How To Take a Self Portrait with a Point and Shoot

 
Taking a self portrait photograph is becoming even more popular these days as a result of Myspace and many other sites requiring such photos. If you want to take a self portrait photograph with your regular digital point and shoot camera, then there are certain things that you will need to do. Taking a self portrait without looking funny can be challenging for even the most experienced photographer. It is, however, something that you must practice doing.

As with every other type of photography, it will take a lot of practice to get the self portrait photography just right. Once you get some experience, though, you shouldn't have a problem taking this type of photograph of yourself.

Step 1: Setting up the Camera

For best results, you should use a tripod to ensure that the camera is steady and doesn't move. Fix the camera onto the tripod and position it so that it is pointing at a light background. You will need to adjust the height of the camera so that it is possible to take head shots. Make sure that the camera is around one foot away from where you intend to stand.

Step 2: Timer

In order to take the best self portraits, you will need to use the self timer function on your camera. Every camera should have this, but if you don't know how to use it, then you should read your instruction manual.

It is normally either turned on in the menu or by pressing a button. If possible, set this to as long as possible so that you have enough time to get into position and compose yourself before the photo is taken.

Step 3: Taking the Photo

With the timer set, press the shutter button and then stand where you will take the photo. The camera will typically flash a red light until the photo is taken.

It can be frustrating to take photos using a timer because quite often you won't be in a position or have your eyes open at that moment in time. However, don't let this worry you. Continue taking lots of photos until you have at least 10. This will give you plenty to choose from. For these photos, you can try something different and you can decide whether or not it worked later on.

 

Step 4: Review

After you have taken 10 or more photos, you can review them on your camera. This should only be a fairly quick look to check that you have some promising looking photos. If you're not in any of the shots, then you will need to continue until you have some useable photographs.

Step 5: Review on Computer

Connect the camera to your computer using the Firewire or USB cable and download all of the photographs as you normally would. You can save these in a folder on your computer.

Open all of the photos in your favorite photo editing application so that you can see what they really look like. This will give you a much better view of them compared to the screen on your camera. Choose the photographs that you want to use as your self portrait once you have compared them all.

Taking a Self-Portrait Photo

There are four ways of taking a self-portrait; by using a mirror, a delayed action shutter release, a remote shutter control, and by controlling the lighting.

Mirror Method

The mirror method is popular, but by no means the easiest. It usually means including the camera in the picture and this is not always desirable. The mirror must be fairly large (generally no smaller than 2 feet x 1 foot 6 inches) and clean and perfectly flat, otherwise the reflection will be distorted. Most ordinary domestic mirrors are unsuitable, as a reflection is obtained from both the mirrored surface and the front glass surface, resulting in double images. The mirror should be supported in a secure position with plenty of room behind it to allow freedom in arranging artificial lighting (for daylight portraiture it is generally best placed with its back to the window). The lighting must be placed where it does not reflect off the surface of the mirror or shine directly into the lens.

The photographer takes up his position in front of the mirror and arranges his distance from it, his pose, and the lighting until he is satisfied. This procedure calls for some imagination, because the camera will be looking at the effect from a different viewpoint. Even with a reflex camera it is not possible to see the final effect on the viewing screen.  Because if he looks at the screen the photographer cannot see his own face. And unless the portrait is to show the sitter looking straight at the mirror, the effect of looking in any other direction can only be guessed.

If the camera is focused by scale, it is important to set it to the sum of the distance from the lens to the mirror and the distance from the mirror to the subject. (These two distances are not necessarily the same. The camera lens may be six inches or closer to the mirror than the face of the "sitter". In a fairly close-up portrait this would be quite enough to put the whole face out of focus.)

When the camera is focused by range-finder the fact that the camera will be in a different position at the time of exposure must be allowed for.

If possible the photographer should set up the camera on a tripod and set it on some substitute subject. E.g: a stool standing on the chair that he will be sitting on for his portrait, to make sure that he is not including too much or too little in the finder. It is of course always wise to allow a good working margin in this kind of portraiture.

Finally, the photographer looks in the required direction and releases the shutter. The exposure is the one normally given to the subject and lighting; the presence of the mirror in the set-up makes no difference.

There are two ways of keeping the camera out of the final shot. One way is to arrange the picture so that the part where the camera shows can be cropped out in Photoshop. This method is suitable for a picture where the whole head is enlarged and the camera is kept just below shoulder level. Another way is to arrange for the reflection of the camera not to appear in the picture at all, i.e.: To keep it well below or to the side. This method inevitably introduces some angular distortion of the image, and the picture that the camera sees is so different from the reflection seen by the photographer that it becomes difficult to visualize and arrange.

Delayed Action Release Method

The delayed action release offers much more scope and it avoids including the camera in the picture. It is an excellent aid in trying out lighting arrangements, ideas, etc., Without having to rely on the co-operation of a model. It also relieves the photographer of worry about whether he is taxing the patience of his stand-in model by playing around with lights and props.

Practically any type of camera is suitable; if it is not fitted with a delayed action release, it can generally be fitted with a supplementary one either in conjunction with a cable release or screwed straight into the cable release socket.

The arrangement is exactly the same as for taking a normal portrait except that the photographer, immediately after engaging the delay action and pressing the shutter release, takes up his place in the picture. As the average delay is 15 to 20 seconds, there are always plenty of tunes to get into position before the shutter clicks.

The safest way to ensure that the picture will include everything is to contrive some form of "stand-in" that the camera can be focused on. A cushion on top of a stool standing on the chair, or some such arrangement, is all that is needed. This substitute is then lighted, arranged and focused, preferably by scale. The lens is then stopped down to give a reasonable margin of depth of field, and the exposure made at leisure. It is better to make sure that the image will be sharper than to shorten the exposure by using a large stop and sacrificing depth of field.

If the portrait is to be focused critically, e.g: to give sharp definition to the front of the head alone, then this "stand-in" method of focusing must be supplemented by something more accurate. The simplest way is to stretch a piece of picture cord (ordinary string is too elastic) from a point behind the camera to the point focused on, marking this position with a knot. The photographer then sits in the chair in front of the camera, pulls the cord taut with the knot against his forehead, and then lets it fall before the shutter clicks.

It is a help to set up a mirror behind the camera . So  the photographer can arrange his expression and pose, but it must be remembered that the mirror will give a reversed picture.  I.e: transposed from left to right— and will give no indication of the field included with the camera lens. Also, the mirror must be securely fixed so that it cannot fall forward onto the camera- a mishap that would probably prove disastrous for both.

Finally, when taking delayed action portraits, it is always worth while to make one or two "dummy runs" before actually making the exposure. There is a knack in releasing the delay, moving quickly into the picture area, and posing without a flustered air or, what can be just as bad, a look of triumph.

Remote Control

In many ways this is quite the most successful method of self-portraiture because it avoids the last-minute scramble from the camera station to the sitter's chair. The shooter in this case is released by any of the normal types of supplementary remote release, i.e: pneumatic tube, electrical, remote switch-controlled solenoid, extended cable release, or even a length of thread fastened to the release lever. The latter should be used only as a last resort, and then with great care, as camera-shake and even damage to the camera are a potential danger.

The preparations are exactly the same as for normal delayed action release, but when everything is ready, the photographer simply takes up his position and releases the shutter by hand in his own time. If he wants both hands to appear in the picture it is easy enough to arrange to operate the release with his foot.

The remote control connection (tube, wire, etc.) Should be suitably hidden (for instance, underneath a ring) so that it does not appear in the picture of a full-figure view.

A mirror is a help also in a remote-controlled self-portrait. For pictures showing the sitter looking into the camera, the mirror may be set up in front of the camera lens with the latter photographing through a cleaned-off window of the silvering.

Lighting Control

This method has certain advantages in special circumstances. It requires the entire subject lighting to be under the control of a single switch which the photographer can operate from the sitter's chair. The ideal form of lighting is a remote-controlled flash bulb or electronic flash. The photographer arranges the picture as for a delayed action release and then puts out all the lights. He then leaves the shutter open on Time and takes up his position in the sitter's chair, checking the distance with a knotted cord as described for focusing above. When he is ready to make the exposure he simply switches the lighting on and off, or presses the flash button.

The most notable application of this technique is for making a number of exposures on the same negative with the subject posed against a black background. For this purpose electronic flash is ideal because a succession of exposures controlled by the duration of the flash can be made without revisiting the camera. A typical montage made in this way would be a full face portrait flanked by profiles. Groups. Although the mirror and lighting control methods are not really suitable for what is probably the most popular of all photographer-in-the-picture work, i.e: groups of the photographer's friends or relatives, the two other methods may be used. In practice the remote control method is not very suitable because the camera must be at a fair distance to include the whole group, and this calls for a control that is inconveniently long and more difficult to exclude from the picture.

The built-in , or a supplementary delayed action release is the standard means of taking this type of picture. Where possible, the photographer should pose the group with a space left for himself between two of the members. If he allows space at one end, he may underestimate the width he is going to take up and find part of himself cut off in the picture. And since he will have some distance to cover after pressing the release, he ought to make sure that the way is clear and that the rest of the group know exactly what is going to happen. If they are not fully briefed in advance the picture may show all their eyes directed at the photographer.

Some Tips For Self Photography

Self-portrait photography is tough for many reasons. For one, you can't see how you look until you check the shot. Setup can also be very time consuming because you have to run back and forth when setting the timers. Focus is also difficult because you can't see where the focus rests. But self-portrait photography can be very fun. Here are some tried and tested ideas to help you get that perfect self-portrait shot.

What equipment to use

Use a DSLR because it has creative control, superior sensors, and so many accessories. Use a tripod. It is important because it gives a sturdy yet flexible mount for your camera. Almost all tripods will do. Pick up a wireless remote. Some wireless remotes sell for as low as $ 20. They can save time and make it easier for you to fine tune your self-portrait without looking haggard.

How to come up with ideas

Coming up with brilliant ideas is one of the most difficult parts in self-portrait photography. Even the more experienced photographers struggle here. So, where should you get your ideas? Well, do not look too far. Think about what you own and how you could use them in a photo. Think about interesting props as well as your prominent features. Are you bald? Do you have a huge mole on your cheek? Do you have an extremely long hair? Work on these features to your advantage.

Long or wider lens

The subject and the backdrop make a photo. No one is more important than the other; they are similarly important. This is where lens choice comes into the picture. Use a long lens if you want to send the background out of focus. Use a wide lens if you want to keep the background in focus. Use it if you want the background to be a major part of your self-portrait photo.

Portray convincing emotion

If you want your self-portrait photos to look lively, then act lively, by all means. If you want to come up with a boring photo, then act bored. The body gestures and facial expressions you make contribute in setting the tone. Go over the top. There is no room for inhibition here. Go crazy. Show more emotion to increase your chances of getting better photos.

Self Portrait, Photography Tips

Although portrait photography may seem simple to most, it is actually one of the trickiest photographic skills and takes years to master. On the plus side, because of the posed and scheduled nature of portrait photography, it is also one of the easiest ones to practice. If you’re considering starting a studio in your garage or living room, here are a few handy tips to keep in mind before you call your subject in for the shoot.

Brighter Isn’t Better

Harsh, bright lights will definitely give you lots of illumination and make photographing your subject super simple. However, these lights are rarely flattering and should be avoided if you want natural results. Portrait lighting is best achieved with soft light. You can find this light in the shade, on overcast days, or by using umbrella reflectors in the studio (these are available at a relatively low price). Using soft, even light will be easier to work with and will help to highlight your subject nicely.

Light Setup

Two lights should be enough for portrait lighting. Use one main light to determine the tone and direction of your light, then offset it with a second light placed near the camera. This will help to soften any harsh shadows and even out the strong contrast. Another way you can get this effect is by placing a light above the camera and one fill reflector below the camera. Both of these options will give you good quality results without special equipment.

Use What You Already Have

If you don’t have money to spend on a professional light setup, you can often get near-professional results by using a few desk or floor lights. If you want even more control, try using bed sheets to reflect the light around the room. Look around your house for possible lighting equipment and you may find some unique opportunities to use for your portraits.

Don’t Forget the Sun

Often, I think portrait photography as studio photography, but it doesn’t mean you have to be in a studio for professional results. You can get incredible results using natural light if you know how to properly use it. For example, if you have a large window in your house, you can use it as a source of natural light. If you’re taking pictures outside, use a big sheet of white poster board (or foam board) as a reflector and point it at your subject to minimize harsh shadows.

Much like every other sort of photography, portraiture requires practice, patience, and a whole lot of love. Luckily, it doesn’t require a lot of professional equipment or a lot of money. Be creative with your materials and subjects and you’ll be surprised at how great the results can be. Portrait lighting is all about subtlety but that doesn’t mean that it’s not a lot of fun!

5 Self Portrait Photography, Family Photos Tips

In many families, it’s the mother’s job to hold the camera. While there’s nothing wrong with mom being the family photographer, don't forget that your baby wants to see pictures of you in the family scrapbook album as well. Step into the spotlight by taking advantage of a few easy strategies for self portrait photography.

1. Put Someone Else in Charge

The next time you’re on a family outing, make an effort to pass your camera to your spouse or one of your older children to get a few pictures of you and your baby together. If necessary, ask a kind looking stranger to take a picture. Even if these shots aren’t perfectly composed, they’ll still be a record of memories that are important to your family history.

2. Use a Tripod

A camera tripod is an excellent tool for taking self portrait pictures. Although full size tripods can be expensive, you can purchase a small portable model for less than $20 and sit it on a Tabletop for your photo session. Plan on experimenting with your camera’s self timer before you get everyone together, however. Young photo subjects have short attention spans and are likely to become irritated if you can’t get the timer to work immediately.

3. Use a Web Cam

For an informal self portrait, take advantage of your computer’s webcam. Although web cams are most often used for creating video clips, you can use them to take still photos. Since you can easily see the image on the screen, this can be a good option for taking a portrait of you and your baby together when you don’t have someone to hold the camera and you don’t want to mess with setting up a tripod. If you have a newer computer, your webcam pictures should be equal or better to the quality of photos taken on your cell phone.

4. Look Into the Mirror

Have you ever seen teenagers take pictures of themselves staring into the mirror to use as profile photos for their Facebook pages? Steal this self portrait idea for your family scrapbook by taking a picture of you and your baby together. Babies tend to be fascinated with mirrors, so you’ll likely be able to capture an adorable expression this way.

5. Stop at a Photo Booth

Whenever you pass a photo booth, remember to step inside for a quick portrait. Malls, fairs, theme parks, and children’s restaurants often have booths that offer photo strip, photo stickers, or the ability to turn a photo into a sketch. While this is certainly not fine art photography, it’s a fun way to provide a record of the time you’ve spent with your baby.

Photography Tips – Self Portrait Photography

Self Portraiture

Using yourself as the subject in photography can be difficult. For starters, you have to manage to be the photographer and the subject, which requires some skill and guess work to do it just right. One of the most difficult objectives as the photographer is composing your shot and ensuring that your subject, you, will be within the composition and in focus. It is often difficult to do this because you don’t have a point of reference. This can easily be fixed by placing an object where you will sit, or will your face will be. From behind the camera, you will have something to focus on and a way to compose the image.

As the subject, this becomes difficult because you don’t have a photographer looking at you to ensure you are in the proper position, posing correctly, making the right face, etc. So as the photographer, you must already have a clear idea of how you will pose and how you will look before the shot is taken. It is also not uncommon for a film photographer to use Polaroid film or digital cameras to take a few test shots in advance.

Self-Timer and Cable Release for Self Portraits

There are two ways for you to pose in front of the camera and snap the photograph. First, you can use your camera’s self-timer, if available. This will give you about 10 seconds to get from behind the camera and into position. This works well if your position is easy to get to and settle within that time frame. Most self-timers also have a system to blink the  light faster and faster as time winds down, giving you some notice of when the shutter is released.

The second way is getting a long cable release cord. This will allow you to get as far from the camera as the cord stretches and take a photograph from positions that would’ve taken too long with a self-timer. Plus, there is no need to wait or hold still as you have complete control over when the photo is taken. The major downfall with cable releases is that you can only get as far as the cable reaches and you’ll often see the cable in the shot. Cables can be hidden in many instances or made to look like part of the shot, but sometimes you’ll always be able to tell it’s a cable release.

Whichever option you choose is up to you. But always make sure to keep photographing as you learn with experience. Being the photographer and model is no simple task.

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
.

• 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.

Taking A Great Self Portrait With Your Camera

How To Take Self Portraits That You Will Love

Taking self portraits is a lot of fun and can be easy when you know how. This guide is all about getting a great photograph of yourself - when you are the one taking the picture! Discover some top self portrait tips to get you started.

Want to surprise a loved one with a photo of yourself, without the cost and formality of a photo shoot ? Need a passport-style photograph or profile pic quickly, but nobody on hand to take it ? Dying to try a daring new look.... In the privacy of your own home? With tips on flattering self portrait poses (that will also make you look your best when someone else is taking the picture), plus some quick style recommendations, you'll be ready for your close-up in no time!

These days, almost every digital camera will allow you to take your own picture using the self-portrait mode. Just use your computer to make any necessary edits and print it out - easy!

 Preparing for your self-portrait ! Look Gorgeous, Feel Gorgeous!

There are a few different self portrait photography techniques you can use, but first you'll want to look your best. A model would be perfectly styled before going near the camera, and for great results so should you be.

Besides, the better you look in the original photograph, the less time you will need to spend fiddling around with editing software, and the more natural your resulting picture. (Plus, it is not advisable to digitally enhance photographs needed for official purposes such as a passport.)

Start with freshly washed and styled hair. If you wear make-up, take your time over it. If you don't, consider whether a little eyeliner or a touch of lipstick would brighten your face. Whether male or female, you might want a touch of face powder to get rid of shiny skin!

Unless you want to show off a specific outfit or costume, wear whatever you feel good in. Colors can really make a difference to your looks so trust your instincts on what looks good on you. The right shade will flatter you, the wrong one will leave you looking drained.

Self-portrait Photography Tips

Self-portraits can be quite challenging even for the experienced photographers, but very easy and fun for the ones who know how. The difficulty is obvious – you are both the model and the photographer, so you have to manage to do both jobs at the same time. There are some useful tips to help you take some really nice self-portraits. André Varela and his professional brand AV Photography pay special attention to self portraits, fine art and conceptual photography. His opinion is that every photography style can work good if used correctly, but more than that it is important to catch the right moment and express its meaning.

Have something to focus on! Bring some object to stand in the place you are going to stand. It does not matter to match your own height, but the distance. Of course, if you do have some extra tripod, light stand or anything high enough to be perfect substitutes. This trick is very easy to be done and useful in avoiding blurry photographs. Standing in the corners enables you to focus on building or wall. But, it is better to stand next to the wall than in front of it.

Setting the timer high and using burst is more than recommended.  Of course, you do not want to run into the frame, but to have plenty of time to get in the position and make a perfect self-portrait pose. Multiple photographs setting is very practical, even if you need only one photograph. This is a good solution, because it allows you to vary poses and expressions. This gives you the opportunity to choose the best shot from all those taken. Obviously, it is necessary to have the perfect settings prior turning burst on.

Self Portrait Photography

It is most often difficult to get the perfectly focused photograph, unless you are an expert in it. However, with the help of a few photography tips and methods, you can manage to get a perfect photograph to the best of your abilities.

• Avoid the problem: Using a wide aperture while trying to auto-focus on your face can actually get your face out of focus. A better idea is to use a smaller aperture as this would provide a wider depth of field and accurate focusing will become less critical.

• Hit your mark: One of the best methods at the time of photographing self portraits is to place an object like a lamp or some stuffed animal, where you would be posing. Focus on that and then poses where you stand-in is at.

• Reverse focusing: This is similar to the previous method with the exception that you use your tripod itself as the stand-in. Since focusing concerns only with distances, take the camera to where you’ll be posing, focus on the tripod head, mark the spot and pose for your portrait. Then just put the camera in manual focus mode and put it back on the tripod.

• The string method: For those who wish to get super -precise focus with a narrow depth of field, tie a string to the tripod head and focus as above. Pull the string and mark it where it crosses the film plane. Put the camera back on the tripod, find your mark on the string and click the photo. The biggest advantage of this method is that it lets you shoot in any direction as long as you are in focused distance.

• Use a flashlight: Since most modern cameras have a ‘close-subject’ focus mode, you can use this to auto-focus your self portrait on exactly what you want. Using auto-focus, darken the room and shine a light on whatever you want to focus. Since the room will be dark you will need to use a flash.

• Measure: If your camera lens has distance marking, measure the distance from the camera to where you’ll be standing and use the distance markings on the lens to manually set the focus.

Some other self-portrait tips include:

• Put a mirror behind the camera in order to see the display, without having to get up between shots
• Use a cable release or remote
• Be extremely awesome