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    Anne Marie
    Black women of every age and income bracket can and should consider solo traveling and living abroad either permanently or semi-permanently.

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How to take great photos on Solo Travel: 5 things to do!

June 27, 2022
The photo was taken by Guide in Ubud Bali, Indonesia

Read this blog post and learn how to get good photos of yourself on solo travel. Here are 5 tips and tricks.

I am often asked how I take good pictures of myself while on solo travel. Here are the 5 methods I use to get good pics of myself on solo travel. They are all relatively low cost. Many just require your mobile phone. I use an iPhone XR for most of my pictures.

1. Master the Selfie

You can get really good photos of yourself if you master the art of taking the Selfie. Always take Selfies in front of amazing backdrops.  Practice taking selfies at home and outdoors. Determine the best light and best facial expressions.  For example, take your photo with a smile, without a smile, smile with your teeth, and without, with your mouth closed or slightly closed.  Figure out what looks you like by practice.

Here is a selfie I took at Plitvice Lakes National Park in Croatia.

The selfie may yield lower-quality pictures but if your backdrop is on point, it will still be quite nice.

2. Bring along a remote Tripod with Bluetooth (my favorite)

Another way you can get good photos of yourself is to travel with a Selfie stick with a remote wireless shutter. I always travel with a Selfie Stick, 40-inch Extendable Selfie Stick Tripod with Wireless Remote Shutter.  I never leave home without it! It is small enough to fit easily in my personal bag or backpack.  It allows me to take great selfies as well as posed pictures. I also like this smaller tripod with a flexible stand and Bluetooth Remote that I can sit on a table to take photos as well. It’s amazing! I can wrap it around a tree branch, or the top of a chair, and get a perfect shot. It is very lightweight and takes u very little space.

Again, practice makes perfect so take some time to take photos in your leisure time. Figure out what poses and facial expressions work and then go for it! One of my favorite poses using my selfie stick tripod is the back of the headshot. Here is a favorite from a solo trip to Tulum Mexico that I took with my selfie stick tripod.

3. Take a Tour and ask your Guide

Another way you can get good photos of yourself is through tours. I love tours when I solo travel! It’s a great way to learn a lot about a city or town in a limited period of time. I regularly do guided tours with Viator and GetYourGuide, guided individual tours, and walking tours through Airbnb Experiences. All are great ways to get quality photographs if you have a tour guide with a good eye.

If you buy a guided individual tour ask your guide to take some photographs. They are usually happy to do it. You’re not always going to get the best photographs this way because most guides are not photographers. Make sure you set up the photo exactly where you want it taken, gauge your light and then just have them point and shoot. Guides make better photographers than random strangers or fellow solo travelers on your tour. They usually have experience taking pictures and usually have a better eye for a good shot. Here is a favorite photograph taken by a guide on a tour in Bali, Indonesia.

4. Ask another solo traveler

Yet another way I get good photos of myself is by asking another solo traveler. I look for someone else taking selfies traveling on their own and ask if they would be willing to take a couple of pictures of me in exchange for me taking pictures of them.

I don’t like to just walk up to random people and ask them. Instead, I will pick someone with a nice camera also trying to take a snap with a tripod, or a couple taking pictures of each other. I often zero in on younger women because younger people have a better grasp of photo technology. and young women know how to get a great snap for the gram! I will offer to take a picture for them in exchange for one of myself.

I try to assess carefully who I ask to ensure that someone doesn’t run off with my camera. Most of the time I only ask a stranger to take a photo of me on walking tours or a day trip booked through a reputable tour company. I like to use Viator and GetYourGuide, Walking tours are also a great way to make new friends while traveling solo and to get a good snap!

Here is a pic from my solo trip to Thailand that another follows solo traveler on a tour took for me.

I find this to be the method that will yield the least predictable result. So be careful. You need to pick the spot, the light and just have the person point exactly where you selected and shoot and you STILL may end up with a lackluster result.

5. Book a photographer

The final way I get good photos of myself on solo travel is by booking a photographer. This is the most expensive method but the one most likely to give you the best result! Another great thing about using a photographer is many of them will also share history, cultural intel, and restaurant recommendations with you during your photo shoot. I have gotten great information about restaurants, activities, and historical facts during photo shoots. You can find a photographer on a tour website like Viator, GetYourGuide, TripAdvisor, or Airbnb Experiences.

Be careful to READ all reviews to ensure the best outcome. Also, ask for referrals from fellow solo travelers whose photographs you admire.

I’ve gotten really great pictures this way. Prices can range from $25-$65 and up.

Here are a couple of photographs from shoots I did in Queretaro, Mexico, Florence Italy, and Venice, Italy. These photo shoots were all booked through Airbnb experiences and I love the results.

Pro Tip: Do NOT provide a review until you get your edited photos. No matter how much you like the initial photographs. I recently had a photographer take several months to send me my fully edited photographs. I had no recourse because I had already given her a good review and Airbnb was not very helpful.  Lesson Learned.

Final Tip

Take your photos early or during the golden twilight hour! The best time to take your own photographs is early in the morning or right at sunset. My favorite time is early morning before key spots get crowded and the sun is still low. The golden hour is also nice but there are likely to be more crowds so I stick to early morning.

Practice practice practice. Practice taking pictures and posing. When you’re at home, practice setting up your tripod with your phone camera and taking selfie shots and posed shots. Be patient with yourself.

Don’t take your eyes off your things when shooting in public. Always keep your eyes on your phone and never put your purse down when taking photographs in public. I suggest carrying a nice cross-body purse or waist bag that you can keep on you throughout your photo shoot.

There you have it! My five tips on how to get good pictures of yourself while Solo Travel.  Don’t forget to subscribe to this website and to my YouTube channel for video blogs (vlogs), video shorts, and more tips and tricks to make your Solo trip memorable and fun!

No matter where you plan to solo travel your travel should include a travel safety plan. Grab the BaldGirlWillTravel: A Guide to Travel Safety and Security for Solo Female Travelers and ensure you follow the safety tips to ensure a safe solo travel experience.

A great way to plan safe and fun travel excursions especially is through  Viator. Check them out for great deals on walking tours, tours of popular places and airport transfers.  As a woman traveling alone, I make a special point to plan my excursions in advance and I especially love Viator because I have the option of not paying in full until 48 hours before my tour date and I can get a refund until 24 hours before my tour!

How do I get the best prices on flights to all my adventures? I rely on Going (formerly Scotts Cheap Flights). I am always confident that the prices I find on Going are the lowest I will find anywhere.

Thank You For Reading!

Subscribe to this website and GET YOUR FREE DIGITAL TEAM CARRY-ON PACKING GUIDE FOR THE FLY 40+ WOMAN!

Follow me on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube.

Join my Facebook Community for Fly40+ Black Women who Love to Solo Travel

Check out these solo travel blog posts:

3 WAYS TO BUILD A SOLO TRAVEL MINDSET

10 SOLO TRAVEL MISTAKES TO AVOID!

4 MORE OF MY FAVORITE SAFETY APPS & GADGETS FOR SOLO TRAVEL!

7 SAFETY TIPS FOR WOMEN OVER 40 TRAVELING SOLO

This post may contain affiliate links to things like tours, hotels, Amazon associates, and products. These help me earn a small commission at no additional charge to you.

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Blog Posts  / Female Solo Travel over 40  / Solo Female Travel  / Solo Travel  / Solo Travel Tips  / Travel  / Travel Planning  / Travel Planning

Anne Marie Archer
I am on a mission to make solo travel accessible and fun for everyone, especially Black Women over 40, and to dispel the myth that women over 50 can’t be fashionable, comfortable, and still travel #TeamCarryon.

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  • About Me

    Anne Marie

    Hi I'm Anne Marie. I Quit my high six-figure income job, jumped off the hamster wheel, exited the American Rat Race, packed up my house and moved to Mexico in May 2021. Now I am embracing my love of solo travel while working as an HR consultant and connecting Black Women Coaches to those who need them via The BlackWomen Coach™ Directory (www.blackwomencoach.com). I have traveled to over 40 countries and I want Black Women over 40 to embrace solo travel! Stop waiting for your girlfriends, husband, boyfriend to get on the road. Go see the world and live your best authentic unapologetic and free life right now.

    We each have this one precious life – you owe it to yourself to live your life to the fullest NOW!

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    The material in this site is intended to be of general informational use and is not intended to constitute medical or legal advice. Readers should consult with a licensed professional to get advice for their individual situation. See the Disclaimer and Terms of Use for more information. Copyright BaldGirlWillTravel,LLC 2022. This website, Baldgirlwilltravel, LLC, And all trademarks and other intellectual property used herein are the property of MegEd Enterprises LLC.

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    Over 50 I Solo Travel for self care you should too! 30+🌍 & counting✈️

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    Here is what 7 nights in Nairobi, Kenya cost me. Here is what 7 nights in Nairobi, Kenya cost me.

Please note that I didn’t fly round trip because Nairobi what is the second stop in a five weeklong trip on the continent of Africa. 

The biggest ticket item for me on this leg of my trip was my airfare. The flight from Senegal to Kenya routed me through Mali and Addis Ababa Ethiopia and took 12.5 hours. I made a choice to invest in business class for the longest part of the flight which was 10 hours. Flying  around Africa can get expensive especially if you’re going from east to west or west to south so keep that in mind when you’re planning. It’s best to stay in one region if you want to keep the cost down.

I used some of my Chase Sapphire points to offset the cost of seven nights at the 5 star Sarova Stanley Hotel. Well worth it!

And I ate a lot at the hotel and drank a lot at the bar so I did run up a bit of a tab for food in Kenya.👀😳🍷🍷

I did some a fun tours using Viator and it was super affordable. When I think of everything I did, I’m surprised to see that I only paid $95 for a tour that took me to the giraffe Center, the elephant sanctuary, and a bead factory. 

I thoroughly enjoyed myself in Nairobi, and I recommend it! Read my blog post at the link in bio to learn more about everything that I did in Nairobi!

#solotravel  #wheretostay #costbreakdown #melanin #blackwomentravel #travelgram #travel #travelblogger #blackandabroad #traveltips #kenya #nairobi #visitafrica #visitkenya
    In my YouTube live this week and my current blog p In my YouTube live this week and my current blog post I hope I laid a rest for all times my response to the question “is Mexico safe for solo travel?“ Considering that these inquiries primarily come from Americans, who live in arguably one of the most dangerous countries in the entire world, I find it ironic. But I have given a lengthy response In my last YouTube live and in my blog post. I’m sure someone will still come in my comments and either make a snarky remark or ask the question again🙄 Do I think Mexico does not require any safety precautions? Of course not. There’s nowhere in the world that’s completely safe. And Mexico has its problems as does almost every country in the world, but I find it eminently safe for Solo travel as long as you exercise common sense and basic situational awareness. I explain what I mean and the things that I specifically think are important for solo travel to Mexico in my blog post and on my YouTube chat. You can catch both at the link in bio, but the bottom line is Mexico is safe for tourist travel, including solo travel. unless you’re planning to hang out in a border town 👀👀 you should be perfectly fine. Always do your homework about your destination. If you have relationships with the locals, ask them as well and don’t come down here and just drop all your defenses. Exercise common sense and situational awareness and you will be OK. Happy traveling! #vivamexico #solotravel #safetravels #travel #travelsafe #melanin #blackgirlstraveltoo #travelover50 #seesomeworld
    Here is what six nights and seven days in Dakar Se Here is what six nights and seven days in Dakar Senegal cost me.

Please note that I didn’t fly round trip because Dakar I flew next to Nairobi, so those cost will be included in my breakdown of the cost for my stay in Nairobi Kenya. 

Overall, I think I did pretty well considering what 7-10 days  in Egypt and Ghana are going to cost me in an group trip later this year👀👀

I thoroughly enjoyed myself in Dakar, and I highly recommend it! #solotravel #dakar #senegal #wheretostay #costbreakdown #melanin #blackwomentravel #travelgram #travel #travelblogger #blackandabroad #traveltips
    Is Mexico safe? Is it safe for solo travel? This i Is Mexico safe? Is it safe for solo travel? This is a question that I get asked a lot. In light of the events a month ago, I will revisit my thoughts about solo travel and Safety in Mexico tonight on my weekly Thursday teatime on #YouTube. I’ll talk a bit about the places. I think are safe and ideal for solo travel and places I think you should avoid. You can subscribe to my channel at the link in bio and I’ll see you later at 6 PM CST and 8 PM EDT for a little chat  Grab your glass of wine and join me.  #mexico #solotravel #travel #safetravels #travelsafely #travelsafety
    Use every single minute of it! #LifeIsWorthLiving Use every single minute of it! #LifeIsWorthLiving #Live #solotravelislife #solotravel
    On this weeks Thursday teatime🫖 I will share my On this weeks Thursday teatime🫖 I will share my thoughts on whether I think Mexico is safe for solo travel. I will speak about this from my perspective as a 50+ woman who solo travels around Mexico. So if you’re planning a solo trip to Mexico, make sure you join this live.

Subscribe at the link in bio or here

And don’t forget to hit the notification bell🛎️ so you know every time a new video drops
#safety #mexico #travelsafety #travelsafe #solotravel
    SAVE AND SHARE Hey everyone! Are you planning on SAVE AND SHARE

Hey everyone! Are you planning on traveling with your iPhone soon? Here are my top 5 tips to keep it safe during your journey:

1.    Use a protective case and screen protector to prevent scratches and cracks.
2.    Set a passcode or use biometric authentication (like Touch ID or Face ID) to secure your device.
3.    Turn on Find My iPhone so you can locate your phone if it gets lost or stolen.
4.    Keep your phone close to you and never leave it unattended in public places.
5.    Avoid connecting to unsecured Wi-Fi networks, as they may put your personal information at risk.

Read my blog post at the link in bio for all 10 of my iPhone Solo Travel Safety Tips.

At this Thursdays TeaTime I am talking Safe Solo Travel in Mexico and sharing my thoughts on whether Mexico is safe for solo travel.

I spent 15+ years overseeing global security in the international development sector. The most important thing to remember when traveling alone, especially as a woman, is to practice situational awareness and common sense. If it feels wrong even for a minute don’t do it. 

I share solo travel safety and security advice based on my 15+ years of experience in the downloadable BaldGirlWillTravel: A Guide to Travel Safety and Security for Solo Female Travelers” 

Grab yours at the link in bio or here: https://baldgirlwilltravel.com/product/bald-girl-will-travel-a-guide-to-travel-safety-security-for-solo-female-travelers/

At $15 a download it’s a bargain and it will tell you what you need to know about traveling alone as a woman and doing it safely. It’s been recently updated. 

Don’t let Social media personalities scare you. You can be safe anywhere in the world. Stay Ready so You Don’t have to Get Ready!

Remember: 
Life is short. 
Book the trip.
You’re welcome

#iphonesafetytips #traveltips #protectyourphone #staysafewhiletraveling #travelsmart #applesecurity #phoneprotection #cybersecurity #safetravels #techtips #solotravel #solotravelsafety #travelsafe #travelsmart #safety #safetravel #traveltips #travelhacks #hotelsafety #airbnbsafety #tipandtricks
    I go live in 30 minutes 6 PM CST or 8 PM EDT to sp I go live in 30 minutes 6 PM CST or 8 PM EDT to spill Allll The Tea 🫖🫖🫖about my recent visit to Nairobi Kenya. Make sure you are subscribed to my #YouTube #channel and Hit your notification bell to know when we are going LIVE.

#nairobi
#kenya
#visitafrica
#visitkenya
#solotraveler
#baldgirlwilltravel
#blackwomentravel
#blackandabroad
#melaninonthemap
#melanatedwanderlust
#wetraveltoo
#travelnoire
    If you're looking for an unforgettable experience If you're looking for an unforgettable experience during your visit to Nairobi, Kenya, then you have to check out the Giraffe Center!

The Giraffe Center is a non-profit organization that aims to provide a home for the endangered Rothschild's giraffe. This center is located just 20 minutes away from Nairobi's city center, making it a must-visit spot for both locals and tourists.

One of the highlights of visiting the Giraffe Center is the opportunity to get up close and personal with these majestic creatures. You can feed them with specially prepared pellets from a raised platform and even get a giraffe kiss by placing a pellet in your mouth and letting the giraffe take it from you!

The Giraffe Center also provides education to visitors on the importance of conservation efforts and the work being done to protect the giraffe population in Kenya.

Overall, the Giraffe Center is an amazing destination that offers a unique experience with these beautiful animals while supporting conservation efforts. Make sure to add it to your bucket list and let us know in the comments if you've had the chance to visit! 

I will tell you all about my visit to the Giraffe Center at this Thursday’s Tea Time!

Also read my blog post about my visit to Nairobi Kenya at the link in bio.

Join me on my #youtube #channel each and every Thursdays at 6p Central, 7p EST or on the replay to discuss a Solo Travel topic. Grab your favorite beverage while I spill the tea about the good bad and ugly of traveling over 50 solo

Hit your notification bell to know when we are going LIVE. 

#giraffecenter #nairobi #kenya #conservation #wildlife #travel #bucketlist
#solotravel
#solotraveler
#baldgirlwilltravel
#blackwomentravel
#blackandabroad
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