Solo travel photography: 10 tips you have to know

Take unforgettable memories even when traveling solo with these solo travel photography tips

Solo travel is amazing. Freedom, personal development, meeting new people… However, there is nothing worse than being at a long-dreamt destination, asking someone for a photo, and getting a crooked horizon, a blurry photo, or a terribly composed image. It’s been a while since I started traveling alone, and I found myself in many situations like the one described above.

Yet, this did not stop me from getting great photos from my trips. If you want to know how I did it, these are my 10 solo travel photography tips!

Ask the right people

Some people say that you should never queue behind a family with children at an airport. The same happens with solo travel photography. If you ask someone to take a photo of you, choose carefully. Not everyone is used to using a smartphone or a camera. Similarly, not everyone has an eye for photography.

My top picks of people to ask for photos are:

• people with large cameras not shooting manual
• people with tripods
• other solo travelers
• locals

My top picks of people to avoid asking for photos are:

• some elderly people
• couples in a very romantic mood
• tourist groups

As a photographer, I am used to being asked to take photos when others see me with all my gear. There are basic composition rules that are not known by everyone, and even with just a smartphone, it is possible to take good photos. If you want to learn them, check the link below!

Prepare your gear

Be prepared. People do not have infinite time to take a photo of you. When approaching someone or even setting a tripod (see below), have your gear prepared. I bet you have seen someone asking for a photo and then looking for their smartphone, preparing the camera… Approach people with a big smile and without hesitating.

Oh, and mix it with the next tip!

Show the composite (give instructions)

If you don’t want to end up with a photo you don’t like, show the composite. When you ask for a photo, show the exact composite, or give instructions about how you want the photo to look. Having a previously taken photo similar to the one you want is also a good idea.

Maybe you prefer one side of your face, or you only want a face shot, full shot, vertical, horizontal… this is the moment to say it!

Be honest

Honesty is key. Most people usually ask: is it okay? after taking a photo. If you don’t like it and would like another one, be honest and say it. It might not be a problem who is taking a photo, as there might be too many people in the background, you might not like your smile or any reason from an endless list. Thus, ask for another photo or you will regret it. Otherwise, if you think the person who took it did not understand your previous explanations, ask someone else!

Make travel friends

Solo travel is amazing. The list of benefits of traveling alone is endless. Price, convenience, freedom… However, there is something that I love about solo travel: making friends. Other fellow travelers that for a short (or not so short) period of time become part of your life. Meeting people while traveling is super easy if you know where to look at. Hostels and tourist attractions are your safest bet.

Why not ask one of your travel friends to take photos of you? Of course, this comes with a price, you should take photos of them as well.

Use a tripod

My best friend for solo travel photography is my tripod. There are some situations where it is impossible to ask for a photo. As a nature lover, I sometimes hike in remote places. Thus, when I am in a breathtaking viewpoint or when I want a photo from the peak of a mountain, it is when I take my tripod out. Besides that, it is the way to ensure having a photo with the desired composition.

Being a photographer, taking photos with a tripod is something natural. However, here you have a couple of useful tips for taking solo photos using a tripod:

• make sure you have time to reach the position where you want to be
• if using a dslr/mirrorless camera, use the intervalometer to get more than one photo
• do not leave your camera on a tripod in windy situations near cliffs/water

Even if you use a smartphone, it is possible to find compatible tripods. Plus, these are usually lighter and cheaper!

Master the selfies

The art of taking selfies. To date, selfies are still underrated. In most situations, unless you want a full-body shot, a selfie can be a perfect memory of your trip. Moreover, thanks to the always increasing quality of smartphone cameras, they can be printed and used as any other photo (taken with a smartphone).

Improve the quality of your selfies with the following tips:

• Find the favourite side of your face.
• Don’t take photos from below, also known as low-angle shots. They will distort your face. Instead, place the camera in line with your eyes or slightly higher.
• Look to the camera, smile and click!
• Be careful with the sun. If very sunny, close your eyes a couple of seconds before opening them and taking the photo.

Drone it!

Far away are the days when having a drone was something unreal. Nowadays drones are affordable and easy to fly, small enough to be part of your luggage, and perfect for insane photos and videos. Make sure you respect the local drone laws. Besides that, do not hesitate and take unique photos from a different point of view

Take more than one photo

Although this can be a very obvious solo travel photography tip, it is essential to remember it in all situations. Especially when asking someone to take a photo. I always say something like: “take more than one, so that I don’t have a weird face.” Nonetheless, even with a tripod or a drone, taking more than one photo is essential. This way you will increase your chances of having a photo you like. We all blink, and it is quite easy to have a photo at a fantastic place with your eyes closed.

Memories are what really matters

The last of my solo travel photography tips is not to delete your photos. Sometimes when we take a selfie or someone takes a photo of us and we don’t like it, we delete it. This is a terrible mistake that I learned with time. Nowadays if I look at an old photo of a trip, one that I did not like because of how I looked, I no longer see the flaws. I might look different, or have a weird facial expression, but all I remember is the moment.

Of course, it might not be an Instagram-worthy photo (for some standards). However, remember that what really matters when traveling are memories, and they are what we try to capture.

These have been my 10 best solo travel photography tips. Do you have any other useful tips? Share them in the comments section! Make sure to follow me on Instagram (@aniolvisuals) for more travel photography vibes. For other inquiries, send me an email at hello@aniolvisuals.com. Check more photography tips here or in the suggested links below!