I think that the world can be divided into two types of people: those who take pictures of Important Stuff when they travel, and those who take pictures of themselves in front of Important Stuff. The Stones fall into the latter category, with the exception of artsy photos. My dad used to joke that all of our travels growing up will be remembered through pictures in which we are obstructing a clear view of what we traveled to see.

My personal favorite way to insert myself into pictures of important things is through the Jump Shot. Why would you want to stand calmly in front of a building when you could be launching yourself ridiculously into the air in the foreground?

And everyone, aware of it or not, has an inner jump, one that comes out when they are forced to launch themselves off a park bench and into a photo. Some do the Starfish, others the Flail, others the Ninja, Surfer, Cheerleader etc. Mine is the Electrocution Response JUMP. (If you don’t know what yours is, stop now and jump off of the nearest thing. I encourage you to have someone photograph it, post it as a comment, and I will christen your inner jump.)

Of course, if you have something to jump off of, the Jump Shot is easy. Just get the person taking it to crouch below you and it will look like you are sailing over some Important Thing.

But if you have to do the Dead Jump, it can get tricky. Here are some steps.

1. Agree on the Point of Jump. Are you doing 1,2,3, JUMP, or are you doing 1,2, JUMP. Many a Jump Shot has being ruined by not deciding ahead of time on this element.
2. As you count, start sinking down pulling all appendages in on the 1,2,3.
3. Hurl yourself into the air on JUMP, making sure to kick your feet out and up, as this maximizes the appearance of height.  Your photographer will probably just need to take continuous shots to get THE shot, and then you end up with a play by play like this.Go forth and JUMP.