How to take pictures when traveling solo – Should I do it myself or hire a professional photographer?
Taking your own pictures while traveling solo can be a bit challenging, but with a few tricks, you can still capture great shots of your journey. But what are the advantages and disadvantages of doing your own pictures compared to hiring a professional local photographer?
First here’s are a few tips on doing your own photos:
1 – Use a tripod: A tripod can be your best friend when it comes to taking pictures of yourself. You can set up your camera or phone, adjust the framing and focus, and then set the timer to take the shot.
2 –You can ask strangers for help. Just make sure to choose someone who looks trustworthy and be clear about how you want the photo taken.
3 – Invest in a selfie stick: A selfie stick can be a great tool to help you take pictures of yourself, especially in places where you can’t find anyone to take your picture.
4 – Use a remote shutter release: If you have a camera with a remote shutter release, you can take pictures of yourself without having to touch the camera. This is especially helpful if you’re taking pictures in low light conditions and need to use a longer exposure.
5 – Be creative with angles and perspectives: Experiment with different angles and perspectives to make your photos more interesting. Try taking shots from low angles or high angles, or getting close to your subject to capture details.
6 – Take advantage of natural light: The best time to take pictures is during the golden hour, which is the hour before sunset and the hour after sunrise. The light during this time is soft and warm, and it can make your photos look amazing.
7 – Take pictures of the details: Don’t just focus on taking pictures of yourself. Take pictures of the scenery, the food, and the people you meet along the way. These photos can help you remember the little things that make your trip special.
Advantages of this approach:
1 – Money saving: The biggest advantage is definitely the money you save by doing it yourself.
2 – You might have a very specific artistic style or personality and therefore you like to have complete control over your photos.
4 – Time flexibility: working at your own hours and not being dependent on another service provider.
Disadvantages:
Using the same tips above let’s analise what can potentially be disadventagous:
1 – Using a tripod or a selfie stick is definitely a great tool while travelling solo but perhaps the biggest disadvantage is how inflexible and time consuming this method can be. When you have another person behind the camera, specially one that knows what he’s doing, you can have more angles to choose from as opposed to having to manually change the tripod. A selfie stick can also be very repetitive as to the type of photo, and distance of framing.
2 – Be safe! The distance of a tripod, or even asking a stranger has its risks. Study well the county you’re visiting and it’s specific locations for potential dangers.
3 – Local knowledge: Even with all the information accessibility we have now a days, finding some locations can be time consuming and frustrating.
Advantages of hiring a professional local photographer
1- Local knowledge: A local professional Lisbon photographer knows the best places to shoot and can take you there stress free.
2- Professional photographer experience: A professional photographer knows how to capture your most favourable angles in the best background settings. He will know the best available light in specific locations and hours, and will do he’s best to cater to your specific tastes.
