When I first started learning my camera, I realized that I wanted (and needed) to practice editing photos with people in them but I didn’t have any. That got me started on self portraits.
As I honed my skill and gained experience, I realized self portraits were a great way to expel some creative energy and challenge myself as a photographer. I probably set my camera and tripod up at least once every month, whenever the urge strikes and I have the time available.
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Tools
First of all, it’s important to have the tools that make it a little easier. Sometimes you can get away with propping your camera on a rock or a fence post or an overturned bucket, but it sure is handy to have a tripod you can plop down anywhere and adjust the height. The one I use is under $20 on Amazon and serves me well… I actually have two of them. I keep one in the horse trailer and one in the house to grab on my way out the door to wherever I’m going.
I recently lost my camera remote and had to rely on the timer on my camera and oh my goodness, what a hassle! Kudos to you who have been doing self portraits this way. A lot of cameras have the ability to sync with your phone and you can take photos that way, but I prefer this remote and have been using it for years. Before you purchase, make sure it’s compatible with your model of camera!
Camera Adjustments
I generally float a single focus point around when I’m shooting but when I’m taking self portraits, I either set a single focus point (for a photo of a stationary subject) or I set my focus to “auto selection” (for a photo of a moving subject).
I also adjust my aperture to a higher number (or a lower aperture/f-stop) and make sure the rest of my settings are able to accommodate this change. (If you’re new to your camera or just not sure what I’m talking about and need to learn more about Manual Mode, check out my eBook!)
The remote I use allows me to set it to a “repeat” setting which means it continuously clicks the shutter until I tell it to stop. This is really helpful for taking action photos on horseback as well as allowing me to hide my remote.
Have a Vision
It’s really difficult to achieve something if you don’t know what you’re trying to achieve. Even if you just have a loose idea of what you’re trying to accomplish, it will be easier than having no idea.
If you’re photographing yourself for practice learning your camera or practicing your editing skills, consider practicing posing and facial expressions in the mirror first. If you’re photographing a certain piece of clothing, brainstorm creative ways to showcase it. Think about filling the frame (or not), the composition of your subject (you!), and the landscape you’re shooting in – how can these things come together to make a compelling image?
Use Props
I use the term “props” lightly. Personally, I have very few photos of myself without a critter in them, too. I like to have something else to focus on or something else to share the focus of the photo. I also think of clothing/accessories as props because they may very well be the thing I am trying to photograph more so than myself.
Have Fun With It
I love self portraits because they allow me to be creative on my own time – I’m not relying on anyone else. I don’t have to worry about “looking silly” in front of the camera because no one else will see the photo if I don’t want them to. And I really love that I’m able to get photos with both Kelly and I in them when we go places I want to remember!
Examples of Self Portraits
