Travelling alone is one of the most rewarding experiences you can gift yourself—it\’s freeing, eye-opening, and full of adventure. But one question always comes up: how to take photos while travelling solo. After all, if there are no pictures, did you really go?
Contrary to what you might think, your favourite travel influencers don’t always have a photographer following them around. Most are pros at getting creative with their setups. In this guide, we’ll show you practical ways to capture stunning photos while travelling alone, so you don’t return home with just selfies.
“Solo travel is one of the most rewarding experiences you can gift yourself—it\’s freeing, eye-opening, and full of adventure.”
How to take photos while travelling solo: A guide
Plan your shots
It might sound a bit serious, but a little preparation goes a long way.
Research photo spots
Before you head out, get on Instagram, Pinterest, or TikTok for photo inspiration. Check out photos from the places you\’re visiting and save your favourites to a mood board. You don’t have to limit yourself to your exact destination—if you’re going on a beach vacation, search for any beach photos and get inspired by the angles and styles you’d love to recreate.
Pack the right gear
Don’t worry, your smartphone can work wonders with a little creativity. But if you want to step it up a notch, you’ll need these essentials:
- Tripod: It must be sturdy and lightweight.
- Clip-on phone light: It’s great when you need clear photos in places with bad lighting
- Gimbal: For steady videos.
Best solo travel photography hacks
Now to the main stuff—how to capture the best photos of yourself while travelling.
Use your camera’s timer or burst mode
Your camera’s timer will be your best friend on a solo trip so get comfortable using it to set up your shots. Burst mode (or live photos if you’re using an iPhone) captures multiple frames, so you have plenty to choose from. No more rushing back to check if the shot came out okay—you’ll have tons to pick from.
Use your environment
No tripod, no worries! Solo content creators know that a mug, rock, or even a park bench can make the best “tripod.” Play around with different angles and heights by setting your phone or camera on available objects, and let the creativity flow. You’d be surprised what works!
Ask a friendly stranger
One of the simplest solo travel photography hacks is to ask a stranger. Yes, it can feel awkward at first, but trust me, most people are more than happy to take your picture if you ask. Just be clear about what you want before handing over your camera. A simple, “Can you get the building in the background and keep me in the centre?” goes a long way in helping them capture your vision. And here’s a bonus: solo travellers tend to help each other out. Offer to take someone else’s picture in exchange for them snapping yours. You might even make a new travel buddy!
Ask local guides
If you’re using a local guide on your trip, don’t hesitate to ask them to snap some photos. With content creation becoming such a big part of travel, many guides are pros at this by now. Some even offer it as an add-on service.
Video screen grabs
One of the best solo travel photography hacks is using video screen grabs. It\’s a trick many solo travellers overlook. If your phone or camera supports 4K resolution, try recording a video instead of taking photos. Throughout the video, strike all the poses you want, then later, pause the video and screenshot your favourite moments. Thanks to the 4K quality, those screen grabs will be crisp and just as good as regular photos.
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Quick photography tips for you (and the people you ask)
Here are a few basic tips to help make your travel photos better:
- Rule of Thirds: Place points of interest (like your face or a landmark) in one-third of the frame to create a more balanced and visually appealing composition.
- Lighting: Always position the camera so the light is behind it, shining onto you or another subject. This avoids unflattering shadows.
- Upside-down camera angle: Flip your phone upside down and hold it close to the ground. This will create a dramatic low-angle shot that adds a really cool depth and scale to your photos.
- Experiment with exposure settings: Adjust the exposure for challenging lighting situations, like sunsets or cloudy days, to bring out more detail in your shots.
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Embrace imperfections
Some of the best travel photos are the imperfect ones. A blurry shot of you laughing or your shirt blowing in the wind might not be what you planned, but they’ll capture the vibe of the moment perfectly. You’ll look back on those and feel the magic of the trip all over again.
Stay safe while capturing your adventures
Of course, none of this is worth it if you don’t make it home safely with your camera intact! Try to shoot in less crowded spots or early in the morning when fewer people are around. Always keep an eye on your gear and don’t set your camera too far away—you don’t want your equipment becoming part of someone else’s trip.