How to Get the Perfect Travel Photo Without Annoying Anyone

Be patient with fellow travelers.
by Kaitlyn Beatrice See | September 08, 2026

No one can deny that people love souvenirs. My dad has covered every available surface of his and my mom’s bedroom door with magnets from across the world; on one of my shelves sits a notebook bursting at the seams, its spine more abused than a college student’s workload, from the postcards washi-taped to its pages. People buy local snacks and keychains brandishing foreign country names and T-shirts proclaiming their undying love for a city—but the number one souvenir people take is pictures. A picture of a beautiful gothic church. A shot of the greenest field dotted with locals soaking up the sun. A selfie atop a hill, the background a stunning view of a bustling city below.

We often come home from trips with our phone storage just a bit fuller, the color in the warning reds, than when we left—but those photos come at a price: crowds of people wanting the same shot, winding lines just for a single picture, impatient yells and frustrated sighs.

That’s why it’s important to be mindful of the unspoken rules when taking pictures. So here they are, spoken and written out, for you to keep in mind on your next vacation.

 

Respect the queue

Oftentimes, there will be a line of people waiting to take their picture with a tourist sight, especially if that sight is the one on all the ref magnets and postcards. So if there is a line, it goes without saying that you should probably fall in line and patiently wait your turn.

 

Check your photos after your turn

One of my dad’s biggest pet peeves is when people check their shots right in front of the very thing everyone wants to photograph. There’s nothing wrong with making sure your friend snapped the perfect picture, but when you’re both hunched over your phone to check her shot of you in front of the Taj Mahal, it feels as though you’re wasting the time of everyone else in line, so do them a favor: Step to the side and review your photos there.

And if you decide you’re unsatisfied with the pictures, line up again. That way, other people get to have their turn, and you get another shot—pun intended—at the perfect Instagram pic.

 

 

Be efficient

It’s only natural that people get restless and impatient in a queue, and as such, it’s also a normal reaction to think that, when it’s finally your turn, you can take your sweet time, since, after all, you did line up fair and square. And while you did earn it, it’s good to remember that so many people, like yourself a minute ago, are still waiting their turn. Be efficient in taking pictures—not every shot has to be perfectly calculated—especially if you’re in a big group and everyone wants solo pics.

Coming from a family of six—most members of which are obsessed with pictures—my dad’s developed almost military-like speed and precision when it comes to taking our pictures: pose; snap, snap, snap; “Next person!” and repeat.

 

Ask strangers to take your picture

The worst pairing ever is being a solo traveler and loving solo pictures, because the inevitable question arises: How can I get this picture of me that’s not a selfie? Sure, tripods are a great invention, but they’re also bulky and heavy at times, and there are certain shots you just can’t capture with a tripod.

That’s where strangers come in! Every traveler has had a stranger ask them to take their picture at least once. And it only makes sense that if you ask someone to take a picture of you, it’s common courtesy to offer to take theirs as well.

 

Don’t block the shot

Sometimes, if we’re not in the mood to line up for hours on end just to use this one photo spot, we work smarter, not harder, by moving to the side and getting the same shot from a different angle. Sure, it may not be the “postcard perfect” picture, but it’s a good enough alternative for the much lower price of not having to line up in this heat. Just make sure to respect those who chose the other option by ensuring you’re not photo-bombing their shot!

 

Be patient with fellow travelers

The fun thing about travel is that it brings together people from all walks of life—everyone has their own story. For some, it’s their first time climbing aboard a plane, while for others, they’re already running out of passport pages. Some people take a yearly summer vacation, whereas others empty their bank accounts after years upon years of saving for a once-in-a-lifetime trip. You never know how special a moment is to someone, and being rude can ruin that memory quicker than CebPac piso-fare flights run out of seats.

So be kind. Be mindful. At the end of the day, we all want the same thing: to have a great trip and maybe some photos to remember it by, so do your part in ensuring those pictures feature wide, toothy smiles and not frustrated scowls.

Snap pictures, not at people.

 

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