Getting a proper selfie with the XShot!
I take a lot of photos. Too many, maybe. I’m always nearing the capacity of my phone, and dumping the photos into folders on my harddrive and my laptop. (I don’t use my iPhone for music. I use it primarily for taking photos. Oh and making phone calls and texting.)
If you look at my photos, you may notice there is one missing factor…me. I’m usually taking the photos and I’m seldom in the photos with my husband and son. (Or my cat. Because I take a lot of cat photos too.)
I recently received the XShot 2.0 to review and I am HOOKED. The XShot is an extender pole. The XShot Pocket collapses to fit easily in my purse, and has an adapter to hold most any smartphone. The adapter is basically a clip and you don’t have to screw your phone on or anything, just adjust the opening to grasp your phone.
I have a timer built into my camera function on my phone, so I set it usually for 3 seconds, extend the pole and snap the photo!
I first tried out the XShot at the city’s holiday parade. I was standing behind my son and wanted to get some photos of him. Once I got the phone in place and worked with the timer a few times, I managed to get some really fun photos!
I was questioned by a woman standing behind me about what the “stick” was for. She thought it was to stabilize the phone. (It helped me with that as well.) And someone else thought it was cool because it’s perfect for selfies.
With the XShot, you don’t always see the glare of me holding my phone, because it’s far back enough to get both my husband and I (and my sunglasses) in the photo. I can also get a larger background in my photo.
I also received the pocket XShot to try out. This one is a little smaller and handier for someone who wants to fit it into their purse or even pocket (though the XShot 2.0 is not bulky by any means.) I have plans to use this one at a work function involving students tomorrow. So I could get this post up, though, I’ve been playing with both.
Features of the XShot 2.0:
- Eliminate awkward photos taken at arms length
- Capture full background and scenery
- Take a picture anywhere without asking a stranger
- Take pictures from unique angles
- With the XShot it looks like someone else took the picture
- Easy film making for online videos and journals
- Fun and easy to use
I really do have fun with the XShot. It’s not always to get my son into a frame (he’d rather stand a few feet away.) With this, I get a full background and I don’t have to squeeze our faces together. Not that I mind squeezing his face. š
And now for MORE FUN! The fine folks at XShot have offered to give away an XShot to one of my readers! Enter through the Rafflecopter widget below. The giveaway will end at noon EST on Monday, December 8. I’ll email the winner and if I don’t have a reply from the first winner within 24 hours, I’ll have Rafflecopter choose the next winner. (I try to move fast with these things, friends!)
What situation would you like to use the XShot?
This looks great! I love that you can get selfies without part of your arm in the picture! š
I just saw one of these in a magazine and thought how cool it would be to have! Great giveaway! Adorable pictures of you and the fam too.
Hi, after seeing how you used the Xshot, I hopped on Amazon and bought one. I have I seen these around just did not know what they were. Thanks for your post
This is very cool. I love how much background you are able to get into the photo just having it a little farther out than your arms can reach.
I would love to use this to take photos with my husband! He HATES when I get the big camera out but I can usually talk him into selfies. He is a foot taller than me, so this would make it so much easier!!! Thanks for the opportunity!!
It is hard to get a really good selfie. I just received a selfie stick kind of like this.
I love these selfie arms. I go places with both of my kids often and trying to get all of us in a photo is so hard – this would make it so much easier.
What a great idea! I hate those selfies taken in the bathroom mirror! This would make it so much easier to make a great one!
I don’t take much selfies at all. I would rather have someone take my phone and take a pic of me but now with this I won’t have to.
I want one of those. I saw a bunch of people with them in NYC last weekend.
so cool! I’m guilty of not including myself in shots, too.
This would be perfect for my 25 year old daughter! She loves taking selfies and ones with your daughter.
Mono pods are one of the most useful tools you’ll ever get for your phone or video camera. I like that this has a phone mount and a mount for cameras!
Such a cool device! I have to check it out for sure š
This looks great! I’ve always wanted one like this but I haven’t made the splurge yet!
I saw these in Europe last summer and had no idea what they were for until I saw people using them to take selfies!
I love this idea, the perfect selfie sounds like a dream come true!
This is such a great idea! I take the worst selfies and could definitely use this!
I’ve been seeing people everywhere with devices like these. Would have been perfect to have this years ago!
My daughter would love this. She is always taking selfies!
I need it to take a picture with my kids. Someone is always out of the picture.
I’m always taking pics hoping to get just the right selfie. This would really make my life easier.
I am officially obsessed with those and will be getting one soon. Love that it makes videos easier too
My mom was making fun of me because I said I wanted one of these! But I think (esp as a blogger!) they are awesome!
Perfect for rangling toddlers into the picture! And also ai can see how it would be good for us…vertically challenged people as well!
Looks like a great product! Can’t count the times I have had to ask a stranger to take the picture!
I think this is such a neat gadget you can definitely see how it helps take the perfect selfie! x
Got to hate when your hand gets in the way, this is such a cool fix to that!
The selfies look great! With all this cool stuff for my iPhone, why do I need a dslr? š
I am just like you in that I am always the one taking the picture so I want to be in pictures more.
i need this to take better blogging images! How much fun! finally I will have better selfies š
This would be a great product for my kids. They like to hang out in groups. It would make it much easier to get a photo of everyone.
this would be so cool and fun to play with and make doing blogging a bit easier.
Oh this would go in our annual present draw. All of my grown kids and my hubby take selfies, so I know they’d want to get this one to take pictures of every day life (and that’s my answer to the entry question too). š Great giveaway!
I need one!! This is a great product to have, especially if you are into taking selfies (like myself)!
I’m definitely all about the selfie š
I would love to win this so I can take better selfies or group pictures. This would be an awesome gift!
I would love to win this. I cannot take a selfie at all. I’m terrible at it. This may could help.
I really want one of these! I would use it all the time!
These are everywhere in Korea. It was about to end up as Christmas gifts for everyone.
I may have to make it your Christmas gift. š
Great post! I could get a few Xmas tree photos with the family with an Xshot!
I’d use it to put myself in more family photos! I’m always the one behind the camera.
This. EXACTLY. There are so many pictures of my husband and son!
I’ve actually been thinking about getting something like this. It would be perfect for our trips to Europe and Disney next year.
And now I’m jealous of your trips. š
COMPLETE FAMILY PHOTOS!!!!
Yay!!!!
I love this! I’m also never in the picture either which is great until you’re looking for a family shot! š
I take a LOT of selfies! My friends call me the selfie Queen and this tool has been calling my name for some time now. I am itching to get my hands on one.