THOSE WITH A DSLR, WOULD PROBABLY NEVER THINK OF TAKING A SELFIE. THEY WOULD TAKE A SELF PORTRAIT. THAT’S THE PROPER WAY TO TAKE A PICTURE OF YOURSELF. HOWEVER, IF THE ONLY CAMERA YOU HAVE IS A CELL PHONE, THEN YOU KNOW THAT THE ONLY WAY TO TAKE A PHOTO OF YOURSELF IS A “SELFIE”. WHAT’S THE REAL DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE TWO?

With a “real camera” or a DSLR, the only proper way to take a photo of yourself is usually with the self timer, with the camera set up, usually on a tripod, and then the timer goes off, usually for 10 seconds or so, and then you run around and get in front of the camera, you pose the best way you know how, and the camera takes a photo of you.

Although you might think that a photographer would love taking a self portrait, it’s actually one of the most difficult pictures to take. With self portraits you don’t have the advantage of looking through the lens and carefully composing your image, so it can be real tricky to get it right. But with that being said, there are a few important tips you can use to make taking your self portrait a whole lot easier.

DELAY TIMERS

These days just about every SLR camera now has a delay timer which can come in very handy when taking a self portrait. This delayed timer will give you between 5-10 seconds (depending upon the camera) to push the timer and to run into the picture area just before the shutter releases. This isn’t ideal, but it will work in a pinch.

REMOTE OR WIRELESS SHUTTER RELEASES

A remote shutter release will allow you to activate your shutter without having your finger on the trigger. They come in many varieties (including wireless) and work with most newer cameras and are the best option for taking serious photographs of yourself. They range in price from about $30 for wired versions to $50 for wireless, or you can build one yourself if you’re tech-minded (there are some great “how-to’s” for this available on the web).

RECRUIT A FRIEND

In almost every case (unless you can measure the distance and set your focus appropriately), it’s best to have someone sit so you can make sure the composition and focus are right on. A patient friend or family member will usually do the trick, or you can use any object that can sit at the correct height. One of the toughest part of self portraits is focusing, so you make need to take a few shots to get it right.

BE HONEST

Remember that a photographer’s job is to tell the truth. It can be tempting in self-portraiture to only shoot images that show us in a positive light, but in all circumstances the integrity of the final image should take precedence over our sensitivity.

This doesn’t mean you can’t take flattering pictures of yourself, but just consider the technical perspective instead of just considering the most complementary one. If the image tells the story you wanted to tell, whether or not you look “good” in it is secondary.

GET YOUR LIGHTING RIGHT

Getting perfect lighting while shooting a self portrait can be quite challenging. If you use a stand-in, unless they have almost the exact same skin tone as you, there will need to be adjustments made throughout the shoot to create ideal light. The best approach is to set your camera on a full manual setting so you can adjust every photograph without being at the mercy of the camera’s internal sensors.

As far as actual “lights” go, you can use desk lamps, natural light, floor lamps, and/or your camera’s native flash to build an environment that works for what you’re trying to accomplish. Don’t be afraid to spend a couple of hours on your shoot; messing with the little details can be one of the most fun parts of self-portraiture.

USE YOUR CREATIVITY

Just like with other types of portraiture, taking your self portrait requires a bit of creativity and thought. Use your imagination to think of ways that you can present yourself in different ways from the standard portrait. Try using props like costumes or dynamic lighting and interesting backgrounds that will help make your self portrait stand out.

So, have fun taking your self portrait as it can be a fun break from the demands of other portraits. With self portraits, there are no pressing deadlines so take as much time as you need to get it right. In the end, it’s your own imagination that is your only limitation in getting the self portrait that you’ve always wanted.

About the Author:
Autumn Lockwood is a writer for Your Picture Frames. Shop online and see our selection of distressed picture frames in a wide variety of colors, styles and sizes.

NOW TAKING SELFIES, IS USUALLY ASSOCIATED WITH HAVING A CELL PHONE, AND THE PHOTO IS TAKEN BY YOURSELF. YOU CAN TAKE A PHOTO OF YOURSELF, AND SOMETIMES YOU INCLUDE PHOTOS WITH YOUR FRIENDS OR FAMILY. THERE IS A GREAT ARTICLE THAT TELLS HOW TO MAKE A SELFIE MORE INTERESTING. CHECK THIS OUT:

Let’s face it, selfies are one photography trend that probably isn’t going away anytime soon; the least we can do as photographers is try to make them less narcissistic and more compelling to an audience.

What Bryan Peterson aims to achieve is to make photographers, regardless of their skill level, more aware of the way they are taking a self portrait and encourage them to get a little more creative than just holding their cameras out at arm’s length and snapping a selfie. His advice?

• Start with a compelling background. For this photo, Peterson goes to the Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health in Las Vegas.

• Create an interesting photo before you put yourself into it. Peterson experiments with shutter speed until he gets a nice looking test shot with eye catching lighting.
• Make yourself less pronounced in the photo. In this case, Peterson got into the lower righthand part of the frame and pretended to climb the building during a 4 second exposure. Think of fun ways to be in the picture without your face taking up most of the image. Try blurring yourself by jumping, running, or twirling. Or get into a part of the photo where viewers won’t expect you to be.

Short but sweet, that is a great article by: TIFFANY MUELLER

More self portraits: