With all the lockdowns across the world due to the coronavirus pandemic, quite a few photographers have been left without subjects to shoot. If you want to keep shooting, you might have considered turning to self-portraits but be at a loss for how to pose yourself. If you are struggling with that, this fantastic video tutorial features professional models giving a range of helpful tips for posing in self-portraits.
Coming to you from the crew at Mango Street, this great video tutorial features professional models giving helpful advice on how to pose for self-portraits. With the lockdown, if you are looking for ways to practice your photography, now is a great time to get in front of the camera yourself. In fact, our own Christopher Malcolm has created some fantastic self-portraits recently. Of course, many of us are far less comfortable in front of the camera than behind it, and it can be tricky to learn to feel at ease. Nonetheless, it's worth giving a try during this time at home.
Check out the video above for the full rundown, and take some time while you are at home to shoot a few self-portraits. Not only will you get some great practice, you also might get a nice new business headshot or maybe even a portfolio image or two!
I think Self-Portraits are a must for anyone who wants to dare to ask others to take their photo. I believe strongly that we have to learn to appreciate our own face and insecurities to know a feeling of discomfort and awkwardness that others may be feeling. Very few people I know are comfortable having their photos taken for different reasons. They don't like to be in spotlight, might not feel good about their appearance or might think you're going to make them feel bad.
When I got new speedlights this past Christmas, the first thing I did was sit down and tested 3 of them to get a self portrait. As I expected, I hated it. Yet, when I looked at the posing, the lighting, I focused less on my self than the lighting, the concepts I knew I'd use on others and pushed through. This is a great way to get comfortable with the gear, the lens and self.
Cheers FStoppers.
I'm no Cindy Sherman. If I want to look at a bunch of ugly self-portraits I have a coffee table book full of them.