No, what we say selfie instead of self-portrait we have not discovered the world. Artists have long liked to appear in their own works. Look at Velázquez, Van Gogh, Dalí or Vivian Maier. The self-portrait is a way to explore ourselves, to get to know ourselves, to delve into the depths of our being. It is a way of facing ourselves, of seeing ourselves. Because we don’t just have to pose in front of the camera. We have to choose the place, the frame, the light, our appearance, and in general the mood of the photograph. what do we mean to the world or to ourselves is the key to any self-portrait. And this is what differentiates a selfie with your friends a night out with a self-portrait that speaks really and deeply about you 😉 .
Do you want a few good tips to get a good self-portrait? Then don’t miss this article. And if you need an extra dose of inspiration then keep reading, because here are 15 self-portraits that I hope will inspire you so that within a week, you will have a good self-portrait looking at you from one of the walls of your home 🙂 .
1. Black and white
Black and white is a great ally of self-portraits. It is more intimate and abstract than color, it allows you to play with more extreme contrasts, textures and lights, which opens up a wide range of experimentation both in the preview and in the processing.
2. Backwards
All what defines you It’s okay, it’s not necessary for your face to be the protagonist of the image. Your back, your eyes, your hands… Everything is part of you and, therefore, is just as valid as portraying your face.
3. Choose the setting well
If you decide to give prominence to the environment, remember how important it is to control the elements that appear in it so that they help define you and tell the story you want to show.
4. Under the sea
Well, you feel like a fish in the water diving under it, why not portray yourself like this? 😉
5. Without looking at the camera
Probably if you resort to self-portrait it is also because you are one of those who does not enjoy being on the other side of the lens too much 😉 . So don’t be shy, if you don’t want to look directly at the camera, no problem, that fact defines you as much as everything else, and here it’s about showing you who you are, right?
6. Highlights
They are a widely used classic but that does not mean they lose their possibilities and their strength. Of course, remember, no flash, and be careful to look for reflections that are somewhat more elaborate than the mirror in your bathroom. Go out there and see what you find or look for a surface that is a bit far from the usual selfies here I catch you here I kill you of an unphotogenic bathroom.
7. Get closer
Do not be afraid to get closer, the closer you are to your target, the greater the feeling of intimacy that you transmit to the person who contemplates your image.
Speaking of lenses, here are our recommended lenses for portrait photography.
8. The power of light
Do not forget the importance of light in any portrait in general, and in the self-portrait in particular. If you decide to do it indoors, remember the possibilities that windows offer you when it comes to lighting the scene.
Come closer to the windows
9. Let your imagination run wild
Do not put brakes on your creativity, many times with little knowledge of Photoshop (or similar) you can create magical worlds in which to portray yourself.
10. Broadcast
Try to convey something with your portrait far beyond your physique. Try to convey who you are, your doubts, your concerns, your virtues, your fears… That is your true essence.
11. Take care of the exposure
A good exposure is essential to help you convey the message in a portrait. A slightly underexposed image does not say the same as one full of light and clarity.
12. Work on form and abstraction
Not everything is sharpness or focused eyes in portrait. You can transmit a lot with a shadow, a reflection or a part of your body.
13. Combine elements
Sometimes with a simple double exposure, you can get amazing images.
14. Make your image speak
That is the purpose of any image, to transmit emotion, to explain a story, to move.
15. Have fun 😉
Well, what do you think? Have I been able to convey some inspiration to you with these images? Shall we stop taking selfies and take a good self-portrait to hang on the wall? 😉 Ah, please, you know, if you liked it, share it. Thank you very much and until next time 🙂 .