How To Take Self Portraits
So the question is how in the world do I take self-portraits, get creative and actually execute the ideas I have all by myself?! In this blog, I will thoroughly explain the details of brainstorming and executing a self-portrait photoshoot.
I started taking self-portraits in the Summer of 2020 because of quarantine. I didn’t shoot a lot of clients and really wanted to challenge myself to something new and grow my skills and creativity. It was a rollercoaster experience at first, with lots of failures, mosquito bites, and patience.
It is so important to practice self-portraits somewhere you are comfortable and relaxed. I personally always shoot at home just because I know that I can take all the time I need, no one is watching and I’m safe. My first attempt at self-portraits was at an empty field right before sunset. I had not thought anything out until I reached the location and immediately was struggling with lighting, posing, and a bunch of mosquito bites. - You do NOT want to do this! Planning is so important when it comes to any photoshoot. I had overestimated myself and that immediately left me in frustration. I went home with embarrassing pictures and almost 20 mosquito bites. The next day I tried again at home. Before even getting ready, doing hair, makeup, and setting up my backdrop, I made sure that my camera connected to the Canon Connect app, did not lag as much, and figured out my angles. It is so important to make sure everything is working before you go in with your hopes high and looking drop-dead gorgeous! The Canon Connect app is very slow and lags a lot which is why it is important to be patient with yourself and trust the process.
When beginning to plan a self portrait photoshoot, the first thing you want to think of is concept. This can be driven by the smallest thing. Maybe your nails inspire you to go for a certain color overall or a certain jewelry piece brings together your vision. Sometimes the objects you have in your home can actually be the starting point of your shoot! For me, I like to take it one step at a time and think about what really speaks to me and how I can create around that. For example, my nails inspired me to go for a ruby concept and I focus my makeup and backdrop around my nails. I tend to always save images that speak to me for future ideas or references. Instagram and Pinterest are great starting points for inspiration but you want to dive deeper into what speaks to you. Sometimes certain lyrics or songs make you want to express something personal or maybe the weather, scenery, lighting, etc. inspire you to create something bigger than yourself. Whatever your starting point of inspiration is, it is so important to have that vision in mind. I personally find more drive when I have a vision in mind because I am that much more motivated to bring it to life the best way I can.
Once you have found your starting point, start to slowly think of makeup, wardrobe, hair, accessories, and your backdrop color or location. When thinking of this also observe out how the light hits certain spaces. This is crucial in executing your self-portrait photoshoot.
On the technical sides of things, here is how you can connect your DSLR to your phone: download the Canon Connect app to your phone and turn on the wifi or Bluetooth on your DSLR. Keep in mind that not all DSLR’s have this feature! You can also use a tether wire to connect your DSLR to your laptop. Once you connect your DSLR to your device, adjust your camera so you see yourself right side up - this can simply be done by flipping your camera to the other side. You want to have a tripod preferably to take portraits but you can also use a desk or some books to prop up your camera and shoot in landscape. Once you figure this out, you want to get your camera settings right. I really encourage you to shoot Manual and RAW. This is really important for you to grow as a photographer and really take ownership of your art and style. To learn how to shoot manual, check this blog out: ISO, Aperture & Shutter Speed Explained.
After the technical and creative process is done, now you want to have some fun with posing! Always try to add emotion and movement! I also recommend having a Pinterest board or mood board with posing inspiration for each shoot so you know what to do if you run out of ideas. Get comfortable and go crazy, listen to your favorite music when shooting to get you in the right mood!
Lastly, I promise you it’ll take a few if not many tries to figure it all out and master your first self-portrait session! The perfect angle, posing, lighting, and concept never come perfectly on your first try and that’s the beauty of learning and growing as a photographer! With all this explained, I wish you the best of luck, lots of patience, and love for your self-portrait session!
Here are some of my favorite self-portraits so far!
Note: I use the Canon Connect app that can be found in the app store. I believe this app is only available for iOS users. I use the Canon EOS 6D which has a wifi connection.