How to take great holiday photos of yourself (because everyone keeps failing you)

Based on a true story. Names have not been changed.

Holiday photos, when you are a photographer or keen enthusiast, can be both wonderful and really disappointing. Just one good photo of myself please, is that too much to ask?

There you are, standing on the edge of a cliff in Santorini (or country Queensland), with the perfect blue sea behind you (cute white house), your outfit ON POINT (it's appropriate for the country), and the sun doing that golden-hour thing that makes everyone look like they’re starring in a perfume ad. You ask someone to take a photo and you get home to discover they have taken over-exposed, blinky, awkward expressions and the sadness sets in again...... another holiday and you don't have a nice photo of yourself.

This, friends, is why we need to talk about tripods. Yes, those three-legged camera stands once reserved for wildlife photographers and dads named Brian. Because let’s face it: other people cannot be trusted to take good pictures of us.

Why Do Other People Suck At Taking Photos?

To be clear, they mean well. They really do. But somehow, no matter how detailed your instructions, they manage to:

• Cut off your feet and half the landmark.

• Make you look like you’re emerging from the forehead of a stranger in the background.

• Zoom in so far it looks like a passport photo.

• Take one (1) photo, like it’s 2004 and they’re worried about film costs.
  

Don't get me wrong I love ALL photos, even the badly taken ones. But sometimes you see a spot and you know it's perfect and you know you WILL print that photo when you get home so it has to be perfect. Are you hearing me?

Enter The Tripod

Ah yes, the humble tripod. It's like a loyal best friend who:

• Never complains.

• Never asks you to “hurry up, it’s getting weird.”

• Takes direction beautifully.

• Will literally sit in the middle of traffic for your perfect Eiffel Tower shot if you ask nicely (or wedge it between two baguettes).

When choosing a tripod for your holiday, go lightweight — because nothing says "tourist meltdown" like lugging a 7-pound metal beast through cobblestone streets while sweating through your cute travel outfit. You want something that holds your camera, not a hostage. Bonus points if it fits in your backpack and doesn't make airport security think you're assembling a weather station. Link to something similar to what I use, it's light and it's cheap.

Pro Tips for Using a Tripod Without Looking Like a Maniac

1. Get a Remote or Use the Timer

Avoid the “run-and-pose” method that ends in sprained ankles and awkward mid-run photos where you look like you’ve been attacked by bees. A Bluetooth remote = game changer. (Link to example of remote I use for Canon, it's tiny and fits in your pocket)

2. Scout Your Spot

Look for a good angle, good lighting, and most importantly, a place where your tripod won’t get kicked over by a child on a scooter.

3. Act Natural

Practice your casual candid look. Lean on a wall. Laugh at nothing. Smell a flower dramatically. Just don’t look like you're trying to unlock a car with your mind.

4. Ignore the People Staring

Yes, you will look ridiculous. Yes, people will think you're filming a low-budget music video. No, you shouldn’t care. Will you be worrying about looking silly when you are hanging that gorgeous print on the wall, me thinks not.

Real-Life Tripod Wins

Let’s be honest, your best travel photos probably weren’t taken by that random German couple who said, “Smile!” and clicked before you blinked.

Nope. The good ones? The perfectly framed, golden-hour, hair-blowing-in-the-wind masterpieces? That was all you and your trusty tripod. A dynamic duo.

Final Thoughts

Who carries around a tripod on their holiday? You. How do I know that? You have reached the end of this blog post so it means you LOVE photography and you LOVE good holiday photos. So pack that tripod, embrace your inner creative director, and make all of your friends jealous about how amazing your holiday photos are. Or just do it for you, I probably should of lead with that.

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Britt is a Brisbane based photographer, she specialises in business photography. Personal Branding photos and Headshots for professional women