Four ways to approach creative self portraits

Written by Charlie Moss

Confronting yourself in a self-portrait isn't always the most comfortable experience. While it's easy to photograph someone else, photographing ourselves becomes an altogether more reflective experience.

Shooting a self-portrait can be tricky the first time, but don't be discouraged. The more you practice the better you'll get at the technical aspects of self-portrait photography, which will leave you more space to be creative.

Most people initially struggle with how to actually get the photograph in focus and get themselves in the frame at the same time. Here are four approaches that you could try:

Use the self-timer and autofocus. Hopefully, it should focus on you just before you get into position. It can be a little unpredictable though.
Use the self-timer and pre-focus manually. Decide where you're going to sit or stand and put something (or someone) else there, manually focus your camera and then remove the object. It will remain focussed where on the spot you planned.
Use a shutter remote control. You can buy them for most camera brands. They usually look like a small key fob with a button that interacts wirelessly with your camera. You can often use them with either manual or autofocus.
Use your camera's app. Many newer cameras now have apps that mean you can operate the camera wirelessly from your phone. Some even allow you to view the scene live in the app, and make focus and setting adjustments as you could if you were behind the camera.

I'm a big believer that if you need to start, you should just start somewhere. So grab your camera and start by taking any self-portrait. There will be time to review the images, make changes, and even reshoot later.

Be yourself

When I first started shooting self-portraits regularly I did it because I wanted to document myself. But I also wanted to think about how as women get older they become less visible in our societies' media. I now take self-portraits regularly as a way to document the ways that I change as I get older.

Left: ISO200, 35mm (50mm equiv.), f1.4, 1/750th secRight: ISO200, 35mm (50mm equiv.), f1.4, 1/320th sec

Starting off your self-portrait journey by documenting yourself "as you are" can be both interesting and uncomfortable. The image we have in our head of ourselves can be very different from the one that the camera (and everyone else) sees. Remember that if you don't love the images you shoot you don't have to show them to anyone else.

Be someone else

Being someone else in your self-portraits can be a liberating experience. Suddenly it doesn't matter if you don't love the way you look in the image so much, because you're playing and photographing a character.

Left: ISO200, 35mm (50mm equiv.), f13, 1/123th sec, Lighting: Beauty Dish Right: ISO400, 35mm (50mm equiv.), f1.4, 1/200th sec

The two images above were based loosely on paintings (on the left a Da Vinci, and on the right a Joshua Reynolds). But you could just as easily base you self-portrait characters on films, books, theatre, or any kind of culture. You could even make a role up for yourself to play in your images.

Cover yourself in makeup

I've always thought that makeup was a bit like armour. It can protect you from the outside world and show a version of yourself that you take time to create.

Both: ISO200, 35mm (50mm equiv.), f1.4, 1/340th sec

If there's one thing I'd recommend for shots like this it is to use a quality brand of face paint or makeup. Imperfections always seem to be magnified by a hundred when you photograph poor quality makeup. I always use Mehron Paradise AQ when doing these kinds of images. It's not cheap but it covers skin brilliantly and allows you to be really creative (but make sure you always do a patch test first to check for allergies).

Once you've got your makeup just be creative - it will always wash off so that you can start again. Research face paint designs on the internet or take inspiration from films and TV (the above makeup drew on the character Furiosa from Mad Max). Or just be creative and play in front of a mirror. There are no rules.

Try something completely outside your comfort zone

If the idea of a self-portrait already puts you outside of your comfort zone, then try playing on that feeling. Add something else into the mix that makes you feel like you're even further away from the photographs that you'd usually take.

It could be as simple as photographing yourself in an outfit you'd never normally be comfortable wearing. But it could also be an advanced post-processing technique that you have never attempted before.

In the image above I challenged myself to create a piece of graphic art, something that I'd never tried before. I started with two self-portraits, added them together in Photoshop and then manipulated until I had something that felt like a glitched television programme. Using Photoshop in this way was completely alien to me, and really challenged me to work outside my comfort zone. It turns out that this is one of my favourite self-portraits that I've ever shot.

Trying something wacky and "out there" can be a way to relax into the process of creating. You already know you're taking a risk by doing something new and experimental, so why not photograph yourself while you're at it and throw all your inhibitions aside as you make some art?

I hope that this has given you some ideas on how to approach self-portrait photography. It can be hard to initially throw caution into the wind and start photographing yourself, especially if you're worried about how you might look in the images.

But by letting your creative juices flow, and occasionally pretending to be someone else, you can start creating some fantastic images without needing to rely on anyone else to model for you. You might even find you love it so much that they become a big part of your photography.

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(Emma took the self portrait here by copying an Annie Liebovitz pose - it really works to step into someone else’s shoes if you don’t know where to start.)

Follow Charlie on Instagram: @1charliemike