5 tips for taking photos of yourself

Back in June, I shared my tips on taking great blog photos. A few people have contacted me to tell me that they've helped them, which is awesome, and some of those have said that they would love some advice on self portraits too. 

As ever, please remember that I have never had any form of photography education. I'm totally self-taught, so I'm not perfect and I might be doing things the wrong way! This is just what works for me. I recommend experimenting so you can find out what works for you. 

The previous tips apply, especially those on lighting, background and focus, so read those first, if you haven't already. These are additional tips to help you specifically with self portraits. 

1. Use a remote and tripod

Don't panic! I know this might sound like you need to go out and buy fancy equipment but it's not like that at all. On Amazon, tripods are around £20 and remotes about £5. I promise they will change your life! No more balancing your camera on stacks of books and trying to pose just in time with the beeps. Not to mention that you don't need to touch your camera, so you can take photos at a very slow shutter speed without blur if necessary. 

2. Positioning

This can be one of the hardest things about self portraits. How do you know when you're in the best place? If your camera, like mine, doesn't have a flip screen, there can be a lot of running back and forth to find the optimum position. So you run to the camera and, excellent! You're in the perfect position! Only now you've forgotten precisely where you were standing. I solve this by placing something on the floor to mark where my toes are. For my bed shoots, I aim the camera at the centre of the bed and use the reflection in the frame behind the camera to assess my position after every photo. Consider popping a mirror behind the camera so you can see your position without moving out of it. 

I also always find it better to leave a little extra space around me so I can crop as necessary, rather than have a frame that is too tight. 

3. Posing 
Posing can be so awkward. I think most people revert back to the hand-on-hip pose of yesteryear. I know I do! (Proof here, here and here). Then there's the fashion blogger poses. My advice? Don't try them unless you can pull them off. You'll just look like a tool! 

Experiment, experiment, experiment. Find what works for you. I know I like to do the one-hand-on-hip-one-on-my-skirt pose. It's clichéd, but I find it comfortable. If you're comfortable, and you feel good, it will show and you'll look more confident.

Having said that, I also like to do something different every now and then. One of my favourite things to do is put music on and dance, taking photos with my remote throughout. You'll find some great, natural poses that you would never thought of. Just be careful not to sing along- Singing faces are never pretty! 

4. Some extra advice on lighting

With lighting, find diffused light, rather than direct sunlight. Harsh light will create dark shadows and highlight imperfections. Diffused light (for example, on a cloudy day, or through a sheer curtain) is much more soft and flattering. Experiment with different positions in relation to the light- Looking straight into the light can make your face seem two-dimensional. Then again, positioning yourself side-on can highlight strong features, such as noses, and make them seem larger than they are. Obviously, everyone's face is different so find what works for you. 

5. Editing

Post-processing can be a hot topic when it comes to self-portraits. How much is too much? Is it acceptable to edit out a spot? How about a muffin top? Reshaping a nose? My policy on post-processing is simple: If it's a temporary blemish, it's fine to edit. This means I will sometimes edit out spots or red marks, dark circles and annoying flyaway hair. However, I always want to look like myself. I never edit my facial features, size/ shape or skin tone. I'm sure those people who have met me in real life will attest to the fact that I do actually look like my photos. Above is a photo of me totally make up- and edit-free. I look a little different, but only in the sense that I'm not wearing make up. There's no huge scars or raging acne that I've hidden from you. 

I hope this helped some of you. As I've said over and over and over again, the main thing is to experiment. What works for me might not work for you. Give it a go and let me know how you find it!