Traveling solo around the world has been one of the most rewarding experiences I’ve ever had in my life. In order to keep the memories I experience, I would like to document it through photos and preferably with myself in the picture. That means I sometimes need to ask strangers if they can take a picture of me. But sometimes it won’t be as perfect as I want the picture to be so during the time I have learned how I should do to get a stranger to taket that perfect picture. So the question is, how do you do it?

How I Get Strangers to Take Perfect Photos of Me

To dare ask a stranger if they can take a photo of you, you need courage, because sometimes I feel it’s embarrassing to ask. But if I don’t ask, I won’t get that photo I’d love to have with the specific object in the background. By asking a stranger if they can take a picture of you, the result can be in a way you didn’t expect it to be. Over time, I’ve learned some tricks to help you choose the right person and how to get them to take that perfect picture you’re looking for.

This is how you get strangers to take perfect travel pictures of you:

1. Look for the right person

Start by studying a person from the crowd that is in the same place as you and who seems to be a suitable photographer. I have come to the conclusion that the best people to ask are usually those in the same generation as myself, that knows how the technology works, but also how I want my pictures. If I use my system camera and want someone to take a picture of me with that one, I’m looking for someone who holds an equally advanced camera himself, then they know how it works and they also feel reliable! My best tip is to study a couple and ask them if they want a picture together that you can take and when you finished, you ask them if they can take a similar picture of you!

2. Introduce yourself

Once you’ve found the right person who can take a picture of you, it’s time to take courage and ask. The best thing about this situation is to briefly introduce yourself first and then ask if he or she can take the picture you want. Daring to chat a little first is a good icebreaker and who knows, you may become friends?

3. Set all functions as you want it

Before giving over your camera, mobile, gopro or whatever it’s so be sure to have set all the settings just the way you want it. This makes it much easier for the person to take the picture and it goes much faster.

4. Take a picture for them first!

It happened too many times that the object I wanted to include in the background does not come at all or the picture gets oblique, blurred, or that I barely can see myself in the picture. Believe me, it has happen! Therefore, I´ve learned to instruct the person by taking a photo on the object first to show how I want the picture to be so they understand what to do.

5. Give detail instructions

Even if you’ve shown a picture exactly how you want your photo to be, you should also provide as much details but simple instructions as possible. Tell them exactly where you gonna stand in the picture, how you will pose, ask them to take several angles and multiple pictures if that’s what you want, or else they’ll only take one picture. Are you going to run, jump or sit? Give as much detail instructions as you can.

6. Say thank you!

Last but not least after you’re happy with your picture and you’ve got it just the way you want it say THANK YOU! Be humble and say thank you more times than not at all. If I am very happy with my picture, I always say THANK YOU SO MUCH!

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Happy Travels!
// Charlotte