Self Portrait Ideas, Get the Background Right

•  Where to shoot your self portrait

For official photos you should find a plain background - this may need to be white, cream or pale gray.

Informal shots can have a more natural background but, remember, this is all about you. Avoid distracting backgrounds. Choose a plain wall or a screen draped in a subtle fabric for head shots.

If you want to pose in the garden, keep the background simple - leaves are fine, or flowers, but avoid too many colors or people will look at the background, not you.

• Here are 5 top tips on How to Compose Photos with Good Backgrounds brought to you.

If you are posing indoors, a full length curtain can be used as a quick background solution. Bright colors can work well as backgrounds. However, the best color backdrop is one that suits your skin tone. Do you look good in blue and cool colors? Or do you suit warmer tones? Some people come alive against shades of red (warm skin tones), others look better against soft shades of pink or blue (cool skin tones).

Almost there.... Getting the light right

So you're looking good and all set up. Before you begin, check you have adequate lighting. Good natural light can be beautiful, as in this image from 'Krystle' on morgue-File, but avoid strong sunlight that casts unflattering shadows. For some good advice.

Professionals use a range of lights and reflectors. You can rig up a reflector on the cheap if you don't want to invest in equipment..

• Setting up your camera for a self portrait

Digital cameras these days often have a whole range of features and modes. Here are my tips for selecting the best features for taking a good photo of yourself.

Red eye reduction - Most cameras will let you select red eye reduction mode. This will cause your camera to flash twice, which gives your pupils time to contract so that 'red eye' is prevented.

Portrait mode - Your camera might have a variety of modes you can choose depending on the picture you are taking, for example: scenery, people (closeups), night shots. Select the mode which is designed for close-up photos of people.

Beauty mode - Some cameras have a 'beauty mode' which is designed for enhancing close-up pictures of faces. It does this by evening out and brightening skin tone. These days, this kind of thing is often done in any case using computer editing, so if you prefer not to spend a lot of time at the computer you might like the results your camera will give in this mode.

Image stabilization - this feature is useful if you are not using a tripod, as it reduces the camera shake that can result from handheld shots
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• Self portrait photography technique

The long arm

This only works if you have very long arms and a steady hand. It's not recommended - the results can be very unflattering - but will do in a pinch. All you do is hold the camera as far from you as you can, smile and press the shutter.

If you do want to try this technique, keep the camera higher than you so that you are looking up - it gives a nicer shot than straight on. Tilt your head or angle the camera to one side so that you get a cute semi-profile rather than the 'convict mugshot' look of staring into the lens. In fact, try a few shots where you are not even looking at the camera, for a more natural style.