Make it interesting
Liven up your shoots and results with in-camera effects
Just because you’re taking photos of yourself, that doesn’t mean your self-portraits have to always revolve around you. We mentioned that they’re also a great way to explore new techniques without wasting a model’s time. If this is your reasoning, there are plenty of ways to experiment. Getting arty with your shots might mean deliberately blurring scenes with slow shutter speeds, using double exposures, adding filters or even mounting unusual optics such as a Lensbaby.
Most pros generate their main portrait effects in-camera, rather than relying on Photoshop wizardry later on. “I love creating foregrounds,” says Taya Ivanova. “This involves covering part of my lens with flowers, hair, or even my hand. This technique makes even the simplest portraits look dreamy. I also love creating double exposures and reflections, and using random textures that I find online.” If your camera doesn’t have a multiple exposure feature built-in, you’ll need to take two images and blend them in Photoshop using layers.
Shooting through things – windows, clothes or foliage – is another option. Ivanova seeks out everyday objects, uses basic lighting kit such as modifiers and reflectors, and shoots with them in front of her or behind. Julia Wimmerlin took a very specific shootingthrough approach in one series of her selfportraits, coating her lens with Vaseline. “I used selective petroleum jelly strokes on the glass in front of the camera to take away that hyper-realistic sharpness and give it a more painterly look.”
Remember that general abstract portrait techniques can be used for self-portraits, too. To take images with motion blur, for example, set the camera to Shutter Priority and set a slow shutter (start at around 1/10sec). If you’re using a tripod, move yourself during the exposure. Or, go handhold and move the camera instead. If you struggle to reach a slow-enough shutter, shoot inside or in the shade. Add in light sources such as fairy lights, which, during a long exposure, will blur in streaks across the frame.
Simply see what happens as you experiment with different techniques. There’s no right or wrong way for creativity to unfold.