Things My First Solo Trip Taught Me
Here are 5 honest lessons on confidence, mindfulness & better photos… from a self-identified over-controlling anxious traveler
Shameless plug: Solo in the Smoke - My photo zine capturing my week in London is now available through purchase in both a Digital Edition or Hardcover Edition
Hear me out: I am a program manager in a rapidly evolving biotechnology company + a raging Virgo. Needless to say, planning and control are embedded in my DNA. So when I booked a trip to London — alone, I knew it would send my inner self through a rollercoaster. Previous to this, all my travel had been with my sister, who is my partner in crime. But January resolution-me had promised 2025 would be the Year of Doing Scary Things and this trip was probably the biggest milestone in that journey.
On top of that, I had the brilliant idea to buy a brand new camera a couple days before my flight. My dream camera: the Sony A7RV. So, headed to a new country with a brand new camera I had no idea how to navigate. Perfect timing Adrian! (note sarcasm)
What follows are five lessons that helped me swap panic for curiosity and turn a week of solo wandering into probably one of the most revealing experiences I have had in my adult life. For photographers, whether you shoot with a phone or a full-frame beast, I hope these takeaways nudge you to book that risky ticket (or at least walk a different route home with your camera tomorrow).
LESSON 1: Plan like a spreadsheet nerd — then throw the plan away.
What happened: I landed at 10 a.m. with jet-lag, clutching a minute-by-minute schedule. By noon that plan was toast: My brain got hijacked by hunger and I was overwhelmed by the crowds near Buckingham Palace. Instead of panicking, I let curiosity pick the route while my itinerary became a safety net in my back pocket.
There were some days where I followed the itinerary more closely and there were other days where I just used it to point me to a general neighborhood and then wandered off as sights caught my attention.
Actionable tip (for everyone):
Build a comfort plan on your first day: pre-book one nice dinner, check out a local spa (amazing tip from my best friend), and map a coffee shop near your hotel. Knowing you have a fallback makes it easier to wander off-script. Additionally, doing activities that you find comforting helps your mind ease into the new environment. Other ideas could be checking out a local bookstore or booking a guided tour or excursion.
Photographers: designate one anchor shot per day (e.g., Big Ben at blue hour). Nail it first; everything else can be improv jazz. While these shots can be cliché, it helps you feel a sense of accomplishment by being able to take 1 iconic photo every day. This will help you feel more confident to adventure out for more creative shots.
The Connaught has an incredible menu of massages and definitely was a great way to settle into London on Day 1.
LESSON 2: Slow down; mindfulness makes better frames.
Remember my earlier blog about mindful photography and wellness? Solo travel turned theory into muscle memory. Without family dictating pace, I spent ten minutes watching light slide across a brick façade, walked slowly through every street and wandered off the various shops across London.
You see a common pitfall for travelers, is to try to cram as much as possible in a trip, especially trips to large cities like London or Tokyo. A useful piece of insight my friend gave me was that one cannot possibly see everything these places have to offer in a single trip. Big cities are meant to be visited multiple times to appreciate their vast diversity and culture. That insight helped calm down my anxiousness and allowed me to take in each moment.
Actionable tip (for everyone):
Pause at a random corner, close your eyes or sit down on a bench and list five things you can hear or smell. That 30-second reset drops stress and heightens awareness.
Photographers: Adopt the “One Scene, Five Frames” drill: shoot the same scene five different ways—angle, focal length, exposure—before you walk on. You’ll notice details that are often overlooked on the trendy instagram pages. Mindful photography also helps you appreciate an experience better. I can guarantee you that, by practicing this drill, you will end up with stronger photos that tell a more complete story of a scene.
This photo was taken on my first day while walking around Regent’s park. Taking a moment to pause helps you appreciate the small details that could be easily overseen
LESSON 3: Own your title—labels are permission slips, not trophies.
Confession: I’d been dodging the word “photographer” for the past year, telling people “I am just a photography enthusiast.” I felt the word photographer was exclusive to professionals that had extensive work with clients or industry-recognized portfolios.
I went into this London trip embracing the fact that I am a photographer. Yes, I do not have an award-winning pedigree and I am still learning the ins and out of photography, but that makes me no less than anyone else in this field.
Surprisingly, embracing that label gave me such a confidence boost. I walked through London, stopping and taking pictures without a fear of being caught and appearing like “I have no idea what I am doing” but rather with a deep sense of exploration and growth.
Actionable tip (for everyone):
Pick your creative label—writer, dancer, ceramicist, blogger — say it out loud three times today. Identity isn’t granted by a committee; it’s activated by self-acceptance.
Photographers: Wear your camera proudly, even if it’s a phone. The confidence signal often earns respect (and fewer side-eyes) when you raise the lens.
Wear your camera proudly… and take cute selfies with it :)
LESSON 4: Laugh at blurry shots—imperfection is part of the journey.
By the end of my London trip, my memory card contained ~1,000 images; at least 600 are trash. Blurry or out of focus—and that’s okay. Each miss taught me something: turn up shutter speed in midday glare, pre-focus for decisive moments, hold breath before shooting. I quick-reviewed each night the pictures taken that day and jotted “fixes” or things to do differently when I am in a similar situation. I also intentionally left my laptop at home to avoid being bogged down on the editing process during the trip.
Unless you are a photography veteran, you will have these errors. These are part of the process of growing as a photographer. So best thing to do, is to reflect, learn from the errors and try again tomorrow.
Actionable tip (for everyone):
Schedule a daily “debrief & laugh”— If you are learning a new hobby, be it writing, drawing, dancing, or cooking - review mishaps, note one improvement, then move on. If you want to make this an even stronger habit, use a notepad to keep track of these improvements. Over time, you will see how much you have grown in your practice.
Photographers: Don’t delete any photos until you’re home; sometimes “mistakes” become favourites after sleep. Pro Tip: Never delete pictures but rather flag as “rejected” in Lightroom. You never know when that picture might be the missing piece in your next project.
I took this image and was so excited thinking it was a great shot, just to then realize the subject was out of focus. I still like this image and have it in my Lightroom gallery for future reference.
LESSON 5: Celebrate the leap, not just the pictures.
Final night, I had a great dinner at Dishoom, with my suitcase all packed up in my hotel room, feet aching, and realised: even if every frame failed, I’d still won. I’d booked the ticket, eaten alone, navigated the Tube, drank absurd amounts of tea, and proved I could be my own travel companion. The photos are souvenirs of a bigger victory: comfort in my own company.
I am grateful that I had the chance to travel internationally and get to explore this historic and super diverse city.
Actionable tip (for everyone):
Make a quick gratitude list before leaving a location: one cultural detail, one personal win. It rewires the brain to notice growth, not just output.
If you’re weighing a solo trip: book it. Worst case you get lost and end up with a story; best case you return with new skills, confidence, and maybe a photobook.
Got to see Big Ben and got a couple of sunny days in London. That is a win in my book!
London didn’t cure my planning addiction, but it reminded me that creativity thrives in the gaps between itineraries. If these lessons spark even a tiny urge to wander solo—camera or not—consider it a sign. You don’t have to cross an ocean; you could start with one subway stop you’ve never explored or going to that new fitness studio around the block. Just pack curiosity, confidence… and the willingness to laugh at blurry photos
Saludos!
-A
Update:
My new photo zine is now available for purchase! Solo in the Smoke is a visual diary that documents my week in London and celebrates the beauty and confidence that stem from solitude.
You can purchase the Digital Edition through La Tiendita or the Limited Edition Hardcover through Blurb.
