How to Get “That Perfect Shot”
In the world we live in today, it seems to be all about getting that perfect Insta-worthy shot. It’s not necessarily a bad thing either though, because at the end of the day, you will come out with some pretty cool photos to one day look back and reminisce on. The problem is that many times, it’s hard to get a great shot with hundreds of tourists swarming around you. So how can you get an Insta-worthy photo? A lot of people ask how I get some pretty dope photos on my feed so I’m sharing some tips that I’ve learned over time during my travels, tips that led to many of my most favorite photos ever.
1. Be patient.
Getting a good shot takes a lot of patience. Most of the time, tourists will be walking around and even waiting in line to get their shot in front of a famous monument or attraction. Usually these people come in groups, so I like to wait around and get the typical photos of all the cool architecture and scenery (you know, the “look what I saw while I was here” photos), and eventually the crowds clear out for a few minutes. See the following photo.
2. If you’re traveling solo, don’t be afraid to ask!
To piggyback off of my last tip, sometimes you might decide to go on a little adventure on your own, but that doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice getting that perfect insta-worthy shot.
My past few trips, I was lucky enough to travel with content creators and photographers, so I knew they would do a great job in capturing the perfect moment with little effort. However, the majority of my travels, I’ve traveled solo and joined random group tours. I’ve also found that many of the people on my tour groups are older, and are not as tech savvy as someone my age. Because of this, it can get tricky to get a good photo if you don’t have the right person– but don’t be afraid to ask.
Scout the crowd. I like to look for people with good cameras, because they will most likely know how to work them and know how to get a good photo. I especially like to look for other solo travelers struggling to get a good selfie. Those people will most likely be willing to take your photo, because, well, they want one too. The photos above were taken by a random stranger who was also looking for someone to snap a shot of him. Favor for a favor!
If all else fails, I find that if you don’t have a professional photographer, one of the best people to ask is your tour leader. They can’t refuse (they want those tips and good reviews, anyway)! They also know all the good, popular spots for photos, and have done this more times than you think.
India Photo Tip: If you happen to be at the Taj Mahal and decide to venture off on your own, you will most likely be approached by random men offering to take your photo. I know this sounds like a “stranger danger” situation, but they actually know their stuff. I was hesitant at first, but a friend and I followed the lead of a little old guy who took us around the Taj Mahal just in time to get in all the good sunrise lighting. He got some pretty great shots of us avoiding the crowds, and from unique angles. Definitely something to think about if you’re worried about getting a great shot at the Taj Mahal! Those guys know what they’re doing (it will only cost you a few bucks, tip amount is at your discretion)! The photo below was taken by the old guy we followed around. I really wanted a shot directly in front of the Taj Mahal, but I struggled with my saree, and by the time I was done it was impossible to get a shot without people. He led me just a little to the right to get one of my favorite travel photos ever, plus a cool reflection of the Taj!
3. If possible, bring along a friend!
Aside from having to actually take the photos for you, it always helps to have someone who understands the kinds of shots you’re looking for. This way you’ll be guaranteed to get that shot you envision, and you’ll know they’ll also take as many photos necessary to get that shot. During my trips to Egypt, India, and a few other places, I probably have hundreds of photos in each location, because I thankfully had my friend Kathy, who I met on my Peru trip. She also travels frequently (follow her on Instagram — @currentlygraced) and like me, is looking for more travel content for her page. We’ve spent hours capturing the perfect shots for each other– but hey, that’s what friends are for!
4. Don’t be afraid to give instruction!
Sometimes, you just have a vision of the photo you want to capture, so don’t be scared to direct your photographer, especially if you’re dealing with someone who doesn’t know the camera well. There are times where my mom ends up being my photographer, but she doesn’t know the first thing about using a professional camera. Luckily, most cameras feature certain settings that work as a guide to the person taking the photo.
- Set up the grid on your camera, using it is actually very helpful. I can be picky sometimes, so I’ll tell the person something like, “I’ll stand by that rock over there, just hold the camera here and make sure I’m captured in the third grid on the bottom right.” Using points for reference can guide even the most inexperienced photographer.
- Use the intervalometer or continuous shooting mode. I use this mode whenever I want someone to capture me while in movement. In the photos below for example, I already visualized the shot in my head. I wanted a shot of me waving my hat in the air. I had some issues though. My hat was very flimsy, so I only had a few seconds to hold it in the air before it flopped out of shape. When my mom initially took the shots, she ended up hitting the shutter just before or after the hat was out of shape. To fix this, I set up the camera in continuous shooting mode. By holding her finger on the shutter, the camera shoots without stopping. This way, the camera would capture all my movements and eventually one of those shots would be the one.
5. Beat the busy times!
You’ll see so many content creators with these beautiful photos in beautiful places, and wonder .. “How did they get that shot with NOBODY in the way?” Yeah, you can always photoshop, but why do that when you can get a more authentic photo in real life? From my experience, getting up at or before sunrise will guarantee you the shot you want. Tourists won’t start pouring in until maybe an hour or two after opening, so while they’re still waking up and having breakfast at their hotels, you can just snap away! Getting up super early in the morning while on vacation doesn’t sound ideal, but you can always sleep later! You’ll even get some better colors by waking up for sunrise. If you absolutely cannot make it for sunrise, stick around close to closing hours, as most tourists will have already come and gone by that time.
6. Invest in a good camera equipment, or a phone that takes high quality photos.
Sometimes, the equipment you use makes a big difference. Obviously, having a professional camera is a plus. However, if you can’t afford one, aim to get a phone that gets high quality photos. I found that the portrait mode on the iPhone got some better shots than those I got on my Sony.
For all you solo travelers, a tripod will be a lifesaver! Instead of having to deal with looking for people to take a photo of me, I can set up a tripod and take my own photos! I simply position it where I want, and connect the camera wifi to my phone, so I get live view of my photos as I’m taking them!
7. Step out of the norm.
Now of course, there are just some places you have to get photos in — Leaning Tower of Pisa, Machu Picchu, Giza Pyramids — these are all a must! Like I mentioned before though, these places can get super crowded. I found that simply just walking a little further, you find some really cool “Instragammable” locations, and you’ll get even more unique photos. Don’t just get photos at the typical tourist-y places that you see all over Instagram — do you! I’m always looking for unique spots as I walk around a city, like a cool door, a colorful street.
8. Do your research!
Before your trip, do some searching for inspiration. If you’re going to a place for the first time, you want to find those places you can get better photos in and this will save you time once you get there. In Egypt, I knew I wanted to get a specific shot in Luxor, and my tour guide immediately knew where I wanted to go and to leave time aside for photos there. In Israel for example, I also knew the kinds of photos I wanted. Since I had already been there twice, I already had the typical “I was here” or “Look what I saw in Jerusalem” photos, so I was able to dedicate time the third time around for my own photos.
Hope these tips help in getting that perfect shot! They sure have helped me improve my photos over the years!
