They say practice makes perfect, but when you are starting to explore the world through your camera, you may not want to involve others until you feel more confident in your skills. Taking pictures of yourself is a great place to start. You can experiment freely without worrying what anyone else will think—plus, you never know what you will get. Some of our favorite pictures of ourselves were taken when we were bored and exploring with our cameras. And in today’s world, where we use self-portraits on everything from Facebook to our blog, who doesn’t need a constant portfolio of great pics? Here are some tips for getting flattering, eye-catching self-portraits with whatever camera you have on hand, even an iPhone.
One of our favorite ways to take a self-portrait is by using a reflected surface, such as a mirror. Simply face the mirror, look through your camera lens, focus, then move the camera away from your face (but still pointed toward your reflection) and snap away! If you are using a digital camera, you can take as many pictures as you want, so don’t worry if your first few are blurry or miss their target. Here are some tips for taking the best reflective portraits:
LOOK INTO THE LENS. We all have a natural inclination to look at ourselves in a mirror. But when photographing yourself in a reflective surface, you want to look into the lens, rather than at yourself, before you snap the photo. Though of course, if you want to look to the side or down for variety, that’s fine, too!
HOLD YOUR CAMERA AT DIFFERENT ANGLES. Try holding your camera low and high for different looks. Everyone’s features are unique, so try photographing yourself from interesting angles to see what you prefer. You can also hold the camera down low to “hide” the camera by cropping the image later to be just your shoulders and face. Just remember that the lower (or higher) you hold your camera, the more you will need to angle it so the lens is pointed at your face.
PAY ATTENTION TO YOUR SURROUNDINGS. Check your lighting: is it too dark or too bright? You may find that images taken in your bathroom are blurry or unflattering—this means it’s too dark. Add light by moving a lamp or other light into the room, or move to a different spot. Try a mirror near a window in your bedroom and see if that’s better.
Another thing to check is your background. What color are the walls around you? Are there towels hanging behind you? Attention to details like this will help your photos look more polished.
TRY LOOKING IN DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS. You may find that you love your profile, or that you prefer looking straight at the lens to highlight your eyes. Try tilting your head one way or the other to add interest.
TAKE A DEEP BREATH. It’s easy to move or shake slightly when taking a picture, especially if you are holding the camera at an odd angle. To avoid this, get yourself in position, set up your picture, then breathe deeply and exhale before you take the photo. This is the best trick we have learned to steady the camera.
And remember, mirrors aren’t the only reflective surface out there! Try large glass windows (such as shop windows), rain puddles, or a swimming pool.
Now you see the camera, now you don’t! Try holding the camera down a bit so you can crop it out of the final image.
hide your camera
Another technique for taking pictures of yourself, or yourself and a friend, is to hold the camera at arm’s length. To do this, simply hold your camera far enough away to get everything you want in the frame and then snap a photo. This can be challenging because you won’t be able to see what you are photographing. A lot of trial and error may be necessary, especially at first.
There are times to use your on-camera flash, but photographing this close to your face is not one of them! Turn off your flash or you will end up with blown-out photos and maybe even compromised vision. Since you won’t be using your flash, you need good lighting. A great option is to sit or stand directly facing a window; window light is very flattering.
As you explore different angles, holding your camera down low or up high, watch out for unflattering details that arise. For example, if your arm is in the frame, it may look distorted when you hold the camera up high. When you hold the camera low, you may need to adjust your head position so your chin and neck don’t look distorted.
This technique is also useful when you are out with a friend and you want to get a picture together. Elsie takes a picture of us like this with her iPhone almost every week! When photographing two subjects, focus on only one person at a time to avoid a blurry photo. Most cameras have a hard time splitting focus, so slightly angle the lens toward one person when snapping the photo.
Experiment with looking at the lens, versus away. Hard to believe these are arm’s-length self-portraits, right?
Most digital cameras have a built-in self-timer—you just push a button and after ten or so seconds, your camera will trip the shutter automatically. If you’re using an iPhone, there are self-timer apps you can easily download. Another option is a camera remote, which you can use to snap a photo without touching the camera. Either way, here’s how to do it.
If you don’t have a tripod, set your camera on any stable, flat surface.
Give yourself lots of options and don’t worry about every image being picture-perfect.
SET UP YOUR CAMERA. Find a solid surface to balance your camera on. The most common (and easiest) option is a tripod. Tripods are inexpensive and can be attached to most cameras. You can adjust them to hold the camera higher or lower, and you can adjust the legs to stand on a sloped surface. Most tripods are lightweight and easy to tote around. Just remember to weigh your tripod down if it’s windy by hanging a heavy object (such as your camera bag or purse) from the center post.
If you don’t feel ready to invest in a tripod, you can use almost any flat surface, such as a countertop, table, or chair. Just remember to choose a surface that is level and secure; you don’t want your camera falling off and potentially breaking.
SET UP YOUR SHOT. Think about the composition of your picture. Where will you want to stand? What do you want the camera to focus on? If you simply focus your camera on anything and then move yourself into the frame, your photos will probably turn out blurry, as the camera will focus on the background. A helpful tip is to use something—a friend or an object—to stand in for you while you set up the shot. Put the stand-in wherever you want to be and focus on it. When you activate the self-timer, move into that exact same spot. (Or if you’re using a remote, stand in the spot first and then trip the shutter.)
Don’t expect to get a perfect picture the first time you use your self-timer or camera remote (or even the tenth!). Give yourself time to experiment and make mistakes. And don’t forget to have fun!
Self-portraits don’t have to be traditional headshots. Experiment and have fun!
Instead of looking same old, same old in your photos, why not try something new? Here are our favorite ways to use makeup and accessories for more interesting, eye-catching self-portraits.
GO RETRO. There are so many pretty makeup and styling trends from the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s. Try doing your makeup like a style icon, such as Twiggy. These looks may be too extreme for an average day, but this is just something fun for a picture.
ACCESSORIZE WITH A PURPOSE. Accessories are a great way to add pops of color or texture to your photos. But before you pile on the baubles, think about the big picture. What kind of look are you trying to achieve? The best way to avoid looking too “busy” is to accessorize with a purpose in mind. A good rule of thumb is to highlight one area, such as your hair or your hands.
WEAR SOMETHING MEANINGFUL. We love including items that were handed down to us, whether swimsuits from our grandmother’s honeymoon or our mother’s letterman jacket from high school. Why not incorporate items such as these into more casual outfits and photos?
HIGHLIGHT YOUR FAVORITE FEATURE. Use different colors or makeup techniques to highlight your favorite feature. Emma’s favorite feature is her hair; she wears it down most days because she likes the color. Highlight something that fits your personality.
GO NATURAL. Don’t shy away from snapping a picture of yourself even if you still have bed hair. Sometimes less is more, and these kinds of images can show the beautiful and vulnerable side of yourself.
Clockwise from top left: Elsie showing off a cat-eye eyeliner look; Emma trying a Twiggy-inspired look; Elsie incorporating our mother’s high school cheerleading jacket; Emma highlighting her favorite feature: her hair.
The colors, style, and cut of your clothes have a huge impact on how you look in your photos. Plus, getting a little dressed up can help you feel more confident. Here are some tips for choosing a knockout outfit.
WEAR SOMETHING WITH CONTRAST. Bold patterns and contrasting colors can add interest to a photo. One of our favorite tricks is to wear all black and white. There is something about the contrast between them that really makes a photo pop.
KNOW YOUR COLORS. Every skin and hair tone has a range of colors that complement it best. For example, redheads tend to look stunning in jewel tones. Experiment and see what colors look best on you.
KNOW YOUR BODY TYPE. Our differences are what make us beautiful, so don’t be afraid to honestly consider what body type you have. Once you’ve identified your shape, look to vintage icons or celebrities with similar shapes and see what they wear and how they style themselves. You can take advantage of their stylist’s tips without spending a penny! If you love your hands, paint those nails and show them off! If you have adorable shoulders, invest in a strapless dress. We should all celebrate the things that make us beautiful and unique!
Elsie feels best in knee-length dresses with heels, while Emma prefers outfits with a fitted waistline.
Are you so afraid of trying something new that your hair looks the same in every photo—and has since you were six years old? Here are a few ideas to shake you out of your hairstyling rut.
WEAR BRAIDS. Braids can add texture and dramatically change your hair length without actually altering your hair. They can look polished or bohemian, depending how you style them. That’s the mark of a classic trend.
ADD A FANCY HAT. Hats add color and show off your personality. Add a retro mini veil for a bridal or dressed-up look, a fedora for a casual and cool look, or a sun hat for a vacation feel. No matter what length your hair is, you can always dress up your look with a cute hat!
TRY A RETRO HAIRSTYLE. There are great resources online to help you do retro styling. Why not take the time to create a beehive look? It’s not something you’ll do every day, but it adds a vintage feel to portraits.
ACCESSORIZE. Try adding pieces of lace or decorative hairpins for a different look. Remember, it doesn’t have to be something that you would wear in real life.
maiden braids
Braided hair adds interest and texture to a picture.
beehive!
Try retro hairstyles to change up your look.
Don’t forget to capture the details of your changing hairstyles over the years.
Emma’s pretty yellow scarf adds color to her portrait.
A few years ago, a friend encouraged Elsie to join the 365 challenge on flickr.com. The idea was to take a self-portrait every day for a year. According to the rules, you had to be in the photo in some way and you had to take the photo yourself. As the weeks went by, Elsie started getting more and more creative, experimenting with reflective surfaces, lighting, and styling. What started off as a just-for-fun challenge turned into an incredibly rewarding creative project. She was able to move past just capturing a pretty photo and learned how to capture her everyday life.
We want to give you the opportunity to have the same kind of experience! Here’s our modified (meaning shorter) version of the challenge, should you choose to accept it:
• Take thirty days of self-portraits (one every day for a whole month).
• The portraits have to be about you or show you in some way.
• You must take the pictures yourself.
• As you go, share your photos with a close friend, with your spouse, or online via Facebook or your blog.
The results of Elsie’s thirty-day self-portrait challenge.
