NEW Solo Traveler Selfie Guide: Check out these 4 suggestions for stepping up the getting iconic selfies

1,949 words, 10 minutes read time.

When I post a photo on Instagram, I usually get at least one comment or DM asking, “Okay, but who’s taking all your photos when you’re traveling?” And I wish I had a more exciting answer—like, “Oh, just a handsome Italian man I met over espresso.” Sadly, that’s not the case (but yes, I’m manifesting it). Alas, the solo traveler selfie guide was born, recently updated with practical tips!

Why is it important to get incredible travel portrait photos?

Before I get into how I actually get my photos while solo traveling, I want to talk about why I think it’s important to be in your own travel photos. This is something I care a lot about, and it really goes back to my very first international trip. I studied abroad in Italy in the summer of 2011, and it was one of those pivotal experiences that shaped who I am. You’re here reading my travel blog, so clearly that trip had a lasting effect.

I spent a month in the heart of Tuscany and took tons of pictures- but hardly any with me in them. Most were scenic shots or blurry attempts at being artsy with my food. Sure, I’ve got a few memorable ones—like me in a gondola in Venice or that time a group of older Italian men pinched my cheeks because they thought I was adorable- but for how life-changing that trip was, I ended up with barely any proof that I was even there. I didn’t have a smartphone yet either, so selfies weren’t an option. Wild, I know.

That’s why I always encourage people: get in your own photos. Don’t just capture where you are- capture yourself there. Otherwise, it might as well be a stock photo.

So yeah, I have strong feelings on the subject. 

Now that we’ve got my lecture out of the way, let’s delve into the newly updated solo traveler selfie guide. I have done all of these methods, so they are tried and tested by yours truly. No blind suggestions here!

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Solo Traveler Selfie Guide: Invest in a tripod and a remote!

If you’re a solo traveler and you read nothing else in this solo traveler selfie guide, just take this one piece of advice: get yourself a tripod and a remote. Seriously, it’s a game-changer for taking self-portraits on the road.

Before I had my trusty tripod and remote, I was out here balancing my phone or Canon camera on fences, rocks, benches- whatever semi-flat surface I could find- and relying on the self-timer. And let me tell you, that got old fast. Running back and forth to reset the timer, hoping the angle wasn’t terrible, trying not to trip over my own feet… yeah, not ideal. And spoiler alert: most of those camera angles were not doing me any favors.

Now, I’m not saying you can’t get a decent shot without gear. I’ve definitely gotten lucky here and there- like when I went to the UK. I left my tripod at home by accident and made due with my Apple Watch as a remote and propping my phone on my rental car and a duffle bag.

Option 1: tripod and remote for your smartphone

If you are looking for the first foray into the tripod self-portrait, I recommend you invest in a smartphone tripod. I used this method pretty much exclusively for my first solo European trip with the included Bluetooth remote. This is great for the budget-conscious traveler because the tripod/remote is CHEAP! The exact tripod I used with my iPhone is to the left, and it was so portable, especially since it fits in my carry-on suitcase easily.

Smartphone tripod examples!

At the time, I liked these photos a lot because I got some decent photos of myself while traveling solo, and that was a feat. But I was less than impressed with the wonky colors and pixelated images from my old iPhone. But that is more of a personal preference as a photographer myself! I will say smartphone cameras have changed a lot since 2017!

Option 2: Tripod and Remote for your DSLR Camera
(my exact Canon 5D Mark III set-up!)

As I said, the smartphone tripod is a great option for those on a budget, but I wanted to have more editing flexibility with my photos, create higher resolution images, and really step up my self-portrait game. I invested in a DSLR tripod and remote. It also didn’t hurt that I already had the DSLR Canon 5D Mark IV camera from my photography business side-hustle. I have had it for 7+ years and have had 0 issues!

The 5D Mark III is an older model Canon camera (translated to more affordable!), but it is a beast and I highly recommend it! Pair it with a 35mm prime lens, and you’re golden for self-portraits. An investment in your photography equipment will NOT let you down. It’s a cornerstone for producing top-notch content, whether for social media or your blog!

This is not the setup for everyone because it does get expensive when you add in the camera gear. But I have never been happier with my images! It is a bit of a pain to pack and carry the tripod since it does not fit into my carry-on suitcase, but I have perfected my packing method and found it does fit into my checked luggage. I also plan ahead and bring a tote bag so that when I am walking around a city, I can carry the tripod and camera gear without looking like a total tourist.

***ProTip***
If you are super smart, get up REALLY early before the city is awake and take a million photos at sunrise and get zero judgment from passersby because you are probably the only person out and about! Plus the lighting is perfection at that time.

Solo Traveler Selfie Guide DSLR tripod examples!

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Solo Traveler Selfie Guide: Ask a stranger!

If you’re anything like me, you forget things. A lot. And more than once, I’ve left my tripod behind, thinking, “Eh, I won’t need it,” only to stumble on a jaw-droppingly beautiful spot and immediately regret every life decision that led to me not having it.

Cue the “stranger danger” part of this post.

Okay, I’m kidding- it’s not usually dangerous. But it does involve handing your camera or phone over to a stranger and hoping for the best. And by “best,” I mean asking them to take one photo… and then clarifying you actually meant ten.

For someone introverted like me, asking can feel a little awkward. And results? Hit or miss. I have more than a few blurry, weirdly cropped shots where I’ve lost the top of my head—or half my body entirely. But every now and then, I luck out and hand the camera to someone who knows exactly what they’re doing. It helps if you’ve already struck up a conversation and they’re comfortable with your mildly obsessive photo needs.

I also sometimes do a photo-for-photo trade as I did in Paris, France! After spending the morning in an Easter service, I decided to meander around Paris with no plans and possibly find a place to grab some food. I didn’t have my tripod since I was not really planning on photos, but then I stumbled upon this incredible residential street with the most amazing view of the Eiffel Tower. I noticed there were two girls trying to take a selfie, and the Southerner in me compelled me to offer my help! After snapping as many as they wanted, they offered to help me out, too. I mean, it was like a full-on photo session with these girls.

Girls helping out girls is just one of my favorite things.

And the photos are so dang wonderful, I almost cried. As someone who hates emoting and feeling, I was just so grateful to have these unexpected photos from my solo adventure to Paris!

Solo Travel Selfie Guide: Ask a Stranger Examples

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Solo Traveler Selfie Guide: Find a fellow traveler or friend and swap!

Another great option for getting incredible photos while solo traveling without the awkward “tripod/remote” set-up is connecting with another traveler and being each other’s photographer. Not only are you forging connections and friends all over the world, but you are also finding someone who truly understands your solo travel photo conundrum.

There are tons of ways to connect with someone, but I found social media to be the easiest and most genuine. There are Facebook groups that are perfect communities for whatever niche you are in. Some of my favorite groups I am in are:

Female Travel Bloggers
Girls LOVE Travel
The Solo Female Traveler Network
Travelettes

That is how I happened to have the most epic day in the Netherlands while I was there solo. After seeing I was coming to Amsterdam, fellow traveler Aimee, who lived in the city, offered to be a true gem and drive me around outside of the city to see the gorgeous flower fields. I had planned on doing the same thing all the other tourists do – figure out the best train stops and bike the rest of the way to get those incredible flower field photos. I am exhausted just thinking of that option.

The day was magical. Getting to pass by the MANY colorful, beautiful fields outside Amsterdam, visiting Keukenhof Garden, sharing a picnic together, and even trekking through some private hyacinth and daffodil fields, where she knew the owners, are what traveling is all about. We, of course, swapped photos of each other, and they are some of my favorite photos from this year.

Solo Traveler Selfie Guide: Fellow Solo Traveler Exchange Examples

This next photo a friend taking a photo while we were at Dry Tortugas. Sometimes it is just as simple as asking them, giving a little direction, or letting them work their own magical perspective.

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Solo Traveler Selfie Guide: Hire a professional!

If all of this sounds like a lot of work, well, just know that it is because it is. It sometimes is such a commitment schlepping the equipment everywhere, finding epic locations, taking what feels like a million photos of yourself where everyone awkwardly stares at you, and doing the post-processing editing.

And sometimes when I travel, I want to be lazy. I kind of loved the idea of letting someone else do the work, and I decided to hire a professional while in Santorini, Greece! Yuliya took me to some pretty stunning locations in Thira, and I got some of those cliché blue-domed photos that I was DYING to have ever since I saw them in a calendar my Moma gave me for Christmas 15+ years ago.

Solo Traveler Selfie Guide: Professional Examples

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Getting those iconic photos has never been easier than with these suggestions in this updated solo traveler selfie guide!

No matter where you are, just because you are alone, solo traveling does not mean that you don’t deserve to have incredible pictures. The photos I take become some of my most treasured souvenirs, and they are printed and hung throughout my house because I don’t want to ever forget the memories attached to each image.

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