Selfie sticks might seem like a trend that went out of style years ago, but they're more helpful than you might think.

If you're a selfie enthusiast, you should consider investing in a selfie stick. The following reasons just might convince you to buy one.

1. It Secures Your Phone

Selfie Stick Secured Phone

Taking selfies with your phone is relatively easy, but not if you're taking a lot of pictures or holding the phone at a weird angle—your arm can get tired and your hand might get slippery. There are few things worse than dropping your phone and ending up with a cracked screen.

This is where a selfie stick comes to the rescue. The mount of a selfie stick is designed to secure your phone (or camera, depending on the model). The length and grip of the pole let you hold your arm in a comfortable position so that your hand won't slip as easily.

2. You Don't Need to Ask For Help

Ever found yourself in a situation where you had to stop and ask a stranger to take your picture? Not only can this be an awkward situation for the both of you, but you risk them running off with your phone or camera.

Having a selfie stick eliminates the need to ask strangers for help. Whether you want to take a group shot, a full-body shot, or capture a beautiful background, you can now do it yourself.

3. Include More People in Your Shot

Group selfie

The further away a camera is, the more of a subject it can capture. And since a selfie stick extends further than your arm, you'll be able to include more people in the shot.

There's no need to struggle with including everyone by using your arm, or by taking turns snapping a group photo. A selfie stick allows you to take group photos without excluding anyone or putting strain on your arm.

4. Take Full-Body Shots

Ever wanted to show off an outfit in a selfie, but weren't able to get a full-body shot by holding your phone with your hand? The only way to get a full-body selfie is by snapping it in a mirror or using a selfie stick. If you hold it at the right angle, a selfie stick can allow you to capture your entire self.

5. Capture a Better View

Selfie Stick Landscape Shot

Whenever we come across a beautiful cityscape or landscape, we feel inclined to take a selfie with the view in the background.

Doing this by hand will result in the subject (you) taking up more space in the composition. But, similar to group selfies, a selfie stick holds the camera further away, which will include a lot more of the scene in the shot.

6. More Angles to Play With

Woman Taking Selfie With Selfie Stick

Angles play a big part in the visual appeal of a photo, and by snapping a selfie with your hand, your options for angling are limited. After all, there are only so many ways you can twist your arm without getting tired. And even if someone else takes your photo, the outcome probably won't be what you had in mind.

A selfie stick gives you a lot more control over the angles you want to achieve. Your arm won't get tired, and you'll get the exact look you want.

It will also result in more realistic angles. When holding a phone or camera with your hand, you risk capturing the cylindrical shape of your face. That's why we recommend tilting your phone or face, or holding the shutter far away—this is made easier with the use of a selfie stick.

7. More Options for Composition

Selfie Stick Full Body Shot

With any type of photo, composition refers to the elements in the shot and how they're arranged. Ultimately, this will determine the mood and style of a photo. Selfies are no different—they contain elements of composition too.

Selfie sticks allow you to increase the number of elements to include in the shot, and thanks to the pressure it takes off your arm, you also have more freedom to focus on how you want to capture those elements. In other words, you have more creative control.

8. It Reduces Shakiness

Nothing is more annoying than ending up with a blurry photo. Our arms aren't machines, so there will be some movement when taking a selfie, especially if you're having a go at strange angles and taking many shots.

Selfie sticks stabilize your phone or camera. If your hand is shaking slightly when holding a selfie stick, it won't affect the stability of the phone or camera as much. This will result in less blurry selfies, and make them appear a lot sharper.

Related: The Best Ring Lights for Selfies and Videos

9. Some Selfie Sticks Double as Tripods

Setting up a tripod

Some selfie sticks are designed to function as tripods as well—who doesn't love a two-for-one deal? Tripods have so many benefits in photography, including more flexibility with composition, high stability, and better low-light photos.

Tripods are great for self-shots as well as general photography. They let you take advantage of many different genres of photography, shooting styles, and techniques.

10. Easy to Pack

If you're planning a trip and intend to take a lot of selfies, you might be concerned about getting good shots, especially if you're a solo traveler. Selfie sticks are designed to retract to a small size and typically don't weigh that much. This way, you can easily slip one into your backpack or even a large pocket.

Selfie Sticks Are Still Relevant

The selfie stick craze blew over almost quicker than it started, and you might've thought it was a gimmick. If you've reached the end of this article, you now know that that's not the case.

Selfie sticks are like little assistants that lend a helping hand when the conditions of your environment are tricky to work with. They also greatly expand your photographic options when taking a selfie.