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Ok, it’s time for us to come clean and finally admit how we take couple pictures of ourselves for our Instagram feed. This is probably the question we get asked the most often, after how we’re able to travel full-time. Most assume we have a professional photographer who travels with us 24/7, or that we ask strangers to take pictures of us. The truth is far from that! In this post, we’ll tell you the 11 easy tips you can use to take great couple pictures by yourself for Instagram (or not)! Know that you can also use these tips to take pictures of yourself when traveling solo.

Actually, the truth is that we take all our photos by ourselves, with help from some very handy gear. We’re not professional photographers, and we’re not models, but we still manage. Everything we’ve learned has been self-taught. We’re nowhere close to being done with our photography journey though, so sit tight, because this is only the beginning! Just like it is for you as well!

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11 tips to take good pictures of yourself for Instagram

So here are the best tips we want to share with you to take pictures by yourself for Instagram. Hopefully, they help you take some awesome solo pics as well (or just good pictures during your travels). After all, these memories will last you a lifetime, and it’s pretty cool to share the stunning things you see with loved ones too.

1. Find some photography inspiration from other couples or photographers

There are tons of great accounts out there that will help inspire you on how to take beautiful pictures of yourself. So if you want to know how to take Instagram pictures, this is where to start!

If you’re looking for poses, you can check out other couples or wedding photographer accounts. If you’re looking for fashion shots, editing style, or framing, you can find it all on Instagram or Pinterest. Just be respectful of other people’s art. Getting inspired is fine, but never copy. That’s just not cool. If you end up using them as inspiration, make sure you give them credit.

Here are some of our favorite travel couples that inspire us every day:

@wanderersandwarriors: We met these guys a while back in Singapore and they are so fun, approachable and genuine. You can see their light shine through their pictures.

@mariefeandjakesnow: These two look so sweet, so kind and they work so hard to make the world a better place. Their feed is beyond stunning.

@theloveandadventure: Another couple we were lucky enough to meet and travel with (3 countries and counting). They’re easy-going, adventurous and kind. Plus, they go to awesome off-the-beaten-path locations.

@lezseetheworld: Fellow Canucks, and all-around awesome couple. These two are super sweet and their pics are so lovely!

2. To take pictures of yourself, get a camera with a timer or wifi

The gear you use will help you immensely, especially if you want to take good pictures of yourself. Our camera has a timer function that allows us to set it, get into position then snaps a ton of pictures of us. Sometimes, we use our phone as a remote (and viewfinder) because our camera has wifi capabilities.

If your camera doesn’t have this function, you can get yourself an intervalometer that will help you set a timer, the number of shots and the shooting frequency. These are great ways of taking pictures of yourself without stressing about being in 2 places at once.

3. Use a tripod to get take good pictures of yourself

There you have it! Our secret weapon. This is the big trick we keep a secret to take our couple pictures for Instagram. Go get yourself a good, sturdy tripod. This has been our greatest investment and purchase yet.

Thanks for the advice Wanderers and Warriors. You can’t rely on others to take the pictures you want, especially if you’re shooting in Manual mode. Trust us, do yourself a favor, and get a tripod. It will help your art so much! Plus, on top of helping you take good pictures of yourself, your tripod will be a great tool when you want to take night pictures or long exposure shots.

There are a few options available, so go for what fits best in your budget, and suits your needs.

4. Act naturally in front of the camera to take couple pictures for Instagram

Sure, it’s a bit weird to pose in front of a camera on a tripod. Sure, people will stare. But ignore them and do your thing!

We used to feel super awkward, but now, we just act natural. This is probably the best advice we can give when you think of how to take pictures of yourself for Instagram. Our biggest tip is just to have fun with it. It will show in your pictures and help others connect more to it.

The best way to do this is just to walk around. Surprise each other with something quirky (Derek will either twirl me or pick me up). Or sometimes, if we have a vision for what we want, we explain it to each other and try to create that as best we can.

If you’re looking to turn your Instagram into a business, make sure you check out our articles about:

– Building a micro-influencer media kit
– Working with brands without a large following
– Mistakes to avoid when starting your Instagram account
– The best advice from other Instagram couples

5. Use the best light of the day to take good pictures of yourself

Sure, you can pretty much change anything with Lightroom and Photoshop, but give yourself a good base first. Make sure you shoot when the light is the best and softest, aka Golden Hour.

If you love sunrise, then you’re in luck, because that’s a good time to shoot. If you’re like us and like to sleep, then you’re also in luck, because you have golden hour before sunset too.

If you’re shooting outside of those hours, when the sun is the harshest, make sure you underexpose your pictures so the sun doesn’t “burn” any pixels. Yeah, we may have learned this the hard way.

6. Use Lightroom to edit your pictures for Instagram

Ok, this is another secret lifesaver/game-changer. Get yourself a Lightroom account, pay the $15 USD per month, and turn any picture into art. Seriously!

Lightroom has helped us ‘up our game’ so much. You can change anything from the exposure of the shot to the colors, the angle of the shot, whatever. You can get rid of things (or people) too. It takes some learning to master it, and we’re no masters… yet. We’re getting there! And with practice, so can you!

Little editing tip (also a photography tip): Always, ALWAYS shoot in RAW. You will capture so much more detail in your pictures. It will also make editing easier too!

And if you want to make things even simpler, we recommend buying presets. They automatically turn your pictures into the style you want. 

7. Never stop learning new skills

From your photography style to your editing skills, there are tons of tools out there to help you out. As we said, we’ve learned all our skills by ourselves, but with the help of some great teachers.

We constantly search on YouTube for photography tips and editing tricks. We want our art to evolve with time. You can see how we used to shoot vs how we shoot now, the change is shocking. We’re going to keep growing and learning.

Little photography tip: Make sure you know how to shoot in Manual mode. It will take your pictures to the next level.

8. Be mindful of others when you shoot couple pictures by yourself

Sure, earlier we said to ignore others, but we’re talking about ignoring their funny looks and laughs. Yes, they will laugh and stare. Or cheer, like the time Derek picked me up in front of a crowd!

Whatever happens, be mindful of others. Don’t take too much time in front of a popular spot. Don’t push people out of the way. Don’t yell at them (yeah, we’ve seen it happen). Just be cool, wait your turn, do your thing and move on.

9. Never disrespect others to take a picture of yourself

This is a no-brainer for us. Don’t break the rules. Don’t take pictures of others without their consent. Don’t change your outfit in a religious place to look sexier for the likes. If you bring props, take them back with you (please don’t litter. Be an eco-friendly photographer). Don’t shoot on people’s properties without their approval (this is especially for very touristy places like Santorini, Greece).

Treat the places you’re in and the people you’re around with respect. Don’t forget, you’re not just representing yourself, you’re representing all Instagram couples, travelers and content creators. Please don’t give the community a bad rep!

10. Don’t just do it for the ‘Gram even if you are taking pictures for Instagram

This is key. Don’t ever, EVER, do things just for the ‘gram. Don’t chase the likes or follows by doing anything dangerous. Don’t go take pictures of places only because they’re the cool spots for Instagram. Don’t get into arguments together because of pictures. Don’t do things that don’t make you happy. And no matter what, never take pictures if you’re not in a good mood. Because it will show.

So if you’re not both in the mood to take pics, just don’t do it. And if you need other tips on how to travel as a couple, you can read more about it here.

11. Invest in good photography equipment for taking good pictures of yourself

Okay, so you can get yourself some really expensive gear and shoot in automatic, or get yourself some decent gear and learn the ropes before you upgrade. This will totally depend on how much you want to invest from the get-go, and how much you’re willing to learn.

Whatever you choose to do, make sure you’re comfortable using the gear you have.

So here is some of the gear we use, and what we wish we had (Yeah, we’ll be upgrading as soon as we have an income).

Here is what we use to take couple pictures:

Cameras we carry with us

• Fujifilm X-T3: We found a great deal on this camera and upgraded our old DSLR. We’re loving it so far. It shoots great photos, and 4K video and it’s exactly what we were looking for.
• FujiFilm X-T30: Sometimes, we travel separately, or we want to take more pictures than having to pass the camera back and forth. This is why we purchased the Fujifilm X-T30. If you’re not looking to spend too much, this is a great starter camera that has some pretty amazing capabilities.
• GoPro Hero 10: Great for underwater video and shots. It’s small, light and compact. It shoots in 4K and has different focal lengths and a ton of features we love. Since we love to scuba dive, it’s a great camera to have. If you plan on going deep with it or using it on many adventures, make sure you get the bundle with the underwater casing and accessories kit.

Our lenses for taking beautiful pictures for Instagram and for work

• Fujinon 18-55mm f2.8 lens: This is the kit lens that comes with the X-T3 and it’s pretty great. It has a good focal length and will allow you to zoom in a bit more to get closer.
• Fujinon Zoom Lens XF55-200mm F3.5-4.8: This is a great zoom lens that’s worth every penny. It’s not as expensive as other zoom lenses, but it packs quite a punch. It’s especially great if you want to shoot portraits or wildlife.

Photography gear

• GoPro accessories kit: It has everything you need to use your GoPro in all sorts of ways. Great value for what you get.
• K&F Concept tripod: We mentioned it and we’ll say it again. This is the best thing you need to take couple pictures or pictures by yourself for Instagram, for yourself, or for other purposes. Derek works as a real estate photographer too, and this tripod is a lifesaver. It’s also great for shooting long exposure and night scenes.
• MacBook Pro 2020 with M1 Chip: Light, powerful, beautiful, you will need one to edit your pictures and give them that extra little oomph! We absolutely love our Macbooks!
• Toshiba 2TB external hard drive: Because when you take this many pictures, you’ll need the extra storage. Cloud-based storage is great, but you don’t always have a good internet connection.
• Aukey battery pack: This thing is our lifesaver. Whenever we’re running low on juice (for our camera or our phones), this little guy saves the day.

Just a reminder! If you’re looking to run your Instagram like a buisness, check out these articles:
– Building a micro-infuencer media kit
– Working with brands without a large following
– Mistakes to avoid when starting your Instagram account
– The best advice from other Instagram couples

So there you have it! Our top 11 tips for taking nice couple pictures for Instagram (and in life). Our biggest advice is that no matter what you do, have fun! Enjoy the process and don’t be scared to grow and learn. Just enjoy the ride. Laugh, be silly and stay in love.

Here’s a quick recap of our how to take pictures of yourself for Instagram:

1. Find some couple’s photography inspiration
2. Get a camera with a timer or wifi
3. Use a tripod to get great couple’s pictures
4. Act naturally together in front of the camera
5. Use the best light of the day
6. Use Lightroom to edit your pictures
7. Never stop learning/evolving
8. Be mindful of others when you shoot couple pictures
9. Never disrespect others for a shot
10. Don’t just do it for the ‘Gram
11. Invest in good photography equipment

We’d love to hear if you have any other tips for taking good couples pictures or good pictures of yourself. Feel free to share them in the comments below.

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