How self-portrait improve your photography work

Learn 6 reasons why you should be doing it right now and get better portraits!

I’ve probably spent just as much time in front of the camera as I have behind it. When I first took a DSLR, this was one of the first things I did. Taking self-portraits became the best way for me to learn being able to play with the settings, lighting and posing.

I have to be honest, self-portraits are very hard! There are a lot of technical things to think about. I didn’t know this till I started and I encountered all the issues. Where to locate the tripod, where to put myself to be on the right frame, how to pose, how to focus properly, how to set the timer at a right interval (no, I didn’t have a remote controller at the beginning), and so on.

This is the best way to learn. Just when you face one problem after another, it’s when you become knowledgable and problem-solving. You get confident in what you do. And believe me, you will need that when you are shooting in a studio with a client and different unexpected situations occur!

Self-portraits will benefit you as a photographer in all ways, and they will help you build your own personal style for your brand.

Here are the 6 main reasons why you should be doing it right now:

1. CREATE JUST FOR YOURSELF

This is my favourite reason! Are you a photographer or are you also an artist? This is your time to create ANY project you have in mind. You can develop whatever you want. Often, we get too busy getting non-creative bookings and paying bills. We forget that we are creatives and we need to feed that side from time to time.

Creating for yourself will remind you of your love for photography—it’s not just creating for others, but for yourself too! Think outside the box, get weird and get creative!

I had a massive burn out not long ago. I was so distracted in making money and being involved in way too many things, that I stopped doing self-portraits. I was only working on client work and not shooting something completely for myself. Fortunately, I’m now writing this article knowing that as soon as I finish it, I’m gonna jump into my studio to create some new projects that have been in mind for way too long already.

Click here to see some of my Self-Portraits.

2. BUILD A PORTRAITURE PORTFOLIO

When I started into Portraiture, I didn’t have any example of my work. I couldn’t show any client what I could do for them or show my creative side.

It’s true that you can always book models or collaborate with them to build your portfolio but sometimes, depending on how busy you are or where you live, this is not that easy.

Build a portfolio with projects you believe in, showing the REAL YOU. Many times, the client’s work don’t show out creativity as we have to adjust to the client’s needs.

Working on personal projects and showcasing that work, gave me many rewards. I have been published in curated photography websites such as 1x , magazines and I’ve even sold some of my self-portraits.

3. YOU GET TO UNDERSTAND YOUR CLIENTS BETTER

You get to put yourself in your client’s situation. People feel normally too exposed when they are in front of the camera. They don’t feel comfortable and most of the time they don’t know how to pose or look natural.

I think we forget how it feels to be on the other side of the camera sometimes. Self-portraits are a great reminder about how your clients feel. Being in their situation teaches you to be more patient and handle better the photoshoot. You know how you can lead them so they don’t feel that overwhelming.

4. PRACTICE

This is the perfect time for you to practice and grow as a photographer. Self-portraits are a great way to experiment and try different techniques. Maybe you have new equipment to learn and test, or new concepts to work on but you’re not confident enough yet to try them on a client.

Practising doing self-portraits, I learnt most of the techniques I know about portraiture! In the beginning, I wasn’t good with lighting at all and now, I love using it to shape every portrait I do in a creative way.

5. ANGLES, COMPOSITION AND POSING

Experimenting with composition it’s one of the most important things to learn. You can experiment with all the angles you want while shooting for yourself. Think outside the box and play with perspectives. Once you did this, whenever you work with a client, you know already your favourite compositions and execute them in the studio.

Self-portraits are a time to learn about posing as well. This is a subject many get lost on when it comes to working with clients. Really study what is working with the posing, expressions and mood, and what isn’t. This will build your confidence and help you lead your client through the posing.

6. YOU GET TO SHOW HOW YOU ARE

Self-portraits have been a huge creative way for me to build my work. I get to share with my clients and potential clients who I am and how I can give them an amazing session as well.

Sharing that part of me with my clients, made me connect more with them and build that relationship and trust with them. People want to see you. They want to see the person behind the lens, so show them!

– CHECK OUT THESE POSTS:

How to take Self-Portraits (Step by Step BTS)

The Most Affordable Home Photography Studio

If you want to know more, check the Youtube video above and Subscribe to my Youtube channel for weekly videos about Photography, Tutorials and Creative inspiration! I hope to see you there!

CHECK OUT MY LIGHTROOM PRESETS FOR THAT HIGH-END EDITING IN A CLICK!

Featured