The selfie – it’s here to stay, people. With the invention of the smartphone came having a camera in your pocket at all times. And with having a camera in your pocket at all times came the selfie. The art of the selfie can come in particularly handy while traveling, especially if you aren’t comfortable asking a stranger to snap a photo for you and your travel buddies at the Arc de Triompe, or there’s no one around to take a picture in the middle of the Costa Rican rainforest. As an educational travel company, we’ve seen countless selfies over the years. Here are some tips to help you take the best photos you can no matter where in the world you go.
It’s all about the angle.
A good angle can make sure you feel good about the pic, AND ensure you are showing off the cool stuff in the background wherever you are. Try holding the phone up and out, then adjust to make sure you capture what you want from behind you.
Lights, lights, baby.
Is that how it goes? Nothing is more important when it comes to photography than LIGHTING! When taking your selfie indoors, it is best to use natural, indirect light. So, find that window and post-up by it (but not in front of it. That will make you appear dark)! Outside in the harsh sun? Try putting the sun directly behind your head (a selfie eclipse, if you will) to get the best results.
Traveling with a group?
There’s no shame in our selfie stick game! Bust out that modern-day invention and it will be so much easier to capture your entire group of friends. After all, you don’t want to leave anyone out.
Don’t hurt yourself!
We all want to get the *perfect* photo while traveling the world, but always be aware of your surroundings and footing. Always obey posted warnings and boundaries – they are there for a reason! No selfie is worth actually hurting your SELF (see what we did there?)
You do you!
Don’t ever let anyone make you feel bad about your selfies. The nice thing about having a camera with you all the time is being able to capture memories. They are YOUR memories, and you want to be able to reminisce on them for years to come. Who cares what other people think!
Don’t ignore the scenery.
No matter how great you look in your selfies, you don’t want to get home from your trip and see 100 photos of your face with no memories of those incredible places you saw. Make sure your selfies also show off your surroundings. (And yes, maybe take a few shots that aren’t selfies?)
Selfie game strong! You are now ready to explore the world and document all the wonderful things you will see. Check out some of our Explorica tours, and follow us on Instagram to see our travelers’ stellar selfies.