A Collection of Instagram Poses From "Exotic" Locations

One of my favorite things is taking photos that aren’t the usual Instagram poses. You know the ones.

They’re about staring off into the distance on a beautiful vista, lounging on a beach like that photog just happened upon your glistening body. Or maybe they’re about beckoning your lover to follow you to the scenery just up ahead.

As a regular human, my Instagram photos are still quite inspiring in my opinion, if you’re inspired by how awkward, sweaty, or just how regular travel often is. I just don’t have time for the setup involved with many of those photos you see on social media.

I’m too busy hiking all of the hikes, seeing all the sites, and eating all of the things. It’s just not me.

You know what is me, though?

Taking those Instagram poses down a few notches and having some fun with the fact that social media isn’t always “real” or transparent, but it can be very silly.

I reached out to friends and bloggers to recreate the best ones for you, from the comfort of their own homes, patios, yards, etc. We certainly had some fun with it.

Follow Me To

A woman holds the hand of her partner in their bedroom. — *Photo courtesy of Romantic Explorers*.

The original inspiration behind this one came from a Russian photographer and the photos he took of his then-girlfriend back in 2011. She’s now his wife.

The series of photos he took at that time of his lady reaching out to him as she passed through a doorway started a viral trend.

#FollowMeTo was born.

Note: This Instagram pose isn’t going anywhere. Typically, the girl in the image — because 90 percent of the time, it is a girl — is wearing something super flowy, like a floral maxi dress.

Her hair is inexplicably flowy as well, as if there’s a wind machine behind the scenes, or the photographer was just lucky enough that they caught a breeze.

Her arm is outstretched to her partner behind her, as if saying to him or her, “Follow me.”

In this version, travel blogger Michelle pulled off a follow-me-to-my-bedroom in Brisbane, Australia, complete with a little furry friend on the bed.

Michelle runs Romantic Explorers, a travel blog directed at couples travel. You should follow HER on Facebook.

Hold My Hand

A woman asks the photog to hold her hand. — *Photo courtesy of Going Places with Anwesha.*

Much like the ever-popular “follow me to” pose above, this one’s asking your photographer to do something for you: hold my hand. Who knows where you might wind up if you do it? Ideally, it’s somewhere magical, and the face is typically in a closeup.

Anwesha, a travel and foodie blogger, took this one from her apartment’s terrace in Bangalore, India. The Instagram photo pose suggests some fun movement to follow. Follow her travels on Instagram.

Heart Hands

This gem is typically done with your fingers wrapped around a sunset. Sunsets are lovely and all, but are they as lovely as my dog, Kimmy Kibbler?

She was a good sport through all this, but only because I told her these were going on her own Instagram. When she found out what it was really for, she wasn’t as amused.

Gaze Near a Window

A woman gazing at the photog near a window — *Photo courtesy of Marie Geneviève.*

This one’s so simple, yet so clutch in your repertoire of Instagram poses. Once in a while, no matter your mood or feelings wherever you are, you must look pensive.

While looking pensive, you must do so near a window. This is a good one to keep in the pocket for aesthetic selfie ideas or poses at home.

When traveling, often the window you’re looking out of is an airplane window. Perhaps it’s a long-distance train window while you’re traveling across a Canadian landscape.

When you’re not traveling, you may just be looking at whatever there is to look at from the comfort of your own home.

Blogger and podcaster Marie Geneviève did this one so well. It’s like she has a secret to tell us from her window in Montreal, Canada. Follow her on Facebook.

Big Sun Hat

A woman wears a large sun hat. — *Photo courtesy of Wanderlaulife.*

If you’re on a beach and looking to strike the perfect Instagram pose, you’d better have a big sun hat with which to do so. It’s best to hold onto it, even if there’s not even a slight breeze because it looks more natural that way.

If you’re stuck at home but still dreaming of those beach vacays, you improvise, because if you can’t go to the beach, you bring the beach to you.

My good friend Cindy, living in Brussels, Belgium, with her husband and dog at the time, created her own beach scene, big sun hat and all. I’d say she rivals any Kardashian with that big-hat energy.

Check out her blog, Wanderlaulife, dedicated to her FOMO and her former home base of Belgium, and follow her on Instagram.

Yoga/Meditation Poses

Yoga poses are perfect for Instagram. You can wear a slimming pair of compression leggings, appear like a very centered human to your followers, and show off all kinds of contortions.

Ideally, the background of your poses is some beautiful scenery, e.g. a mountain range, rainforest, or a meadow carpeted in wildflowers. It’s even better if you’re posing from a far-off yoga retreat.

Fun fact: As I’m not a yogi and am only pretending to be, a seated meditation pose is all I could handle with any level of efficacy. I felt myself nearly pulling something in my calf muscle attempting more aggressive moves on one leg.

The photo was taken in our backyard back in San Diego, at that time a haven for weeds and bees.

Hot Dog Legs

The premise behind this pose is simple. If you take a photo of your legs, typically from a seated or laidback position, it’s quite possible they’ll end up looking like hot dogs.

Fun fact: The trend dates back to at least 2013, when the Hot Dog Legs Tumblr was born.

I still don’t know what a Tumblr is, but as I think trying to determine whether a photo features legs or hot dogs is a valuable pastime, I’m not mad at the creator.

This photo was taken by my good friend Karyssa, who lived down the street from us in North Park when we were all in San Diego. The setting was her backyard, complete with her very confused dog Norris and a tub of water for some intrigue.

We’d had a mad rush on kiddie pools around there back then.

Karyssa is a very talented illustrator who has done some design work for this site. Follow her on Instagram.

V is for Victory!

A woman gives a V for victory signal. — *Photo courtesy of Honest Travel Stories.*

The “V” sign made with your fingers is often meant as a peace sign, but it can also signify a big win or victory. Stretch out those arms, and all of a sudden, you’re striking quite the powerful pose, ready to handle whatever is in your way.

In this version, Cristina from Honest Travel Stories made it to her balcony, which is a cause for celebration. Check out her blog, which focuses on real stories, guides, and expat life in Switzerland.

Waterfall Poses

A woman in her shower, posing with arms outstretched — *Photo courtesy of Imani Escapes.*

It’s important when visiting waterfalls that you have someone take many photos of you in front of said waterfalls. You’ll do this preferably with arms outstretched as if to exclaim how good it is to be alive.

Note: Sometimes influencers go where they shouldn’t, climbing past roped-off areas as if their reputations depend on that shot, head back, hair wet, a waterfall in the background.

The photoshoot here takes things to the next, glorious level.

This photo was taken from a bathroom in not-so-sunny Birmingham, England. The model is Imani, a 20-something travel blogger who left her job to travel. The photography here is excellent.

Follow her on Instagram, which is focused on solo travel and her love of arts and culture.

Vista Lookouts

It’s important to look out onto the horizon whenever you have a good vantage point to do so. If you don’t photograph that moment, did it even really happen?

This one’s essential for any hiker, as they often have the best views, and really anyone looking to show how serious they are about the great outdoors.

I had my husband take this one because he basically does this at every vista we hike to. It was taken in our backyard at that time, with a beautiful view of our overgrown privacy bamboo and loud neighbors. Such was city living.

Contemplative Moments

A woman looking contemplative at flowering plants in a backyard — *Photo courtesy of Globeblogging.*

When traveling, it’s critical to capture those contemplative moments. You’ll often be overcome with emotion while seeing something off your bucket list for the first time. Perhaps you witness something strange and need to think about it for a second.

Maybe you just want to look like you’re thinking really hard, being zen, or having yourself a contemplative moment because the backdrop of where you are is just so great.

This one comes courtesy of Holly from Globeblogging. It was taken in the backyard of her home in the Blue Mountains, Australia, and features her very luscious frangipani plants.

Her inspiration for the camera work here was a similar pose taken in Teotihuacan. This one seems nearly as exciting and tops any Instagram model poses. Follow Holly on Facebook.

Holding Something Yummy

When you’re having your first Italian gelato, you have to show it off to the folks at home. You hold it up just so, with some adorable cobblestone street in the background.

I’m never successful at these because I hate melty ice cream, but I have been known to pose a few wine glasses in wine country.

This one is basically all about showing off something yummy that you’re eating so that your family and friends back home can marvel at your good fortune and post jealous comments underneath your photo about how good that thing looks.

The object of desire while we were all at home was a jar of Skippy brand peanut butter.

If you look closer at my arms, you can see how I’m straining to hold the hefty jar up. The photo was taken in front of our house in San Diego at the time, with our statement cactus providing some great scenery.

We’re all guilty of social media silliness.

I find that being silly is way better than being self-important, though. Take those selfies to your heart’s content, as long as you don’t forget about the real world out there. Happy snapping!

Looking for more posts that are just for fun? Check these out:

More posts along similar lines to keep the mood light:

Want to see more?

Subscribe to my biweekly newsletter for hot travel tips I come across, weird stories you won’t see elsewhere and perhaps lifelong friendship.

Too much, or just enough?

A Collection of Instagram Poses From “Exotic” Locations