How to Take the Ultimate Instagram Selfie
We all follow Instagram travel influencers whose accounts are filled with photos of themselves in epic scenes ranging from beaches to mountains to deserts to everything else in between. Part of what makes these photos so powerful is that we imagine what it'd be like for ourselves to be in these places. When we do finally get to these places, pull out our phones and cameras, and finally take the shots, however, a lot of our selfies don't end up looking quite as epic as the influencers' that we follow and admire; they end up looking like, well, a selfie.
There's the "classic selfie" where you hold up your iPhone or your camera, turn it around so it's facing you, and then try and keep (even though it's impossible) your arm out of the frame. These shots tend to a) take a few tries because there's no way to see what you're actually taking a picture of when the screen is facing away from you, and b) ends up blocking the cool landscape or cityscape behind you because you are too close to the camera.
There's also the "ask someone random for a photo" selfie. This one can go one of two ways. You could, by chance, ask someone who is a very good photographer and understands the whole Instagram thing and end up with the best photo of yourself that you've ever seen, or you could end up with someone who's barely ever touched a camera in their life. These photos are, in terms of selfies while travelling, a little bit better than the "Classic selfie" method, because the camera ends up being farther away from you, thus allowing more of the scene around you to get in the shot. You also can provide the person taking the photograph with a bit of guidance as well if you're not happy with the shot. You do, however, have to be mindful of people's time, as they are on vacation too. Most people will be ok with taking a few photos of you, but if you are consistently not happy with their shots and keep asking them to retake them, chances are they'll eventually walk away.
There is, thankfully, an alternative way to take epic selfies that doesn't involve holding the camera up yourself or asking strangers to take your photos. This way, which I call the "The Ultimate Selfie," ensures that you set up the shot in the exact way that you like, while also making it into the frame for that epic, looks-like-you're-followed by a photographer travel Instagram shot. So, if you're looking to make your profile look more like those wild Instagram travel influencers that you follow, or if you're travelling alone, here are a few tips to help you produce content like theirs all on your own:
Invest in a Travel Tripod
Tripods are by far the easiest way to hold up your camera or phone while travelling without involving anyone else. In certain circumstances, you can rest your camera on a ledge, rock or branch and get the same effect, however I have run into a lot of beautiful scenes that I've wanted to photograph with myself in the frame, and have been unable to find something suitable for this. That's where the travel tripod comes in. They're typically built small and compact so that they can be easily packed and easy to carry around once you're on your trip. Once you've found the scene that you want to photograph, you can easily set up the tripod, mount your camera, and set up the frame to the exact image you want. This, then, ensures that you get that epic photo that you've seen a dozen times on those amazing Instagram pages you follow, as the camera will remain stationary and in this exact position until you are done your selfie photo shoot. My favorite travel tripod is the Joby Gorillapod, as it is relatively inexpensive, small, and can grip to anything or stand on its own. Check them out here.
If you have a GoPro, the GoPro Jaws Flex Clamp is another great tool to bring with you on a trip. The clamp design allows you to attach this GoPro mount to a variety of things, and the swivel arm allows you to position your camera easily to capture the frame you want. The Jaws Flex Clamp comes in especially handy for capturing photos of yourself while you're actually performing an activity, such as riding in a boat, driving an ATV or mountain biking, as you can simply clamp your GoPro to the boat, ATV or bike, set it to snap a photo every 1, 2, 30 or 60 seconds, and then forget about it and continue performing the activity. When you're done, you'll have a bunch of candid action shots of yourself.
Utilize the Camera's Timer
Now that you've got the camera set up on the tripod to the exact frame that you want, all you have to do is hop into the photo, right? The only problem is that you still need someone to take the photo. This can easily be done by your travel partner or a stranger, as all they'll need to do now is push down the shutter. If you are by yourself, however, you will need to figure out how to do this without any assistance. I typically set the camera to a 10 second timer, which (in most cases) gives me enough time to press down the shutter, step into the frame, and position myself where I'd like to be. Using a timer with a tripod also eliminates any shakiness caused by holding a camera, as the shutter releases on the camera when it's perfectly still and untouched in this scenario.
You can also use a wireless camera remote if there is one available for your camera and / or phone. This will essentially allow you to step into the frame, position yourself, and snap the photo whenever you choose, without having to panic and do all of this within 10 seconds.
Position Yourself
This portion is fairly self explanatory, however there are a few things to consider. You've spent a bit of time setting up your tripod so that the scene you are photographing is perfectly covered in the frame, so you'll want to ensure that you are adequately incorporated into that scene without blocking any key component of the view. Also, there may be a chance to utilize some of the scene's features to enhance your shot and help further produce the ultimate "selfie." In landscapes, look for things like rocks and boulders to stand on, and try to position these items in an area of the frame that makes sense. For instance, if you're taking a photo of a large mountain and are standing on a rock looking at it, make sure that the rock and yourself are in the bottom third of the frame, while the mountain takes up a large chunk of the top two thirds of the frame, thus allowing yourself to remain in the frame with the epic scenery you're exploring.
Use an SLR Camera
This is optional, however you will achieve higher quality images if you utilize an SLR camera. You will also be able to uses different lenses, which will then allow you to have more variety in your shots. For instance, a portrait lens will allow you to take up close photos of yourself while blurring out the background scenery, while a landscape / wide angle lens will help ensure that every detail is of a scene is in focus, both near and far. I use a Mirrorless SLR camera when I travel, as they are very compact (about the size of a point shoot), provide very high resolution images, and allow me to use different lenses. Plus, a lot of new SLR cameras allow you to send your photos to your phone via WiFi, which will allow you to post to your Instagram in even the most remote corners of the globe.
Hangout With a Photographer
Though this one may contradict the idea of taking a "selfie" by yourself, it should be noted that the easiest way to get epic travel photos of yourself is to have a photographer take them for you. If your travel partner happens to be someone that shares a love for photographing your epic travel journeys, then getting those influencer-style photos will be a slam dunk.
So, if you're trying to up your Instagram game or are simply trying to take better travel photos with yourself in the frame, grab a tripod, set up a timer and have some "selfie" fun.