Double up

Have some fun shooting an original self-portrait with Paul Grogan

Create entertaining portraits with nothing more than an old mirror

Self-portraits are always a good staple if you’re struggling for inspiration – or can’t find a willing model to pose for you! The challenge is to shoot something a bit different. That’s where this easy project comes in – all you need is your SLR, a tripod, a remote release (if you don’t have one, use your camera’s self-timer), and an old mirror.

For the effect to work you need to be able to take the mirror out of its frame. The thinner the glass the better; very thick glass can result in a double reflection that makes the reflected part of the image look slightly out-of-register. The mirror also needs to be big enough to reflect your whole face, but not so big that it becomes unwieldy – mirrors are heavy, so it helps if they’re small enough to balance on a table. It also helps to find something to sit on while you’re shooting, partly to ensure you stay in the same position, and partly so you can stay relaxed while you’re posing. Here’s how it’s done…