below, you will find some of the best tried, trusted and proven tips on how to get perfect pictures while solo traveling.

Use your self-timer

This is one of the easiest methods to capture the perfect shot, as almost every camera in the world has a self-timer feature. Essentially, a self-timer allows you to press the shutter first and then gives you some time to set up your shot. It takes multiple photos as well, allowing you to choose the best ones without actually being behind the camera at all – perfect for solo travel!

Self-timer shots are perfect for those action shots we see all over Instagram – you know which ones (the jumping shots are particularly popular). The only real downside to the self-timer method is that you will likely have to run back and forth to properly frame your shot, but it’s well worth it to secure the perfect picture.

Use a tripod

A lot of solo travellers tend to shy away from tripods as it gives them an extra piece of equipment to carry around with them. However, there are smaller tripods on offer these days that are quite compact and can be folded up to fit in a backpack. They are generally quite light as well, so add almost no extra weight to what you would ordinarily be carrying around with you on your travels.

Tripods can be your best friends when it comes to solo travel photography. They act as a much-needed extra set of arms, allowing you to be hands-free and affording you the freedom to do whatever you want to in your photographs. Furthermore, they allow for a steady shot, which means crisper, cleaner images. Pair your tripod up with a remote shutter and you’re all set! A remote shutter is a wireless device that triggers your camera shutter without you even having to touch the camera. They are quite affordable and make your life so much easier when it comes to travel photography.

Embrace the selfie stick

When selfie-sticks first came out, they were given a fair bit of bad press as they were quickly banned from many popular attractions due to the fact that they would often obstruct views for other visitors. However, many of these bans have since been lifted and the trusty selfie-stick has become a firm favourite photography tool for solo travellers around the world.

Sure, the selfie-stick may immediately alert local residents to the fact that you’re a tourist, but who cares? Just embrace it. Travelling is truly a blessing and a luxury, so you will be forgiven for fully indulging in the experience. Take your selfie stick along and snap away at every possible opportunity – just as long as it’s not still banned from the sites you’re visiting.

Know what you want from a shot

Having all of the necessary equipment for taking solo shots is great, but there is no point in having all of it if you’re not entirely sure about what it is you want from each shot. Think about what you would like to capture in your image. Have a clear vision about what you want to share with others about your travel.

Perhaps you want to stick to a certain colour palette, or perhaps you want to make sure you get the full castle in the background – whatever it may be, take a second to visualise it before you start photographing. This will go a long way in helping you get the pictures you actually want and will save you plenty of time as well.

Ask for help

One of the easiest ways to get photos of yourself while traveling solo is to ask a stranger. Generally, in areas and at sites that are attractions, there will be plenty of other tourists about, many of whom will be more than happy to help you snap the perfect shot. Who knows? Maybe you’ll even end up helping each other out and you can snap pictures of them too!

Don’t be afraid to ask for help from those around you – this is an excellent way not only to have another set of eyes and hands to help you get the perfect shot, but you might just make a few new like-minded friends too!

Wake up early

Waking up early while you’re on vacation may be the very last thing you want to do some days, but on the days that you want to go to popular tourist sites, try to wake up as early as possible. The key to avoiding rush hours and large crowds that could ruin your perfect shot is getting there long before everyone else does.

By waking up early and arriving at a certain site long before others do, you help ensure that your experience is not rushed, that you have plenty of time to relax, visit this site and capture the images that you want. And you have the added bonus of playing with the morning sun in all of your images. Once you’ve captured exactly what you wanted to, you can take the rest of the day to relax and explore at a leisurely pace without having to worry about standing in long queues and wasting any of your precious time on foreign soil.