This is a guest post by Nick about photography. And while he does take many of the photos for this blog, this post focuses on a specific kind of photo: the ones that he also appears in!
While photography may be an art, getting a stranger to take a good photo of you is a science. And like many of my high school science experiments, it can go horribly wrong. You know the scenario. You’re traveling with the hubs, the lady, friends (or by yourself, more power to you) and you want a photo together to preserve the moment. So you flag down the first person who doesn’t look like a convicted felon and hand them your phone.
You expect to get this:
On Jean: (found a similar bow-back peplum top!) full outfit details are in this post
But in reality, you get this:
You may recognize the style of this particular shot—it’s the work of The Sun Worshipper. This person believes direct sun on your face = best photo. And they’re just one of the many challenging breeds of photo-takers you might encounter on your travels. Some others include:
The One-Shot Bandit
*Clicks once before you’re ready* “Oh it’s perfect! Here ya go!” *Puts in headphones & runs off*
The Artistic Visionary
(look out for their exhibition next month at MoMA)
The Razr Lovr
(this person still uses a Motorola Razr and has never operated a smartphone before *ahem* Dad)
The guide below will help you navigate these murky, blurry, blown-out, stranger-filled waters with a few simple tips that have yielded us some nice couple shots from unlikely sources (I’m looking at you, Carl our 4.1-star Uber driver). The techniques might seem obvious at first, but as with any good photo, the difference is in the details.
The Ask-A-Stranger Method
The trick is to take all decision making out of the stranger’s hands. Their only job should be to hold and tap. In fact, don’t even think of them as a person. For these 60 seconds, they are your human tripod (Editor’s Note: do not look up “human tripod” on Urban Dictionary).
1. Setup
Before you ambush an unsuspecting tourist, take some test photos. Frame it exactly how you want it. Then position your travel buddy in the shot, making sure they leave a space for you. Soft, even lighting is optimal, so look for an evenly shaded area if it’s really sunny out.
(Gear Tip: Stick with a smartphone. Asking a stranger to use your DSLR rarely works out.)
2. Scouting (aka harmless stereotyping)
Remember, you’re not looking for an artistic visionary. All you really need is someone with a functioning finger. But it also helps if they’re not in a hurry, younger, have a smartphone or camera of their own (indicators of technological competency), and are not insanely tall. I also avoid the guy who looks like he’s on a photo safari. Sometimes tourists with the biggest cameras know the least about good photography.
Bonus Tip: Scout for people struggling with their own selfie or couple photo, offer to take it (of course, impress them with your technique), then nonchalantly ask them to return the favor.
If your only option is someone way taller, ask them to hold the camera lower. Or else, this:
3. Instructions
Once you’ve spotted your prey friendly volunteer, lure them in by struggling to take a selfie while loudly cursing your ancestors for your short t-rex arms. Or, just politely ask if they’d mind snapping a quick photo.
Once they’ve agreed to help, show them the exact framing of your shot on the screen. It’s best to use fixed objects as clear reference points to help define the composition (i.e. “keep this tree in the upper left and this chair in the lower right”).
Or, leave the framing up to them—if you want to discover chins you didn’t know you had.
4. The Hand-off
This seemingly simple step is the most critical. You don’t want to just hand them the phone. Instead, gingerly pivot your body out of the way, keeping the phone stationary with your shot still framed. Let the person come forward and take the phone right where you’re holding it. It helps solidify the importance of the framing.
5. Tap Like Crazy
Ask for several shots. To some people “a lot” is two photos. So to get your point across, wildly gesticulate like you’re playing Candy Crush (Editor’s Note: Nick has never actually played Candy Crush and has no idea if this analogy is accurate). It also helps to say, “Please take a bunch. We’re going to try different poses,” so the person knows why you want them to keep snapping. Because if you’re like me, you only look acceptable in 1 out of every 25 shots.
6. Try Again
If the photos are just a little off, don’t be afraid to ask them for another round. But if it’s beyond hope, wait for them to leave, then go back to Step 2 and try harmless stereotyping scouting again.
Setup and scouting time—the opportune moment to practice your poses and duckface.
On Nick: old JCP sweatshirt (very similar), J.Crew chinos, Sperry shoes (similar)
The Old-Fashioned Tripod Method
Sometimes there’s no one around or you just don’t feel like asking others. Thankfully, someone invented this non-human camera stand thing called the tripod. And there are many super-compact ones, or selfie sticks that double as tripods, available with bluetooth remotes. The phone tripod kit we use is compact and versatile, however the bluetooth remote disconnects sporadically (but it does work for Boomerang, which not all remotes do).
A Few Tripod Notes:
– The downside of a light, compact tripod is it can also be unstable, so even a slight breeze can knock them (and your phone) over. Weigh it down with some clothes or prop it up against a tree if it’s windy.
– The combo of bluetooth and having your camera app on for extended periods of time is a huge power suck, so definitely bring a mobile phone battery. We like this one with the charging cables built right in.
Simple Photo Editing
So you’ve managed to get 100 photos of yourself, and a handful of them aren’t terrible! Don’t get too excited and go on a posting frenzy just yet. There’s a good chance your pictures could benefit from some light photo editing. VSCO is a great free app for mobile editing (Jean likes adding just a little bit of the C1 filter). And even the Instagram editing tools have gotten pretty good.
Easy edits made within the VSCO phone app
Since you weren’t able to control the brightness of the image when it was taken, you’ll at least want to play with exposure, and maybe the highlights and shadows. Add a little contrast, clarity, and sharpening if you’re feeling adventurous, but don’t overdo it.
And there you have it. With just a little awkward social interaction and some causal ageism, you can get strangers to take better photos of you. Good luck and happy snapping.
We hope you enjoyed the read! Let us know in the comments any requests for future guest posts!
Lighten up! If I read this post correctly, the point is do all the prep work yourself so a passerby just has to tap the phone a few times.
HAHAH! This post was awesome! Possibly my favorite one (sorry, Jean – your clothes one are lovely too, haha). I particularly liked the "sample" photos of who you might asking to take your pics or how it can go wrong! 🙂 Have experienced them all!
Love this post! And thanks for the VSCO love…nice to know you enjoy our filters!
Loved this post! And thanks for the VSCO love! Awesome to know that she uses our filters.
You take beautiful pictures! I think if someone stopped me on the street and was this particular, though, I'd ask them to find someone else. Or get a tripod. It would be intimidating to work with someone so particular, and if you're stopping me on my trip to take shots of you in several poses… I wouldn't be into that.
This was such a fun read! I love the double chins hahaha
Yes! I second this! Tips on posing would be great!
Wish I had read this before getting every "what you don't want" shot this afternoon in Mexico City. But, thanks to these tips, I have hope tomorrow will be better!
Thanks for this, loved the tip on searching human tripod! 😉
This post was hilarious…loved it!
Great post! I'd love a little tutorial in photo editing whether on VSCO, or a different app. I've downloaded and then deleted so many because I didn't find them user friendly.
So informative and funny! Love it! Look forward to more guest posts in the future!
This post was so useful! It never occurred to me to take a few minutes to frame the photo and make it as easy as possible for the stranger that we enlist. My hubby and I don't have enough photos of the two of us but hopefully this will change. Thank you!
xo Elizabeth
stylewich.com
Bahaha this was such a cute, funny, helpful post! Thanks for sharing your tips!
Jae || http://www.allthatjae.com
Haha this is so cute, I love it! I don't have anybody to take picture with so yea… But I will have to get myself a trip pod for sure, thanks for sharing <3
https://www.myblackcloset.com/
Haha I always like Nick's posts. They're funny! Thanks for the tips. 🙂
Haha! This was just what I needed! <3 I doubt only 1/25 looks good for you! Probably only 1/25 doesn't look good. Oh silly you!
XOXO //
SINCERELY OPHELIA | NYC Petite Fashion Blogger
This post was hilarious and helpful. Thank you so much. Will have to look into a tripod for the phone.
Love the expectation vs reality photos =D =D =D and that bonus tip under scouting… makes me think about one particular time when my husband and I were in Maui for our honeymoon. We were on the beach and I took an amazing photo of a couple who fit the "couple struggling with their selfie" situation. They looked at it and loved it. They were reciprocating the love for us and I was expecting the pic to look amazing as well, but… didn't quite look the same. Haha
Great Tips! Thank you.
xo. SN
http://www.sahonynatasha.com
Love love love this post! These are some awesome tips. Fiance and I barely have any pictures together because of this reason. We aren't exactly the photogenic type so having the right angle and lighting is essential for us. We will definitely try these. I would love it if you could also share some tips on posing and editing. Thanks Jean and Nick. You guys are so cute and awesome together
100% agree 🙂 Thanks for sharing – helpful tips and it was hilarious to read!
Loved this post! So helpful and also funny at the same time. Very well written!
Great tips! I travel/explore Japan solo quite often so asking others to take my photo has become my specialty. I agree that not everyone with good cameras knows how to take good photos. On the other side, it's also a better bet to give them your phone vs. DSLR, people instantly get scared of mine 😀 Snapseed is another of my favorite apps for editing, especially for food photography! xoxo, nano | http://www.travelwithnanob.com
I made the mistake of reading this post at work and I got some funny looks for giggling at my desk. This was informative, funny, and brilliantly written. Thanks Nick! You guys are very lucky to have each other.
Ellie x
http://www.shoestringthreads.com
This is brilliant Jean! I've saved this so I can come back to it!
I hope you're having a lovely Thursday,
Michael
https://www.mileinmyglasses.co.uk
^This!
This was perfect! Going on a trip with my boo soon so this helps!!
This was a great post. You two make a beautiful couple. I laughed out loud multiple times. Thanks so much for sharing. I will definitely be employing some of these tips next time. Request for more guest posting from Nick please!
So funny! Thanks for sharing, I love the tips!
Briana
http://beyoutifulbrunette.blogspot.com/
Thanks so much Jean and Nick for the VSCO tip. How do you normally take and edit pictures. By DSLR and edit in photoshop?
bhahahahahah this was a great post!!! I was lucky to be able to use my tripod/selfie stick in Costa Rica and not worry about people looking at me crazy (there wasn't anyone around!). But I wonder how a solo traveler would do this in a busy/metro location. Besides the obvious risk of asking someone. Any tips would be useful!
Awesome post!! Loved this.
Great tips! Getting someone else to take your pics can be the worst!
x. kritsida
http://aperfectcanvas.net/
Hilarious and super helpful post! Love Nick's writing 🙂 will definitely try these tips out
outstanding editing skills! And I love the light humor. Definitely interested in investing in a phone tripod (not sure why I'd never considered it before!) Getting photos is the hardest part of a blog (well getting photos of yourself I should say). Thanks for these tips!
http://www.petitepepper.com
Yaye! Thanks for the tips and thanks for posting on Nick's clothes, too. =D
You two are the cutest!!! Love your outfit coordination 🙂
Enclothed Cognition
I love this post! So helpful! I also aim to look for young teenagers.
http://moosmusing.com
This is a fantastic post – super helpful! Thanks! 🙂
next time*
Perhaps in a future post, Nick could list his go-to shops for casual wear and suits. I'd like to surprise my boyfriend with some items. Thanks!
This was really helpful, and also hilarious. You're a great writer too! (The both of you have *FAR* too many talents each.)
I really enjoyed reading this post – I love a great, entertaining sense of humor! This is really helpful, too, as I improve my photography skills for my blog.
-Rachel @ Backcountry Petite
Haha! This was such a fun read! I loved the tips. Could you also do a post on posing like someone mentioned earlier in the comments?
Thank you so much for this helpful post! It had me laughing so hard from the captions and pictures! =) I will keep these great suggestions in mind the next we are on a trip!
LOVE this post!!!! Thanks for the great tips! Nick makes an excellent guest blogger 🙂
This is great! Please allow me to translate it in my language. Thank you!
awesome post!!!
This is great advice, and so funny! You should write more posts 🙂
This post cracked me up! All great tips. My husband hates getting his photo taken, so he practically refuses to (but then complains that we have no good photos together – go figure!) I'll have to refer him to this post.
Hilarious and helpful! Such a great read! 🙂
LOL! This post was so informative, and entertaining! 😀 Great work, guys! I'll be using these tips on my upcoming Thailand trip!
xo, Katie
Willow and White
Such a great (and hilarious) post! Never really thought to plan out a photo before asking a stranger to take one, but that makes a lot of sense haha. Hope these tips will help my boyfriend and I get more cute pics on our travels together. Would love to see a similar post about posing together, or even just posing alone 🙂
Great post!
http://www.evdaily.blogspot.com
Such a fun post! Thanks for sharing the tips. Very helpful!
xo, Joling
http://lovejoling.com/
Thanks for the tips as I always end up with awkward photos.
Great!!! Thank you so much for those tips:) By the way you look gorgeous
Loved this!! So real and helpful.
Love this post !! So relatable and helpful :). Any suggestions on a light tripod for a dslr ?
Ha ha. This was a fun post !Are there any tips for clicking with a husband who gets tired after shot 1 ?
Thank you so much, Jean and Nick. I am getting married soon and while compiling some photos of me and my fiancé, I realized we pretty much only have selfies. They're all great, but it limits the amount of background you can capture, and each picture looks almost identical. These tips will surely help us during our honeymoon!! Thank you!
I love this post! Thank you so much for the tips. I would also love a post on how to pose and get scenic shots with people in the photo. I always struggle to capture a beautiful landscape yet also include myself or another person in the photo.
Nick is so funny! My friend and I traveled together last weekend and we used my DSLR to take photos of the two of us together. It worked out pretty well! Most DSLRs these days have wifi so you can use your phone to control the camera and take amazing photos 🙂 I will definitely look into selfie+tripod set, it looks like it could be really useful!!
This was super helpful!! I am about to head on a trip by myself to Minneapolis (from Boston) and I definitely need the help of strangers to take that perfect shot! Loved how clear the instructions were too!
I love this. I'm always with my toddler and end up with photos of just him because the ones strangers take of us come out horrible! Thanks for the tips. I would love to know more about editing tips.
This post is amazing and hilarious! Great job Nick and Jean. I love your content!
I would looooooove some tips on poses and composition. Neither my boyfriend or I consider ourselves naturally photogenic. I never know how to turn my body or place my arms or not smile awkwardly or make "fun" photo poses. It would be amazing if you had a follow up post with some advice in that regard!
Haha I am definitely a sunworshipper. Any tips on taking photos in direct sun like what you did with the suitcase photo? My tip for scouting a good photographer is to pick someone with a DSLR.
OH how I Love this! I can't stop laughing! Nick is so funny! The tips are so helpful! Thank you!!! I love you your blog, Jean! I'm so happy you include Nick too! PERFECTO!
I literally was lol'ing. Great post and I will definitely keep all these tips in mind for our next venture out and about.
Great essential photo tips! 🙂
Merci for sharing.
So cool … such beautiful scenes of nature and street life captured through the lens … love the breakdown each day activities, feels like I'm there too! You traveled to the best places only to have such amazing and precious photos! So very lovely Gorgeous Julie! 🙂
��LA BIJOUX BELLA ��| By Mia | A Creative Lifestyle Blog
You guys are the cutest!! Also, this post was SO helpful. I've resorted to set up a tripod and remote but it's always awkward lol!
Charmaine Ng | Architecture & Lifestyle Blog
http://charmainenyw.com
This is SO helpful!! I am going on another trip to Spain with my boyfriend soon and we always struggle on getting great pictures of the two of us. It can feel so awkward sometimes asking a stranger to take a quick picture. I typically scout for younger people our age with iPhones who clearly know how to use them!
I would love to see a post of how you edit your photos, Jean! That last image came out so great, despite the lack of light in the original pic.
Bookmarking this post for future use!
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GREAT post you guys! Love ehhhtttt. Oh, and super good tips too. Love, Val