HomeSelf-portrait Photography Tips: Taking Better Selfies for Solo Travelers 1091 shares By Marcos Detourist on January 9, 2013Here are tips anyone can learn to take better self-portrait photos. This article is especially useful to solo travelers.Like a lot of people, I enjoy seeing myself in my travel photos. One day when I’m old and forgetful, it would be nice to sort through photos of how I lived my life when I was younger.After posting my 2012 year-end photo series, some readers asked how I managed to take those photos during mostly solo travels. I thought it would be a good idea for a new blog post about tips on taking better self-portrait photos.My self-portrait photo souvenir at the underground mosque in Taman Sari, Yogyakarta, IndonesiaRule of thirdsThe rule of thirds applies to self-portraits as well. Taking yourself off the center of the photo results in an interesting composition that will reveal more about your destination.Try to mentally divide the scene into three parts and position yourself in one section. Turn on the ‘grid lines’ feature on your camera to help you compose the photo. I was lucky to have traveled to Tacloban, Leyte with friends who know how to work angles. If I traveled on my own, I would’ve needed a tripod to take this shot. San Juanico Bridge, the longest bridge in the Philippines.Also keep an eye out for vertical rule of thirds, not just the horizontal ones. Maha Bodhi Temple, Bagan, Myanmar.…or you could let the scene fully engulf you. It’s more fun to break the rules! Sukhothai Historical Park, ThailandI try to explore as much of the area to find good angles. Set-up the tripod. Take a test shot with me in the photo. Then, figure out where to position myself.It’s difficult to know where to position yourself on the photo, especially if you can’t flip the LCD screen or if the camera is too far. I try to mentally mark objects that are easy to spot like a slab of concrete (2nd photo) or middle part of the pediment (3rd photo) so I know where to stand/sit.Find the LightAn excellent posing tip from ANTM: Make sure that the light source, like the sun, is shining on your face.If you’re under a shade or shooting against the light, consider filling in light by turning on the camera flash to even out shadows on your face. Remember not to set the flash too high resulting in overexposed photos.If you can’t set the flash power manually, try putting a tissue or thin paper over it.The sunset was already start to set, creating shadows on the hill. I had to find a clear spot where I could take advantage of the golden sunlight. Sambawan Island, Biliran, Philippines. It’s not all about being in the limelight. Shadows can also create darker mystifying moods. Bagan, Myanmar If you can, always shoot in RAW format when taking self-portraits. It’s how I get to even out harsh shadows on my photos. If the lighting is horrible and I shot in JPEG, the final picture wouldn’t be as good.Know your anglesHandheld self-portraits oftentimes capture your most unflattering angles. Fully stretching your arm, leaning to the side, and pushing your head back will turn you into a no-neck-quadruple-chin monster.Instead of fully stretching your arm, take it back a little. Then, move your chest and face a little towards the camera. You can push your head back a little but also remember to push your shoulders downwards and your chin upwards. This will reveal your neck and get rid of necessary chins.Try practicing taking self-portraits in front of the mirror to discover your best angle. You can see the live view on the reflection if your camera doesn’t have a vari-angle LCD.I discovered my best angle is facing a little to right, showing more of the left side of my face.This was a handheld shot using a DSLR with an ultra wide angle lens. Holding a heavy DSLR in one hand captured an awkward strain on my right deltoid muscles. You won’t see it in the photo because it was cropped out. Train ride from Mandalay to Hsipaw, Myanmar.Ultra wide lenses on SLRs are definitely an advantage when taking self-portrait photos. Be mindful with the lens distortion, if you’re using them.For compact camera users, an arm extender like a mini extendable monopod is very handy. It’s small and light, easy to stash in my daypack.Below my left shoulder, you can see the shadow of my compact camera that was mounted on an extendable monopod. Helicopter Island, El Nido, Palawan, PhilippinesPlan the shotPlanning is very important if you want to take travel photos that are different from those taken by thousands of people that visit the same destinations.Try to know the best time of day/month to do your shoot by looking at pictures online and asking the photographer or guessing when the shot was taken. Lighting isn’t always the only consideration. The fewer the people crowding these tourist spots, the better.On most hours of the day Ta Prohm temple was filled with tourists trying to capture their own Tomb Raider moment. I decided to go there during the late afternoon, the time when 99% of tourists are off taking sunset shots at Phnom Bakheng or Angkor Wat. I didn’t have to deal with random people joining my shot every 3 seconds. Ta Prohm temple in Siem Reap, CambodiaI bring my tripod with me as much as I can so I don’t miss an awesome photo opportunity. I would not have taken many of my best self-portraits, if I left my tripod at home or at the hostel.Wireless TriggerOther than the tripod, a remote control shutter trigger is the most useful camera accessory that I have. I can set-up my tripod, pose in front of the camera, click the remote, and conveniently capture myself in the photo. I set a two second delay so I’d have a little time to pose.The advantage of having a remote shutter compared to using the timer is that you won’t need to walk to the camera every time you want to take a shot.If you must use the timer, sometimes I still do when my camera is set up too far, set the camera to take multiple (burst) shots. You’d have different poses to choose from.If I used a flash with the timer on my DSLR, the burst shot mode gets automatically disabled. What I do is use the “time-lapse” feature instead. I only discovered this feature after extensively exploring the camera settings. Goes to show how useful it is to know what you can do with your camera.I set-up my tripod and camera on a dry surface a couple of meters away from the waterfall. It would’ve taken me ages to get a usable shot if I had used the timer because it already took me 30 seconds to walk over slippery rocks and pose under the waterfall. So I can use my remote shutter, I placed it inside an underwater waterproof pouch. Awao Falls, Compostela Valley, PhilippinesReflections are your friendsGet creative with reflective surfaces like mirrored windows on buildings and cars when you’re out exploring. Saves the trouble setting up the tripod :)Passed by a super clean mirrored glass window in front of what looks like a temple or clan house in Chinatown. A car was parked in front the first time I saw it. I had to come back a few hours later to take this shot. Melaka, MalaysiaFocus firstAlways review your photo if you got the focus right. Sometimes, the camera incorrectly focuses on the background and blurs you out.Point the camera on your face, half press on the shutter, then compose your shot accordingly. Better if you can set the camera focus mode to “center weight” or use the “focus points.”If you’re using an SLR mounted on a tripod and you’re posing from a fair distance, set the focus mode to “focus point,” set the focus point to where you will be positioned. To make sure you get the focus right, direct the focus point on the ground/surface where you will be standing, half press to set the focus, then switch to “manual focus.” That way, you won’t have to depend on the auto focus.I wanted to capture the details of the Tanaka that a nice Burmese woman applied on my face. It’s the yellow dried up cream that locals use as sun protection. I used a little zoom (24mm) so I can get a crisp shot of my face and blur out the temple in the background. Bagan, MyanmarThis shot was taken at one (1) second shutter speed. I had to stay perfectly still for 1 sec so I didn’t blur myself out. Big advantage if you were forced to play “statue dance” when you were a kid. Biri Rock Formations, Samar, Philippines.You can also get creative by blurring yourself out using the focus or, in this case, a long shutter speed. El Nido, Palawan, PhilippinesBlend in“Own” the shot by interacting more with your surroundings. Try posing differently than the usual stand-and-smile pose. Try sitting, even lying down. Have more body contact with things around you. Use a prop. Dress like a local.Create drama for interesting photo souvenirs. Looking away from the camera, focus your glance on the horizon or interesting elements in the shot, close your eyes, pick visually stunning and unusual spots to capture the photo, take varied zoomed-in and wide angle shots.Sat and held my hand on the edge of the cliff while looking away into the mesmerizing waves. Used a tripod and camera timer in burst mode. My body was so awkward in the first shot. I took 45 more photos so I’d have lots to choose from. Luckily, I captured one where I appeared more relaxed and comfortable soaking up the beautiful scenery. Biri Rock Formations, Samar, PhilippinesThere were a lot of colorful kayaks made from synthetic materials at the lake. When I saw a wooden raft in one corner of the lakeside, I was instantly drawn to it. These rafts are traditionally used by locals. In the photo, I attempted to blend in more by dipping my food in the water. Lake Bulusan, Sorsogon, Philippines.Ask for helpRequesting other people to take your picture is most convenient in crowded tourist areas. Scout for people who look like they could spare 30 seconds (or more) to take your photo. Hunt down other tourists who are carrying DSLRs, in particular. More often that not, they will know how to take a good picture.You won’t be the only person traveling on your own. Lookout for other solo travelers, and ask them if you can tag along. That way, both of you can take each other’s photo.Requested a friendly guy to take my picture at the crater of Mount Bromo. Not only did I come home with a great picture, I also gained a new friend that I still keep in touch with in facebook. Mount Bromo, Java Island, Indonesia.Quality controlTry to take as many photos as you can even if it’s the same background. Change your pose on each shot for variation and review your shots before moving on to another angle/location. It doesn’t have to be a drastic change, even small movements in your body can bring out better angles.Sometimes I take as many as 20-100 self-portrait photos doing different poses with the same background. One of those photos is bound to be, at least, “usable.” Even subtle movement in your expression, head angle, arms and leg positions, make a significant difference in the overall mood of the picture.When you’re traveling around Asia, you never know when mating monkeys are going to “bomb” your photo. Baluran National Park, Java, Indonesia.As for post processing, the only thing I edit is my heavy and dark eye bags. I don’t totally get rid of it because it looks unnatural.I tend to sweat a lot, especially on hot humid days. I always bring along a pack of wet tissues so I can wipe the oily mess off my face.If I’m feeling vain and want to instantly even out wrinkles/pores, I use TONYMOLY Egg Pore Silky Smooth Balm or Lioele Secret Pore Rich Balm. They work like magic and make skin soak up light amazingly softer.I also bring a pack of (non-powdered) oil control films but they’re for wiping off grease on my camera lens. Always check that your lens is squeaky clean (even on compact cameras or mobile phones) to get those life-like clear shots.Share the momentIt’s boring to only take photos of yourself. Share the screen with people around you.One time, I was traveling with my aunt and siblings in Kuala Lumpur. We were at the sky bridge of the Petronas Towers when my Aunt suddenly requested the whole group of strangers to join our photo. I haven’t done that on my own (yet) but it was a brilliant idea.Photo souvenir with new friends who teamed up with me on a trip to Leyte and Samar after reading about my travel plans early that year.GearsCreativity is the limit. Anyone can take amazing photos with any camera but for those who are curious, here are the main camera gears that I carry:Camera Nikon D5000 DSLR camera Sigma 18-250mm (wide angle + telephoto) superzoom lens Nikkor 10-24mm ultra wide angle lens Samsung EX1 premium compact cameraWhen I’m choosing to buy a camera, there’s one feature that I consider above all else: a vari-angle / fully “flippable” LCD screen. It’s obviously much easier to compose photos of yourself when you can see how the photo looks before taking it.You can instantly make sure that you’ve got your face and the background are well composed in the shot and that you’re not blurred out because the camera got the focus wrong.Tripod Benro Travel Angel Transfunctional TripodMy biggest considerations for a travel tripod is that it should be (1) compact when folded so I can fit more of other stuff in my backpack and (2) fully extended height should rest somewhere at (my) eye level. I’m 5’7″ tall so a tripod that can fully extend to a little over 5′ is okay (3) light as possible.Why consider the tripod height? ANTM’s Tyra Banks says the most flattering portrait shots are taken when the camera is held just above or at eye level. Nobody messes with Tyra when it comes to selfie advice.Having a fully sized tripod also provides more versatility when composing photos.Accessories Wireless Remote Control / Shutter Trigger for both NikonD5000 (non-brand specific, a.k.a generic, ones priced at P500-P800 will do) and Samsung EX1 (also generic). Underwater waterproof pouch Mini Extendable Monopod Using a remote control is more convenient than the built-in camera timer most of the time and the waterproof pouch is extremely useful when taking shots at waterfalls, the sea, lakes, etc…I’ll post more about my gears in another blog post.Don’t leave yet. There’s more!Landscape Photography Lightroom Preset; My "One Click Fix"Ambot-ah Major Redesign for 2010Flickr Pro rocks my socksAdobe Lightroom - Improve your photographs with the touch of…Transitions and Getting My Life BackAmbot-ah Season 2011 Finale: a year of memoriesComments Kaiye Pallarco saysJanuary 9, 2013 at 2:16 pmAnd don’t forget to smize! Haha chos!Very helpful post Marcos! Apir! Marcos saysJanuary 9, 2013 at 2:26 pmHow could I forget?! That’s another great idea for a blog post: 10 self-portrait travel photography tips I learned from ANTM, haha.Thanks Kaiye! soloflightEd saysJanuary 9, 2013 at 3:20 pmI love this post Marcos! haha. tama nga naman yung Smile na tip. haha I have difficulty when travelling alone to produce good self-portrait shots but seeing your amazing photos, they made me wonder if you had a companion or not. haha. nakakatulong talaga ang tripod, which I don’t have kasi ayokong magcheck-in ng baggage. hehehe.sariling kayod talaga pag gustong maganda yung pics. Marcos saysJanuary 10, 2013 at 2:42 pmThanks Ed. Hassle talaga that you have to buy ‘check-in baggage’ when the only thing you need to check-in is the tripod. Since bringing a tripod is important for me, not only for self-portraits coz I also like taking long exposure shots, kumukuha na lang ako. Claire | Traveling Light saysJanuary 9, 2013 at 4:45 pmI’m good at the “asking for help” tip hahahaha! Still have yet to buy a tripod, if ever.Great photos, as usual. =) Marcos saysJanuary 10, 2013 at 2:46 pmHehe :D Thanks Claire. Jherson Jaya saysJanuary 9, 2013 at 4:48 pmThis post made you a Master of Self Portrait marcos!!! hehe… but honestly i love all your self portrait photo =) Marcos saysJanuary 10, 2013 at 2:48 pmThanks Jherson ^_^ I just want to share things I’ve learned. Taking self-portraits isn’t the only thing I do, so more tips to come :D Ryan Mach saysJanuary 9, 2013 at 6:48 pmThese are great tips. I’ve been trying to shun away from self-portraits because I don’t want to be viewed as self-centered but what the heck, self-portraits are cool and fun! Marcos saysJanuary 10, 2013 at 2:53 pmI know what you mean Ryan Mach. I try not to cross the line and go overboard with it. There are a lot of self-portraits that I don’t publicly share. They’re only for my and my close friends’ viewing pleasure :) robert saysJanuary 9, 2013 at 7:45 pmYes, I agree with Ryan Mach. I always try to capture photos of landscapes and other people but I try to limit myself from self portrait as much as possible because of my thinking “I am a photographer, not a model”. But with these great tips and motivations, it seems self-portraits can be so much fun Marcos saysJanuary 10, 2013 at 2:53 pmI get that! Kanya-kanyang trip lang :D patricia saysJanuary 9, 2013 at 9:36 pmVerrry helpful!!!thank you!:) Marcos saysJanuary 10, 2013 at 2:54 pmNo problem particia :D doi saysJanuary 9, 2013 at 9:40 pmYour secret’s finally out Marcos. I thought you run all the time before the timer catches you. Yun pala, remote control lang and I completely forgot about that very nifty and useful tool. hehehe. Your self-portraits are really amazing! Natawa ako sa ANTM. Akala ko kung ano ibig sabihin. hehehe. Looking forward to the next photography and ANTM tips! Thank you for sharing these marvelous tips with us :) Marcos saysJanuary 10, 2013 at 2:55 pmHehe, Ever since I bought my first wireless trigger sa Photoshop na camera shop near Fuente Osmena sa Cebu, na convince ako how useful it is. Thanks Doi! Sky saysJanuary 9, 2013 at 10:00 pmVery clever Marcos. I thought that post of you in Mt. Bromo was DIY, hehe secret revealed!Your photos are really stunning! Now we need that remote trigger for our tripod :)Very helpful! :) Marcos saysJanuary 10, 2013 at 3:01 pmSetting up a tripod and taking self-portrait photos at the top of Mount Bromo was nearly impossible. The wind was very very strong. We had to crouch down so we won’t get outbalanced and end up rolling down into the crater. Napalid pa yung lens cover ko, sa lakas ng hangin. :DThanks Sky. Ivy saysJanuary 9, 2013 at 10:11 pmGaliiing! And ang gaganda talaga ng photos mo! Marcos saysJanuary 10, 2013 at 3:01 pmThanks Ivy :D Chum Guerrero saysJanuary 9, 2013 at 10:12 pmVery informative! Amazing shots too! Looking forward to read about your next great adventure. Always be safe and keep going! Marcos saysJanuary 10, 2013 at 3:01 pmThanks thanks Wandering Chummy :p Whacky Adventures* saysJanuary 9, 2013 at 11:07 pmExcellent post there bud. Natawa ako sa ATNM part. you don’t mess with Tyra, damn right. :D \m/ Marcos saysJanuary 10, 2013 at 3:03 pmLOL. Kung sa other aspects, pwede pa pero kung sa expertise niya na, then bow down to the master. Jerome saysJanuary 10, 2013 at 12:56 amI enjoy reading this post. awesome article, now I don’t have to ask someone to take my photo when I’m travelling alone hahaha Marcos saysJanuary 10, 2013 at 3:03 pmThanks Jerome. Tara! Elal Jane Lasola saysJanuary 10, 2013 at 2:28 amGreat tips. I’m excited to buy a remote and waterproof pouch! Yay! Marcos saysJanuary 10, 2013 at 3:05 pmThe remote is very handy, when taking long exposure shots, not just in self-portraits. Thanks Elal ^_^ Happy shooting! Janet saysJanuary 10, 2013 at 2:40 amoh this is such a super fun post! :D the best “i love myself” photos! :D and whoa you watch ANTM? :D haha that was so funny! more fun posts to come! :D Marcos saysJanuary 10, 2013 at 3:07 pmHaha, yeah, this post is kinda revealing. One of my dreams is to become a (high) fashion editorial photographer, so I enjoy watching ANTM. Most times, I skip the drama part and fast forward to the actual shoots and final photo judging :D miguel garcia saysJanuary 10, 2013 at 3:15 amaha…now i know your secret idol marcos..very helpful article…speechless “SAMBA!” :-) Marcos saysJanuary 10, 2013 at 3:09 pmThere will be more secrets that are going to be revealed in future posts. Of course, it won’t all be about self-portraits. Thanks Miguel :D Nikka | Two2Travel saysJanuary 10, 2013 at 9:43 amWas wondering too if you had someone taking your photos, lalo na sa waterfalls. Avail na avail ang tripod at remote, hehe. Looking forward to more photos from your travels! Marcos saysJanuary 10, 2013 at 3:13 pmThe cat’s out of the bag now, haha. Thanks for dropping by Nikka! Christian | Lakad Pilipinas saysJanuary 11, 2013 at 8:15 pmI know of no one else na mas creative pa sayo when taking travel-oriented self portraits. Hats off to you for unselfishly sharing your tips! (although di ko rin sya masyado magagamit pala haha) Marcos saysJanuary 12, 2013 at 6:50 pmThanks Christian! Naka inspire naman comment mo #mademyday … Maybe someday it’ll prove useful or in an alternate reality, haha ^_^ CA | Adventurous Feet saysJanuary 12, 2013 at 7:59 pmvery great write up marcos! very helpful! I enjoyed reading and learning, kumbaga words of wisdom talaga! Namangha ako na parang malayo ka dun sa waterfalls pero kinaya pa rin ng remote mo. I admire your patience, I can’t imagine 45 photos pero it did pay well! Biri island and waterfalls are my favorite. I’ll share this in my fb! :) Aleah | SolitaryWanderer.com saysJanuary 12, 2013 at 8:34 pmLove this post, Marcos. Super helpful since I travel solo lagi. Bookmarking and sharing it! Looking forward to use your tips! Marj saysJanuary 15, 2013 at 7:49 amAmazing photos! Parating fail ang self portraits ko. I’ll definitely follow your tips. And I never bring a tripod because I don’t pay for check-in baggage, but I guess it really does pay off.Great post :) Rae saysJanuary 26, 2013 at 9:00 amPicturesque! Thank you for the travel tips. Excited to travel solo starting next month. tadonggenius saysFebruary 3, 2013 at 8:07 amGreat pics and great tips. Good thing I already have a tripod and a remote control. Your tips will come in handy on my first solo trip this June in, of all places, Iloilo. :) Marcos saysFebruary 9, 2013 at 4:00 pmCool! Enjoy your trip :D Angel saysFebruary 4, 2013 at 2:05 pmWow. Awesome pictures and useful tips. It’s my first time to read your blog but I think I’m already starting to love you Marcos. Keep it up! Bic saysFebruary 5, 2013 at 9:07 pmI’m camera awkward when it comes to taking self-portraits, and this post was extremely helpful. Salamat Marcos! Marcos saysFebruary 9, 2013 at 4:11 pmYou’re welcome Bic :) eden morales saysFebruary 18, 2013 at 11:30 amang ganda ng shots mo. very put together yung blog galing! more more more please? :) Marcos saysFebruary 18, 2013 at 11:38 pmThanks Eden. I’ll try to make more posts like this :D Buddhist Pilgrimage Tour saysJuly 2, 2016 at 3:36 pmThank you so much to shared of this blog for the travel lovers. It really an exciting Portrait tips to get travel. Kring saysMarch 14, 2013 at 8:17 amI hating taking lots of photos because people tend to stare at me. Have you ever experienced this?My travel photos are nasty as hell and your tips will definitely help me. Thank you! Rain saysMarch 31, 2013 at 5:12 pmWow great article dude! it helped me a lot. Thanks so much :) Regine saysApril 2, 2013 at 2:41 pmI’m about to go on a backpacking trip around Asia alone and I was having a problem about taking pictures of myself. (NO VAIN PHOTOS!) and your blog is of big big help! Thank you so much for sharing your tips! Ciel saysApril 7, 2013 at 1:59 amVery helpful tips! Thanks for sharing. :) Poi Austria saysMay 25, 2013 at 9:22 amI just love how you take pictures. The waterfalls photo is so surreal, parang painting. Wish ko lang mahaba ang kamay at braso ko para makakuha ng selfie pic na hindi masyadong malaki ang mukha ko kesa sa view. hahaha. Marcos saysJune 13, 2013 at 7:59 pmHeheh, thanks Poi. You can hire a chief executive assistant to take your photos :D AmonImouS saysMarch 25, 2014 at 11:14 pmNice! Gave me hope for me and my camera which is Nikon D5000 as well. Just starting my photography career and this blog helped me boost my confidence to pursue it. Thanks for this! Marcos saysMarch 27, 2014 at 7:30 amThanks ^_^ as they say, it’s the photographer that makes the photo great not the camera. Albert saysDecember 21, 2016 at 1:38 pmGood Posting of new comments is disabled temporarily.Connect with Marcos on:Detourista.comMarcosDetourist.comFacebookInstagramTwitterDetourista.comDiscover more travel guides and blogs about the Philippines and beyond by Marcos DetouristChoose your next destination: Cambodia, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Laos, Macau, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam
Kaiye Pallarco saysJanuary 9, 2013 at 2:16 pmAnd don’t forget to smize! Haha chos!Very helpful post Marcos! Apir!
Marcos saysJanuary 9, 2013 at 2:26 pmHow could I forget?! That’s another great idea for a blog post: 10 self-portrait travel photography tips I learned from ANTM, haha.Thanks Kaiye!
soloflightEd saysJanuary 9, 2013 at 3:20 pmI love this post Marcos! haha. tama nga naman yung Smile na tip. haha I have difficulty when travelling alone to produce good self-portrait shots but seeing your amazing photos, they made me wonder if you had a companion or not. haha. nakakatulong talaga ang tripod, which I don’t have kasi ayokong magcheck-in ng baggage. hehehe.sariling kayod talaga pag gustong maganda yung pics.
Marcos saysJanuary 10, 2013 at 2:42 pmThanks Ed. Hassle talaga that you have to buy ‘check-in baggage’ when the only thing you need to check-in is the tripod. Since bringing a tripod is important for me, not only for self-portraits coz I also like taking long exposure shots, kumukuha na lang ako.
Claire | Traveling Light saysJanuary 9, 2013 at 4:45 pmI’m good at the “asking for help” tip hahahaha! Still have yet to buy a tripod, if ever.Great photos, as usual. =)
Jherson Jaya saysJanuary 9, 2013 at 4:48 pmThis post made you a Master of Self Portrait marcos!!! hehe… but honestly i love all your self portrait photo =)
Marcos saysJanuary 10, 2013 at 2:48 pmThanks Jherson ^_^ I just want to share things I’ve learned. Taking self-portraits isn’t the only thing I do, so more tips to come :D
Ryan Mach saysJanuary 9, 2013 at 6:48 pmThese are great tips. I’ve been trying to shun away from self-portraits because I don’t want to be viewed as self-centered but what the heck, self-portraits are cool and fun!
Marcos saysJanuary 10, 2013 at 2:53 pmI know what you mean Ryan Mach. I try not to cross the line and go overboard with it. There are a lot of self-portraits that I don’t publicly share. They’re only for my and my close friends’ viewing pleasure :)
robert saysJanuary 9, 2013 at 7:45 pmYes, I agree with Ryan Mach. I always try to capture photos of landscapes and other people but I try to limit myself from self portrait as much as possible because of my thinking “I am a photographer, not a model”. But with these great tips and motivations, it seems self-portraits can be so much fun
doi saysJanuary 9, 2013 at 9:40 pmYour secret’s finally out Marcos. I thought you run all the time before the timer catches you. Yun pala, remote control lang and I completely forgot about that very nifty and useful tool. hehehe. Your self-portraits are really amazing! Natawa ako sa ANTM. Akala ko kung ano ibig sabihin. hehehe. Looking forward to the next photography and ANTM tips! Thank you for sharing these marvelous tips with us :)
Marcos saysJanuary 10, 2013 at 2:55 pmHehe, Ever since I bought my first wireless trigger sa Photoshop na camera shop near Fuente Osmena sa Cebu, na convince ako how useful it is. Thanks Doi!
Sky saysJanuary 9, 2013 at 10:00 pmVery clever Marcos. I thought that post of you in Mt. Bromo was DIY, hehe secret revealed!Your photos are really stunning! Now we need that remote trigger for our tripod :)Very helpful! :)
Marcos saysJanuary 10, 2013 at 3:01 pmSetting up a tripod and taking self-portrait photos at the top of Mount Bromo was nearly impossible. The wind was very very strong. We had to crouch down so we won’t get outbalanced and end up rolling down into the crater. Napalid pa yung lens cover ko, sa lakas ng hangin. :DThanks Sky.
Chum Guerrero saysJanuary 9, 2013 at 10:12 pmVery informative! Amazing shots too! Looking forward to read about your next great adventure. Always be safe and keep going!
Whacky Adventures* saysJanuary 9, 2013 at 11:07 pmExcellent post there bud. Natawa ako sa ATNM part. you don’t mess with Tyra, damn right. :D \m/
Marcos saysJanuary 10, 2013 at 3:03 pmLOL. Kung sa other aspects, pwede pa pero kung sa expertise niya na, then bow down to the master.
Jerome saysJanuary 10, 2013 at 12:56 amI enjoy reading this post. awesome article, now I don’t have to ask someone to take my photo when I’m travelling alone hahaha
Elal Jane Lasola saysJanuary 10, 2013 at 2:28 amGreat tips. I’m excited to buy a remote and waterproof pouch! Yay!
Marcos saysJanuary 10, 2013 at 3:05 pmThe remote is very handy, when taking long exposure shots, not just in self-portraits. Thanks Elal ^_^ Happy shooting!
Janet saysJanuary 10, 2013 at 2:40 amoh this is such a super fun post! :D the best “i love myself” photos! :D and whoa you watch ANTM? :D haha that was so funny! more fun posts to come! :D
Marcos saysJanuary 10, 2013 at 3:07 pmHaha, yeah, this post is kinda revealing. One of my dreams is to become a (high) fashion editorial photographer, so I enjoy watching ANTM. Most times, I skip the drama part and fast forward to the actual shoots and final photo judging :D
miguel garcia saysJanuary 10, 2013 at 3:15 amaha…now i know your secret idol marcos..very helpful article…speechless “SAMBA!” :-)
Marcos saysJanuary 10, 2013 at 3:09 pmThere will be more secrets that are going to be revealed in future posts. Of course, it won’t all be about self-portraits. Thanks Miguel :D
Nikka | Two2Travel saysJanuary 10, 2013 at 9:43 amWas wondering too if you had someone taking your photos, lalo na sa waterfalls. Avail na avail ang tripod at remote, hehe. Looking forward to more photos from your travels!
Marcos saysJanuary 10, 2013 at 3:13 pmThe cat’s out of the bag now, haha. Thanks for dropping by Nikka!
Christian | Lakad Pilipinas saysJanuary 11, 2013 at 8:15 pmI know of no one else na mas creative pa sayo when taking travel-oriented self portraits. Hats off to you for unselfishly sharing your tips! (although di ko rin sya masyado magagamit pala haha)
Marcos saysJanuary 12, 2013 at 6:50 pmThanks Christian! Naka inspire naman comment mo #mademyday … Maybe someday it’ll prove useful or in an alternate reality, haha ^_^
CA | Adventurous Feet saysJanuary 12, 2013 at 7:59 pmvery great write up marcos! very helpful! I enjoyed reading and learning, kumbaga words of wisdom talaga! Namangha ako na parang malayo ka dun sa waterfalls pero kinaya pa rin ng remote mo. I admire your patience, I can’t imagine 45 photos pero it did pay well! Biri island and waterfalls are my favorite. I’ll share this in my fb! :)
Aleah | SolitaryWanderer.com saysJanuary 12, 2013 at 8:34 pmLove this post, Marcos. Super helpful since I travel solo lagi. Bookmarking and sharing it! Looking forward to use your tips!
Marj saysJanuary 15, 2013 at 7:49 amAmazing photos! Parating fail ang self portraits ko. I’ll definitely follow your tips. And I never bring a tripod because I don’t pay for check-in baggage, but I guess it really does pay off.Great post :)
Rae saysJanuary 26, 2013 at 9:00 amPicturesque! Thank you for the travel tips. Excited to travel solo starting next month.
tadonggenius saysFebruary 3, 2013 at 8:07 amGreat pics and great tips. Good thing I already have a tripod and a remote control. Your tips will come in handy on my first solo trip this June in, of all places, Iloilo. :)
Angel saysFebruary 4, 2013 at 2:05 pmWow. Awesome pictures and useful tips. It’s my first time to read your blog but I think I’m already starting to love you Marcos. Keep it up!
Bic saysFebruary 5, 2013 at 9:07 pmI’m camera awkward when it comes to taking self-portraits, and this post was extremely helpful. Salamat Marcos!
eden morales saysFebruary 18, 2013 at 11:30 amang ganda ng shots mo. very put together yung blog galing! more more more please? :)
Buddhist Pilgrimage Tour saysJuly 2, 2016 at 3:36 pmThank you so much to shared of this blog for the travel lovers. It really an exciting Portrait tips to get travel.
Kring saysMarch 14, 2013 at 8:17 amI hating taking lots of photos because people tend to stare at me. Have you ever experienced this?My travel photos are nasty as hell and your tips will definitely help me. Thank you!
Regine saysApril 2, 2013 at 2:41 pmI’m about to go on a backpacking trip around Asia alone and I was having a problem about taking pictures of myself. (NO VAIN PHOTOS!) and your blog is of big big help! Thank you so much for sharing your tips!
Poi Austria saysMay 25, 2013 at 9:22 amI just love how you take pictures. The waterfalls photo is so surreal, parang painting. Wish ko lang mahaba ang kamay at braso ko para makakuha ng selfie pic na hindi masyadong malaki ang mukha ko kesa sa view. hahaha.
Marcos saysJune 13, 2013 at 7:59 pmHeheh, thanks Poi. You can hire a chief executive assistant to take your photos :D
AmonImouS saysMarch 25, 2014 at 11:14 pmNice! Gave me hope for me and my camera which is Nikon D5000 as well. Just starting my photography career and this blog helped me boost my confidence to pursue it. Thanks for this!
Marcos saysMarch 27, 2014 at 7:30 amThanks ^_^ as they say, it’s the photographer that makes the photo great not the camera.