Getting Comfortable Taking Pictures of Yourself

Traveling is full of incredible sights, but sometimes the hardest part isn’t finding the perfect spot, it’s getting yourself in the photo. If you’ve ever felt awkward or unsure about taking pictures of yourself while traveling, you’re not alone, it happens to almost everyone I know. Below is a guide to help you feel confident, take better photos, and enjoy the process.

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1. Start Small and Low-Pressure

If taking photos of yourself feels intimidating, start with no stress places. Take a selfie in your hotel room, on a quiet street, or with a coffee in hand. The goal is to get comfortable seeing yourself in the frame without worrying about perfection.

When I decided to intentionally start taking photos for the blog, I started taking photos everywhere I was alone, in the car, in my hotel room, and on the beach where there was no one in sight. It also helps to go really early for the least amount of people out. 

2. Use Tools That Make It Easy

A good travel photo doesn’t always need a professional photographer. A smartphone tripod, a selfie stick, or even a timer app can help you frame the shot exactly how you want. Remote shutter controls or bluetooth clickers are game-changers for solo travelers.

Before my last trip I bought a tripod with bluetooth clicker. It was the best purchase for the trip in regards to the photo taking. It was easy to use and fairly easy set up. I was still embarrassed to break out a tripod at a tourist spot, but it was rare that I was the only one anyway. I am still more comfortable asking people to take my pictures for some reason, but I have higher quality photos with the tripod because I get the picture exactly how I want it. I’m not relying on someone to take my pics the way I like them.

Yes, there are some places that don’t allow selfie sticks and tripods (the Acropolis in Athens, for example) and I had to have people take the photos for me. Looking back I didn’t give them enough direction to get the shot I wanted.

3. Focus on the Moment, Not the Camera

Sometimes the best photos happen when you’re not thinking about taking the photos themselves. Walk naturally, look around, or play with your surroundings. The more you focus on enjoying the moment, the more authentic your photos will look.

This is hard when you’re awkwardly trying to take your own photos with your tripod, but as much as you can focus on something other than yourself. Like at a park, you focus on the flowers in the garden. You are in the photo, but you also notice the beautiful flowers and you can get some fun poses with the flowers too.

One of the best things I did before my trip was watching some videos about posing and how to pose for your body size. I am not tiny, average but still super self-conscious about my size, weight, and age, but posing makes an enormous difference in how you look in photos.

4. Show Your Unique Style

Planning outfits was huge for me, I never thought about it until my last trip. The photos  made more of an impression on me when I planned an outfit. Think about a photo in front of the Colosseum in Rome, would you notice someone more if they were dressed in jeans and a top, or someone walking by in a dress or a skirt? I think you usually notice the person who is dressed up in the crowd.

Then think about colors and patterns. Brighter colors seem to stand out and photographer better than more muted colors. Patterns could become distracting (depending on the pattern of course) but for me, in most of the photos I took I prefer the way the solid colors look.

5. Plan Your Spots

Having an idea of where to take photos can make the process smoother. Think about:

• Iconic landmarks (like the Eiffel Tower, Colosseum, or Sagrada Familia)
• Natural backdrops (beaches, mountains, forests)
• Colorful streets, murals, or markets

Knowing your locations ahead of time reduces stress and gives you time to focus on enjoying the moment. I always did some research before and during my trip of places I thought would make great photo spots. I had a specific spot in mind before I went out for the day to shoot. I searched peoples’ Instagram for photos I loved and found my own style for the same or similar places. Gotta make yourself stand out because you know millions of people have photos with them in front of the place you’re going. Find a unique angle or different place to stand for your shot.

6. Practice Makes Perfect

Don’t be discouraged if your first shots aren’t perfect. Take multiple photos, try different angles, and review what you like. Over time, you’ll discover poses and spots that feel natural and flattering.

It definitely takes a lot of practice and I am no way saying I’m a great photographer, but I’m going to keep on trying. I still don’t feel comfortable, but I’m better than I was before (small win). One of the best things I can say is when you have the bluetooth clicker, you can take as many photos as you like and choose the one you want later. Same idea when you have people take your photos, I tell them to just keep taking photos while I move around. I get more shots that way.

7. Mindset Matters

Feeling self-conscious is normal, but remember that travel photos are ultimately for you. Most people are too busy enjoying themselves  to even notice. You can shift your mindset from “I hope this looks good” to “I’m going to remember this place,” and those are different ideas. That mental shift alone can make taking pictures way easier.

My number one thing to remember is, you will never see these people again so it doesn’t matter what they think. Ironically, most people don’t even notice at all. They never even look my way. Most people see influencers or content creators at tourist destinations all the time, so then I really blend in even with my selfie stick or tripod because I don’t look like either of those things.

8. Edit with Care

Once you’ve taken your photos, small tweaks can make a big difference. Adjusting brightness, contrast, or cropping slightly can transform an average photo into something you’ll love sharing. Keep edits subtle so the photo still feels authentic.

I usually use just the simple functions on my iphone. If I love the photo but really hate the lighting or something, I will use Lightroom. It’s free and user friendly. Mostly I just want my photos to look slightly more enhanced but not completely different.

9. Make It Fun (as much as you can)

Lastly, treat taking photos like part of your adventure, try not to get bogged down with getting the perfect photo or pose . Dance, jump, laugh, or do something that makes you happy. When you enjoy it, your photos will naturally look better. While it did feel a little like a chore and work sometimes, I think this past trip has the best photos I’ve taken while traveling and most of them I took on my own, but I’m doing it with the intent of posting on the blog now. 

Pictures are important when people are thinking of traveling to a specific destination. I want people to know what to expect and to help them as much as I can. I also gave myself time off, so I took photos one morning and then slept the next day and took photos the next evening. Give yourself grace to enjoy your trip too. You don’t want to get burnt out either.

10. A Personal Tip

I used to avoid taking photos because I felt awkward and extremely self-conscious, but traveling solo you don’t really have a choice, if you want photos with you in them, you have to do it. For me, having a photo of the Eiffel Tower or a photo with me in front of the Eiffel Tower are very different photos.

My mother used to always say, people want to look at photos with a person in them rather than just the landmark or building. For me, that’s true, for the most part. If I make a photo book of my trip, I usually use the photos that I’m in rather than just the landmarks, but I also don’t think I’m very good at capturing monuments and landmarks alone with any type of artistry. 

Final Thoughts

It’s normal not to feel confident when traveling and taking pictures, especially if you’re traveling solo, but for me practice was one of the key take-aways. I would get up early and go take photos because there were less people around and then relax in the afternoon and do some sightseeing. The bright sun in the afternoon is not the best for photos anyway, so then I would go out later in the afternoon and early evening to catch the sunsets.

My advice, you just have to force yourself to do it, to start. It’s not fun when you don’t feel confident and don’t want to, I get it, but you might get some pictures you really love. I still ask people over using the tripod, but I’m working on it. Confidence, getting over a fear, and trying new things are hard. That’s life learning. Not everything is fun. Sometimes you gotta just do it.

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