Easy tips on how to take photos of yourself: Self-portrait photography

Want to know how to take photos of yourself?

Two years ago, I was standing in a beautiful location alone, ready to take my pictures, but I had no idea what I was really doing. I should have done some research before coming out, but guess what? I thought all about taking pictures was to set a timer and I’d get my perfect photos. Of course, I was wrong. From having all bad images after a four-hour self-photoshoot to breaking my camera and my lens, I have had my fair share of on-field lessons, and today I’ll be sharing some easy tips, so you don’t have to make the same mistakes that I’ve made.

Want to know how to take photos of yourself?

Self-portrait photography is getting more and more popular as many people are entering the content creation world. The cost of hiring a professional photographer is a huge expense, especially for new or small creators. There are many ways to take pictures of yourself. You can use a digital camera or a smartphone. If you want to take photography to the next level, then you’ll have to invest some time in learning what works for you in terms of equipment, angles, or your style of photography. Here’s what you’ll get from this post:

The equipment you need to take photos of yourself
The planning process before the day of filming
Tips on taking pictures on your phone and camera
Answers to frequently asked questions about self-photography

Some pictures I’ve taken by myself

Phone

camera

I take most of my pictures with my camera. I love the convenience of using a phone, but my preference is to use a camera. The first step to getting good photographs is knowing what kind of camera you want to use. There are many types of cameras on the market today, each with its own strengths and weaknesses.

Some cameras are better suited for portraits, while others are better for landscapes. Do your research to get the best camera that’ll work for you. I am using the Canon T7i with different lenses and it is working great for me.

If you would like to know how I edit both my phone and camera pictures, let me know in the comments below and I will do a detailed post about editing.

As with anything in life, taking pictures by yourself comes with challenges. You can have all the right equipment but still not be able to get your pictures to come out the way you want them. It takes a lot of practice, not just any practice, but knowledgeable practice. Photography for me started as a hobby. I love having my pictures taken, so it was frustrating when it was so hard to get someone to take my pictures or when the ones that were around to take them just didn’t do it right.

Self-portraits are great because they allow us to see ourselves through someone else’s eyes. They’re also fun to do because we get to play dress-up and experiment with our own personal styles.

Tips on how to take photos of yourself

Equipment

Phone/Camera: This is a no-brainer. You need one of these to create the magic. Both work perfectly fine; you just need to know how to operate them and you should be good. For a cleaner look, having a camera is the best choice.

Tripod: Always get a tripod that is sturdy and has an adjustable length. It makes taking pictures at different angles easier.

Bluetooth remote: A must-have for a solo portrait. You can get the physical remote or use a remote app on your phone. I use the Canon Connect app on my phone whenever I use my Canon camera. There are remote apps that you can use on your phone. One of the remote apps for phones is Lensbuddy, and it has great reviews for a remote app. You can use it if you’re taking pictures with your phone, or better yet, get this Amazon wireless Bluetooth remote for phones.

Know your equipment! After having these three key things that’ll help you take great pictures of yourself, make time to learn how they work in different situations. You do not want to go to a location to take pictures and waste time trying to make the remote Bluetooth connect to your iPhone or break the tripod straight.

Planning

Planning before a self-portrait will save a lot of time. Start with a mood board to know exactly the image you’ll be capturing. When I first started self-shooting, I would go to a location without planning and get confused about what I wanted to do. I’ll spend over an hour on one outfit, and still not get the right image that I went out for. Sounds frustrating right? It was tough. Another key thing is to check to see if you have enough storage for the gear you’ll be using.

Your plans will not always work out exactly the way you want them to, but since you have a goal in mind, it’s easy to improvise.

The goal for the photoshoot: Know the type of picture that you’re going for. What are you taking the pictures for? Is it to show your outfit, a product, makeup, etc? There is a specific guide on how to take photos of yourself for Instagram. This will determine if you need to take more close-up shots or a wide-angle look.

Outfits/Props: Make sure all your looks are ready a day or two before your shoot. Test your outfit out, and try some poses. Don’t forget the props.

Time: For a time, early morning always works for me because I use my camera ninety percent of the time. When shooting with a camera, you want to go out and shoot before the sun comes up to get the best images or video. The phone works perfectly when the sun is out, but another thing to consider is that it is best to go out and shoot when it is not crowded.

Location: How far are you willing to travel? One policy that I have is that, if I have to travel for forty-five minutes or more, then I should be able to get at least three good backgrounds to batch shoot. Most importantly, check your surroundings. Don’t go to super isolated places alone. There are crazy people out here. If you can, park your car close to where you are shooting you can, so you don’t have to carry your tripod for any change of outfit.

The weather: Check what the weather will look like. If it’s extremely windy, do not go out to shoot by yourself. I lost my lens because of this. That’s why you, as a creator, do a lot of batch shooting so you don’t have to risk a phone or camera.

How to take pictures of yourself alone at home.

Some of the above tips I’ve shared also work great for taking pictures at home by yourself. The only thing I would add is that you’ll need good lighting for your photos to be lit. Do your set up in front of a window or invest in good lighting. I use the Neewer Ring Light; it’s a great beginner-friendly set.

Use what you have; the phone works perfectly too. If you have both a phone and a camera, there are some things to consider before choosing which one you would like to use.

how to take full body pictures of yourself with phone

When it comes to taking full-body pictures of yourself using your phone, tripod, and Bluetooth remote, they are your friends. Having these plus your phone is the easiest way to do it. The cheapest way to do it, which I do not recommend, is to use a stack of books in the situation of no tripod, and you can set a timer on your phone if you don’t have a remote.

Set the phone on the tripod.
Always clean the camera lens of your phone for a clear picture.
Connect the Bluetooth remote to the phone.
Start taking pictures with the back camera lens on your phone for the best quality.
For videos, I set my camera settings to 4K (quality) and 60 fps (speed).
Take test shots to make sure you’re centered properly since you’ll be using the back camera and won’t be able to see yourself in the frame.

How to Take Self-Portraits Using a DSLR Camera

Taking pictures of yourself with a camera is a lot more work than using a phone. While with a phone, you just have to clean the lens and start shooting, a camera takes time to set up. Depending on the lens that you’re using, you’d need to set the camera to make sure you’re in the centered spot, and if you’re new to using a camera, adjustments to get the right lighting in the manual mode can also be tedious. But the more you do it, the easier it gets.

Apply all the same tips for the phone and some other things to also consider are:

Make sure your photo has a good amount of space to make editing easier
Rotate your camera to be to get both landscape and portrait pictures
Choose autofocus on the body of your camera and lens

how to take photos of yourself from a distance

I have never gone a very long distance from my phone or camera to take pictures. The safest way of taking photos of yourself from a distance is using a drone.

FAQ on self-shooting

Have you ever had a bad experience using your tripod? Yes, and it is the worst ever. I had a tripod with faulty legs, which caused me to break my camera. Canon has a really good warranty and they were able to replace it for me. Thank God!
Have you ever felt uncomfortable that someone would attempt to steal your camera? Yes, that’s why I always go to a location that is not super isolated.
How do you feel about posing in public? When I started, I was uncomfortable, but now I’m used to people staring at me and I don’t mind it.
Camera or phone? both the phone for convenience and the camera for quality.
What’s your camera’s setting? I always shoot in RAW and manual. This is my camera setting with my Canon T7i and my lens, Canon 50 mm 1.4.

	Outdoor setting	Indoor setting
ISO (light)	Always on 100	400 – 800
Aperture (focus & blurry background	1.8 – above	1.4 – above
Shutter speed (sharp image)	125 and above	60 and above

I know this was a lot of information, but you got this. Bookmark this page for easy access whenever you need any tips for self-photography. You will find all my filming equipment here. If you have any questions or any other topics that you would like me to cover, send them my way. Contact me by commenting on this post below, or send me a message on Instagram or TikTok.

Some of these links are affiliated, which means I can make a commission if you purchase some of the products at no extra cost to you.

Videos on self-filming

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