My Top Tips On How To Get Photos As A Solo Female Traveler

UPDATED FEB 2020. We all want a photo memory of our memorable life experiences. One of the challenges of traveling solo is getting nice travel photos that actually include you in them. Here’s my guide on how to get photos as a solo female traveler. I’m sharing the methods I use the most, as well as some that I don’t use so you have a few options to choose from. Find what works for you and if you have any questions or more tips, just pop them in a comment.

My Top Tips On How To Get Photos As A Solo Female Traveler

Disclaimer

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GoPro Selfie

GoPro cameras are compact, easy to use, and super-duper versatile. This is why they are my favorite option for travel photos and what I recommend the most.

They have changed a lot since the early models that I started with and now have the ability to change lenses, use self-timers, and take vertical photos. The photos are really good quality as well, so they are great for beginners.

In my opinion, the only downside to using a GoPro is that the photos can be blurry in low light conditions.

To use it as a solo traveler, I recommend getting a compact selfie stick & tripod. I use the shorty pole every time I travel. You don’t need a long selfie stick because the GoPro has a wide lens.

What I use

• GoPro
• Shorty Pole

When to use a GoPro

I think the GoPro selfie is most valuable in crowded areas where you don’t have much room or can’t leave a tripod and step away from it.

It’s also the best option when you want to get a quick photo but don’t have a lot of time e.g a quick stop on a day tour.

It’s a wide lens camera so it’s going to get a good amount of you in the photo as well as whatever is in the background that you want a photo with.

How to take them

Set your GoPro to ‘Time Lapse Photo’.

I have mine set to 0.5-second intervals which means it takes one photo every half a second but you can set yours to whatever you prefer.

Once you press ‘go’ it will start taking them. All you need to do is hold out the selfie stick and smile.

I recommend taking at least 5 or so photos to allow the GoPro time to adjust to the light in the background and guarantee you’ll get a good shot.

Taken using a GoPro on a Shorty Pole with 0.5 second intervals

Phone with a selfie stick

I personally don’t do this because I have always used a GoPro but it is another option.

Since phones have good quality cameras built into them, you can get some good photos this way. It’s also a cheaper option since you already have a phone so you don’t need to buy a camera.

The selfie stick will usually be longer to allow you the best opportunity to get some background in the image.

When to use this

You could do this anytime during your travels, except for tight spaces – don’t be that douchebag that sticks a big selfie stick in someone else’s personal space!

The photos on a GoPro are higher quality in my opinion but if you want to save a bit of money, then it’s a good option.

How to take them

Check the lighting of the area because front camera phone selfies tend to blow out big time when you have strong light.

You might need to just turn slightly or move around a little until you find the sweet spot.

Many selfie sticks come with a remote so you can set the camera in it and click the remote when you want to snap the photo.

Camera, tripod & self-timer

I use this every single trip BUT getting high-quality photos of my travels is necessary for this blog and the work I do for other businesses.

When I travel for fun (not work), I don’t take photos this way because it seems too narcissistic and I think there’s so much more to travel than staging a perfect photo.

I prefer to take a quick GoPro selfie so I have a photo wherever I am, then I focus on being present in the experience. Plus I can fit a GoPro on a small selfie stick in my pocket so it’s much easier than carrying around a tripod all day.

What I use

• Sony Alpha a6000
• 35mm lens
• Manfrotto tripod

When to use this

If you were going to take your photos this way, it works best in areas that aren’t too crowded. You are going to want to set up your tripod and step away from it without someone running off with it.

Beaches, open areas, or cities in the morning when hardly anyone is around are good times for these photos.

Also, avoid doing this in windy weather because the last thing you want is for your nice camera to topple over.

How to take them

You have a couple of options. Firstly, you can check the interval settings on your camera and, like the GoPro intervals I mentioned earlier, set it to take one photo every so often.

When I take photos with my camera and tripod, I use the app for my camera (I use Sony and the app is Play Memories).

First I set up the camera settings how I want them, then walk into the shot and keep my hand with my phone away from the camera and click.

If I want both hands in the photo, I use the app to add a 2 or 10-second timer so I have enough time to throw my phone out of the frame before the photo is taken.

Taken on my Sony Alpha a6000 on a tripod and using phone to control it wirelessly

GoPro with tripod

This is really just a more discreet version of what I just mentioned above.

The good thing is that you can use a smaller tripod so carrying it around all day is easier. When I need something higher off the ground than the Shorty Pole I mentioned earlier, I use either a GorillaPod or the GoPro 3-way pole.

When to use this

With any tripod set up, you want to be able to walk away from it to be in the frame of the photo without someone running off with your gear so it’s best for quieter, non-crowded areas.

How to take them

Set up your GoPro in your tripod of choice.

Just like with the GoPro selfie, set it to ‘Time Lapse Photo’ and click go.

Once it starts, it will take one photo however often you set the intervals to and you can walk into the frame to get your shot.

Another option is to connect to the GoPro app with your phone, then you can use your phone to set up the shot and take the photo.

Taking using a GoPro on a tripod with 0.5 second intervals

Other options for taking photos as a solo female traveler

Ask someone

Obviously, this always has been and always will be an option.

People ask me to get photos of them all the time and I don’t mind one bit, but I usually don’t ask anyone because I just prefer to do things myself.

If you ask someone to get a photo of you for your travel memories, just politely explain what you want if you have a preference (portrait or landscape, full-body or half, etc).

Hire a photographer

The other option if you want nice travel photos of your trip is to hire a photographer.

If you look at Airbnb they usually have a bunch of photographers in the ‘experiences’ section of most big cities who you can book for a session.

This would be the most expensive option and I personally wouldn’t suggest doing this unless it was for a one-off really special trip that you wanted to commemorate.

I think it would be a better use of your money and time to get a camera and learn how to get your own photos.

I appreciate you reading and hope it helps you get some photo memories of your travels by sharing my top tips for how to get photos as a solo female traveler.

Other solo travel guides you might enjoy

• The Solo Travel Mindset – 5 Things To Get Over Before You Travel Solo

• How To Keep Your Valuables Safe At The Beach As A Solo Female Traveler

• Solo Travel For Introverts – How To Chit Chat If You’re Shy And Awkward

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