Simple Self Portraits

Anyone with a camera, or camera phone, is probably guilty of taking the odd cheeky selfie. We all do them, myself included, but for this post I’m looking to achieve a slightly more sophisticated self portrait.

Taking photos of yourself, by yourself, is pretty tricky. Getting the right angle, lighting, focus, pose, background etc can be hard enough when you’re behind the camera, let alone in front of it! So I’ve been trying out a few techniques to capture the perfect portrait.

Portrait Mode

Most digital cameras come with a portrait mode, mine is located under ‘Scenes’. I’ve done some research and, without getting too technical, portrait mode helps to keep the subject of the photo in focus, while the background is out of focus. The below pictures were taken using portrait mode:

 

My camera also comes with an ‘E-Portrait’ option. This is truly a selfie-lover’s best friend as it instantly creates a smoother complexion (clearly the camera does lie). My camera saves both the edited and unedited versions at the same time. I wouldn’t say it makes a dramatic difference but you can compare them below (edited versions on the right):

 

Colour & Style

You can play with the different modes on your camera to create a different style of photo. I particularly like using black and white or sepia modes for portraits as I think the lack of colour allows you to focus more on the shapes and features:

 

Angles

So far I’ve shown you photos I’ve taken in true selfie style with my camera held at arm’s length. This isn’t ideal as it creates a slightly unnatural body shape and holding the camera steady can be difficult. If you own a tripod you are already ahead of me in this game. I have opted for balancing my camera on convenient tables and shelves around my home!

You can set your camera to self-timer but this does mean you then have to dash back into position before it goes off. My camera has in built wifi which allows me to connect to my phone. I can then use my phone to remote activate the shutter once I’m in the desired position. It’s interesting to experiment with taking photos at different angles or distances for different effects; a portrait does not just have to be a photo of you looking straight down the lens of the camera:

 

Your True Self

Of course, the perfect self-portrait isn’t just about taking a picture of your physical self. In my opinion, a really good self portrait also shows something of your personality, who you are or what you’re thinking. This could be achieved by positioning yourself in front of a particular background, changing your facial expressions, wearing a special outfit, using props, striking a pose or playing with lighting and colours. Anything that expresses something about you.

This is me:

 

CNL

Katie x