How to Take Better Travel Selfies

My secret for taking better travel selfies with landscapes and landmarks in the background.

As we gazed across the sparkling Siglufjörður bay, surrounded by snowcapped mountains and an almost surreal sense of solitude, we were lost in the moment and falling head over heels for northern Iceland.

Of course, while our love for Iceland was endless, the Siglufjörður serenity was not. We needed a special photo to remember that peaceful moment forever.

“Do you mind taking our …”

Oh wait. We were completely alone.

That’s the thing about a peaceful, serene travel moment – there’s no one around to help you capture it.

Enter the selfie.

Eek, the selfie. I’ve never been a fan of pouty lips or duck face (is that even what it’s called? Apparently I’m a dinosaur…). I prefer travel photography that sets the scene, focusing on the incredible place instead of my new lip gloss or inability to pout.

But sometimes you have to make sacrifices, and during our Icelandic road trip, that sacrifice was the selfie.

From remote waterfalls to the isolated Siglufjörður fishing town, we captured many a selfie during our trip. And it was during those awkward moments, when I held out my phone and smiled, that I stumbled upon perhaps the greatest travel selfie trick of all time:

The Olloclip lens!

 

The teeny little iPhone attachment I purchased to improve my landscape photos actually doubles as the perfect selfie supplement. I have the 4-in-1 Olloclip lens, and with the wide angle lens on the selfie camera, I was able to get Frank and myself – and most importantly, the background! – in the shot.

The wide-angle lens also adds an interesting perspective, similar to a GoPro, but right on your phone. Here are a few other examples of how it’s upped my travel selfie game (sans selfie stick)…

The Catskills with my Olloclip

Grand Canyon with my Olloclip

Thingvellir National Park with my Olloclip

Seven Magic Mountains with my Olloclip

Horseshoe Bend with my Olloclip

OK, so you get the picture (literally). The Olloclip is an easy, relatively inexpensive solve to the dreaded selfie – no selfie stick required. Of course, it does help to have a friend with lanky, long arms (perhaps Michael Phelps?), but if you don’t have Olympians in your upcoming travel plans, a medium to even short-armed people (like me!) will also do.

If you have any questions about the Olloclip – or tried-and-true travel selfie tips – please share below!

Please note: I’m in no way sponsored by Olloclip, just absolutely grateful for this quick selfie fix!