Self Portrait Tips Tricks and Advice | Samantha Hayn Photography

  

Does the idea of taking self portraits completely stress you out?

Don’t know where to start?

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Don’t worry boo! I got you!

I’m here to tell you that taking self portraits DOES NOT need to be stressful!

Taking self portraits can be fun, therapeutic, and best of all empowering!

LETS DIVE IN!

What you will need:

• DLSR

• REMOTE ( like this one on amazon )

• TRIPOD or FLAT STURDY SURFACE

• CONFIDENCE

* If your a canon shooter and your camera has wi-fi – the canon connect remote app is a game changer! ( The app allows you to live-view, focus and change your camera setting all from your phone! )

*Nikon shooters – their app is called Nikon WMU

* Before you get started , stop and remind yourself that these are for YOU. You are completely in control of the vision. You do not need to stress about anyone else loving these images except for you!

1. SET IT AND FORGET IT.

   My first tip of advice would be to find the spot you’ll be shooting at, play around with your settings, get them all setup and then start shooting.

   I usually start with setting my F-STOP otherwise known as Aperture. I normally shoot completely wide open at photo sessions ( F 1.4, 1.8, 2.0 ) however I bring my F-STOP up a tad ( making the depth of field wider ) for self portraits since autofocus can be harder to nail on a timer or remote.

   *Focus will hands down be the most annoying part of self portraits, hence shooting with a little bit higher of a F-stop ( F 2.2 , F3 ) is a little more helpful.

   Then I set my shutter speed , then ISO.

Once all of your setting are done test your shutter remote / fire up your wifi app etc.

Ok! So your camera setting’s are all good to go now what!?

Start playing around with different ideas. I personally take a creative approach to self portraiture. I use the fact that I’m shooting for me to do something different and play around with different lighting situations. poses, and movement.

Think of an end goal, what do you want to feel when you view these? Is there a certain emotion you want to portray? Maybe you just want to document everyday moments with your kids. Whatever your vision is go into your self portraits thinking about what you want to accomplish in the end.

This will help you not feel lost, stuck, or uninspired.

*self portraits are also a good time to work on them angles girl!!! What poses are flattering to your body type, bone structure, and all those perfect imperfections you got!!!

( By the way YOU are gorgeous! I just thought you should know that! )

WHAT IF I DON’T HAVE A REMOTE?

YOU ARE DOOMED!

Just kldding! That was total sarcasm.

Listen you don’t honestly NEED a remote to take self portraits. Does it help? YES.

Lets say you don’t own a remote for your camera, or maybe you forgot it at home and your shooting at a park. Not all hope is lost! Relax YOU CAN DO IT!

NO REMOTE? LETS SET A TIMER

Every DSLR comes with a timer, most being a 2 second or 10 second timer. I would go with the 10 second option just so you have time to press the shutter manually then RUN into position haha!

Of course it’s harder without a remote because you have to eyeball or guess where to set your focus and make sure you go to the exact spot of focus. In this case just bump your F-STOP up ( F 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 ) to give yourself a even bigger depth of field.

One other option for self portraits without a remoter is interval shooting. Here’s a super informative YOUTUBE tutorial on that.

Whether it’s to boost your self confidence, showcase emotion, or to get yourself into the pictures every once in awhile self portraits are nothing to fear!

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Thank you so much for reading! Please if you have any questions comment below and I’m more than happy to help you rock your self portraits like a QUEEN.