Self Portrait Ideas

Kai is on a mission to put an end to those cheesy “MySpace” self portraits that are usually taken in bathroom mirrors with his witty video tutorial on taking self portraits that don’t stink –no pun intended. He covers a few different scenarios in the seven-minute long tutorial and offers up plenty of solid advice alongside a healthy dose of humor. Even if you’re not interested in self-portraiture, this video is worth your time purely for it’s comedic factor. Enjoy it here:

And if you would like to get on the path to better self portraits, here are a few things Kai suggests to get you started:

• Avoid taking the cliched bathroom mirror portrait. There are clever ways to use a mirror in self-portraiture, posing in front of your bathroom mirror is not one of them.
• Learn how to use your camera’s self-timer – this is critical.
• Always pay attention to your surrounding as these elements will become the background to your portrait.
• Don’t over pose. We’ve all heard it before, act natural and be yourself. Remember, that just because it’s a self portrait, it doesn’t mean that you have to have your face in the camera smiling as large as you can. It’s okay to be an indirect subject as well.

“Photograph how you really feel in the context of the environment you are in”

• Don’t forget about the lighting. Make sure you take your photograph in lighting  that will keep shadows from becoming overbearing and will also properly illuminate the scene.

No more excuses, get out there and take a self portrait the right way, even if it is just for using on social networking websites.

For Further Training on Self-Portraiture:

There is an eBook available called The Art of Self-Portraiture: Discover how to Take Stunning Self Portraits by Anna Gay; designed to empower you to break your own creative and technical boundaries. This journey into self-portraiture will hone your practical skills while illuminating aspects of yourself. If you’re not satisfied that it is helping your photography within 60 days just let them know and they will refund your money in full ($20).

It is currently available here: The Art of Self-Portraiture