Malaysia's 'Selfie Men' Hustle at the Twin Towers

As night falls over Kuala Lumpur, the gleaming Petronas Twin Towers light up the skyline—and the hustle begins. On a warm, bustling evening at a popular intersection near the iconic skyscrapers, "selfie man" Nizam weaves skillfully through crowds of tourists, iPhone and selfie rig in hand.

"Photo? Photo?" he calls out with practised ease, offering to capture the perfect Instagram-worthy shot. What was once just a street corner has now become a viral hotspot, with the illuminated towers rising majestically in the background. For visitors seeking the ideal vacation snapshot, help is always on hand—in the form of streetwise, self-taught photographers like Nizam.

Armed with phones, tripods, LED lights, and a good eye for angles, these informal photo vendors offer quick, high-quality pictures for a small fee. It's a side hustle that has grown quietly alongside the rise of social media tourism, where the value of a trip is often measured in likes and followers. "I know the best angles, the best timing," says Nizam, 27, who's been working the spot for over a year. "Sometimes, tourists don't know how to pose, or their pictures don't turn out well. I help them—and they're happy to tip."

While some nights are slow, others are surprisingly profitable, especially on weekends or holidays when the area sees heavy foot traffic. The job isn't without challenges—competition is fierce, and the weather unpredictable—but for Nizam and others like him, it's a way to earn a living in a tough economy. As tourists line up for their turn beneath the glowing towers, the "selfie men" remain a quiet fixture in the city's nightlife—an unlicensed but widely accepted part of Kuala Lumpur's urban rhythm.