muse university - 10 tips for getting started with self-portraits

getting started with self-portraits

by christy of urban muser

The self-portrait--or selfie. You either dread them or you love them. I used to be squarely in the dread camp, but with some practice over the past year I've gotten a little more comfortable on the other side of the lens. Let's face it, one of the nice things about shooting a selfie is that you always have your subject with you, you have complete artistic and technical control, and you can shoot, delete and edit multiple images until you are satisfied.

I often get comments and questions on my blog from people saying they are too timid to take a self-portrait. And since that used to be me, it got me to thinking about my own journey and how I was able to overcome the fear (for the most part--I am still working on it!) of seeing myself within the frame. So let's get started--remember, I am no expert, these are just a bunch of different ideas to try out if you've been thinking of exploring the world of self-portraiture...

1. Keep it simple--try a selfie with your mobile phone.

Sometimes the thought of a fancy DSLR with a big lens and a tripod can be a little daunting. So if you have a mobile phone, try turning it on yourself at arm's length and just snapping a simple, no pressure photo of yourself. If your mobile phone's camera doesn't have a self-timer or a press anywhere shutter, look for an app that will provide this functionality. And of course, if you are shy about showing your face, there's nothing like processing your photo with a few good apps to ease yourself into slowly showing the world your beautiful face.

{da vinci self-portrait by red kiwi photography}

2. Keep an eye out for your reflection.

When I first started taking self-portraits I ended up with a lot of reflections (come to think of it, I still take many reflective selfies). Mirrors, store windows, puddles, building facades--these are all great places to begin. These photos can be a fun and easy way to slide into self-portraiture, especially if you have an interesting background or a unique reflective surface.

{staying busy in the carwash. by keenemomma}

3. Don't be afraid to go undercover.

Self-portraits don't always have to show exactly who you are. Use creative angles and crops--focus in on your feet, purposely cut off your head, obscure parts of yourself here and there. Remember, you're in charge. These photos can show all of you, or just a little piece of you. It's OK to be anonymous once in a while and keep the mystery alive!

{l'oreille by picture this / patty}

4. Big world, tiny you.

Self-portrait doesn't always mean close-up. You can still be the subject of the photo without dominating the entire frame. If you find a beautiful background, landscape or open space try a distant or wide angle shot and subtly insert yourself somewhere in the scene.

{"absence is to love what wind is to fire; it extinguishes the small, it rekindles the great." by 6ftmama}

5. Send a message to the universe, or yourself.

Self-portraits are a great way to express how you are feeling. Sometimes a facial expression or scene can convey an emotion. Or you can go a more direct route and tell your viewers exactly what you are thinking.

{22/52 by thelucaszoo}

6. Play a character, or use a prop!

Just because we're not 8 years old anymore doesn't mean we can't play make believe. Sometimes it's easier to take a picture of ourselves if we are not exactly ourselves. Role play, dress up, wear a wig, or add a fun prop into the mix. Just try it, you may be surprised with the results!

{bite! by manifeisty}

7. Say something about yourself.

Take a portrait of yourself with someone or something that you love. Remember, selfies aren't just about what you look like on the outside, but who you are inside.

{Magdalena & Violín I by Maky Magdalena}

8. Have some fun!

If you are nervous about getting in front of the camera, try doing something silly to take your mind off of how you look. A jump shot can usually do the trick here. Try jumping with you arms outstretched, turn your body a little to the side and kick your heels as hard as you can to you butt so it really looks like you are high off the ground. I had to practice this for a while before I got a good one, but it definitely made me forget about all the reasons that I DIDN'T want to be on that side of the lens. Oh, and twirling works really well here too :)

{twirling chucks by vi.llette}

9. Hide within the blur.

Who says your self-portraits have to be in perfect focus? While you are getting used to seeing your gorgeous self in your images, try softening the blow by adding a little blur--either when you take the photo, or in post-processing. When you begin taking self-portraits you may even find yourself out of focus by mistake. Before you delete these images, take a second look to see if perhaps you've captured a happy accident!

{me by kirstinmckee}

10. Make friends with your self-timer and/or remote control.

Most cameras these days have some kind of self-timer on them, which makes self-portraits a lot easier. When I use my self-timer I sometimes put an object in the spot that I'm going to run to and press the shutter half-way down to set the focus. Then I run into the shot, quickly remove my stand-in item and voila, the shot's in focus. A wireless remote can take the running element out of the equation and that can be nice (mine's broken so I haven't used it in a while). A tripod helps too!

{hey, what are you up to?! by suki_photography-sandra}

11. Join a group or project. (I know the title of this post is 10 tips, but here's a bonus one!)

What can I say? There's inspiration in numbers. Consider joining a flickr group dedicated to self-portraits. Browse through the selfies and you'll find yourself amazed and inspired by the creativity and uniqueness in all of us! I especially like 52 Weeks of BAM. It's a no pressure group that gave me just the little push I needed to take 52 self-portraits this year.

{BAM! I Jig Spontaneously With My Camera by SnapYappy}

OK, so that's all for now. If you made it to the end of this post, I thank you for sticking around! I hope one or two of these tips will help you find a little more comfort in front of the camera. Take it one step at a time, and ease yourself around to the other side of the lens. Who knows, you may like what you see.

~christy {urban muser}