Selfie-Queen! How to Step Up Your Photography Game

You may have noticed something about my pics from my recent Spain trip. I was alone in most shots. Even though I was travelling in Mallorca with a few friends, neither of them were big on photos and I knew that neither of them would be down to play insta-wife for the week! Obviously, I still wanted great travel photos, but I didn't want to be the annoying brat and constantly pester my friends. And sometimes when you want something done you've got to do it yourself! So I came prepared to do a lot of my own photos to make sure I had content I would be happy with. If you have an upcoming trip coming up and you want to guarantee you'll get the photos you want, check out my tips below!

1. Pack the right goods!

I'm a huge fan of my tripod! It's lightweight and highly portable, but unfolds to a full 50 inches! I was nervous about it fitting in my suitcase since I only took a carry-on, but it wedged in perfectly and added basically no weight. I also shoot on a Canon G7X, which is compact but takes great photos and videos. The flip-up screen also comes in really handy when you are trying to take self-portraits, so you can see yourself in the screen at different angles. And when I'm shooting a lot of looks in the city, I often carry around a portable pop-up tent. I didn't travel with one of these, but a blogger friend of mine does so she can shoot extra looks when she is out and about and there are no public bathrooms to change in. 

2. Be Safe

Since you have to set-up your tripod and camera then run into the shot, you want to make sure you are shooting somewhere that you and your stuff will be safe. I took a lot of my photos around our resort, so it was restricted just to guests and staff. I would never pop-it out on a busy, main street where someone could grab it and run off! 

3. Get Up Earlier

If you want scenic pictures without a lot of people in the background, you have to start early in the morning. I started shooting these pool pics around 8am, so I could have it completely empty. As you can imagine, having a bunch of families and kids splashing around would have ruined the shot! It's also nicer to shoot when no one is watching you, especially if you can be a little shy or self-conscious. People will definitely look at you like you are either crazy or completely self-absorbed, but don't let them bring you down! 

4. Have Fun and Get Creative

When you are in control of your shot, you can take more time and get more creative than your friends would if they were snapping you quickly. You can play with different lighting and angles, try shooting close-up and from a distance like in the photo above, and get the exact scenery and angles that you want in the shot. After all, it's your photo so have fun with it! 

Let me know your ideas on getting good travel pics, and check out more of my pics from the trip on Instagram, @malikahkelly!