Mirror images
Mike Harris uses a little smoke and plenty of mirrors to capture a series of creative portraits you can shoot at home
Reflections are a photographer’s best friend. They crop up in many genres of photography, whether it’s a building reflected in a puddle, neon lights reflected in a shop window or a product reflected on a sheet of acetate. And portraits are no different.
In this project we’ve captured a series of indoor portraits using household mirrors. All you need is a willing model or the mind to shoot a self-portrait. We’ve shot images where the reflection is the main component of the photo and portraits where the reflection adds additional interest (see main image, right). While there’s no correct way to shoot portrait reflections, it’s worth remembering that mirrors don’t behave like a two-dimensional image, so depth of field still very much applies.
We’d also recommend cleaning any mirrors you use before you start shooting so any unsightly marks are removed. Not only will this leave you with less tidying to do in post, but will help prevent your camera from unintentionally focusing on the mirror’s surface.
Unwanted objects – and photographers – have a habit of encroaching on reflections. Make sure any objects that detract from your images are stowed away and that you pay extra attention as to whether or not your arm, leg or camera is poking into the frame. Experimentation is key, so grab some ideas and inspiration from the following project and then let your creativity run wild.