You are probably already doing it. Your friends are doing it, your family are all doing it, you're probably doing it together sometimes. What am I talking about? Self-Portraits of course!
Now you may not have a regular self-portrait practice for personal growth (yet), but I bet you take a photo when you just look way too cute in an outfit or because someone you love (your pet counts) is with you and you want to capture it.
If you've read my blog for a very long, you know that I do it regularly for creative reasons, to practice something, and also for self-acceptance. I'm also working on getting better in video as well. I recommend it as a practice, but you can read more about that in a previous blog "3 Benefits of Self-Portraits" which you can check out at the link below.
This video offers some very basic tips on how anyone can get started doing this with their camera phone. If you would like more tips, maybe on posing or more cool lighting ideas then comment below and tell me! I love hearing from you guys and I want to create content that you actually want to watch/read.
Tip # 1
Get your phone out of your hand with a tripod. Tripods are great, you can also use them to hold your phone during video chats. You may be surprised how often you use one. However, you can make lots of things into a tripod or just use masking tape to tape your phone to things like a window pictured below. The tape won't leave a sticky residue on your phone or whatever else you stick it to.
Tip #2
Clean your lens! This is something you should be doing if you are using a camera anyway, but especially your phone. Your phone gets super dirty from your dirty little fingers, your dirty ass pockets, your handbag, or just from holding the phone up to your face. Even if you don't wear make-up, your face has oil on it, but make-up and facial moisturizers, hair products; these things are super grimy and will give your pictures an unintentional haze.
Just take a moment and use any kind of clean cloth to give it wipe. Bonus points for using a lens cleaner or alcohol every once in a while.
Tip #3
Trigger your phone without your thumbs. (look ma! no hands!) Using your hand to hold your phone and your fingers to trigger it is perfectly acceptable for a headshot, but we want a little more flexibility.
You can purchase all kinds of things that will sync with your camera phone, you may even already have a smartwatch or something that will do it and that's a helpful start. However, most smartphones come with settings that will allow you to trigger your phone's camera shutter in a variety of ways.
I have an android and pictured below are what my camera settings for shooting methods look like. I keep multiple options turned on so they are ready on the spot. Then I just have to remember what the voice commands are... I forget and likely look silly shouting different things at my phone until it snaps a frame.
If nothing else, try a timer. This usually takes a few times to get it right, but it works. This might be a preferred way to do it if you're using burst mode to capture movement.
Tip #4
Lighting! Prioritize it, pay attention to it. Lighting makes such an impactful difference in your pictures. What is great about camera phones is that they give direct feedback on what the lighting in your image will look like. You can just walk around with your camera app open, looking for the best lighting.
Lighting comes in all different types and qualities and I could probably write a manual just on that, but for this purpose just practice looking at it.
Window lighting is a great place to start. Direct sun outside can be a bit difficult at times, but the window places a soft natural light right in front of you and you can just move your body around the window to discover which lighting you like the best.
Tip #5
Composition and Angles. Try out different angles, try it out lower, try it out higher, find out what you like. If you want to show a building or sign behind you, you may want a lower angle.
Remember that whatever is closer to the camera is going to appear bigger. Shifting your weight toward the camera or away can make a more dramatic impact than what you might expect because of that. If you want to look like you have a thick booty then shift your weight onto the leg closest to the camera and voila! She thick!
This is also good to keep in mind when you're taking pictures with others, if you are closer to the camera than other people in the frame, you will look bigger by comparison.
You can also use this effect creatively.
Bonus Tip!
My last tip doesn't have anything to do with the technical aspects of taking pictures, but more with your emotional state. Make sure that when you are taking pictures, you are in the right mind space. If you're feeling self-critical, take a step back and consider doing it at another time when you can be more curious and open to what you may get from the experience. There's no reason to force it or rush. Come back to it when you can be gentle to yourself.
Thank you for reading this far! Let me know if you try this out! Also, if you're ready for more tips or have any questions, let me know in the comments below.