Creative locations and ideas for your self-portrait photography
Your ideas for creative self-portraits can be just as interesting as the people themselves! Here we share some examples of other ways you can pose, paint, draw or photograph your self. You can even do this on a rainy day.
* You can wear the same outfit and then choose different accessories or change the background, or you can use different props such as hats, scarves, umbrellas, gloves and so on.
* You could dress up as a character you admire.
* Your hair can be short, long, curly, straight, feathered, frizzy, braided, or in a top knot – you decide!
* You could try painting yourself in a setting that evokes a mood or memory.
* You could play around with different lighting conditions, including natural light and artificial light.
* You could draw or write yourself as part of a narrative, using words and images.
* You could sketch, using a pencil or pen, on a piece of paper, a wall, a floor or a piece of paper stuck onto a wall.
* You could take a photo of yourself and then look at the picture and compare it to another one you took at another time.
Here is a selection of questions you might find helpful to improve your photos or brainstorm some creative ideas
How do I feel when I look at my picture?
* How do I feel about myself?
* Am I happy with what I see?
* Why am I doing this?
* Who would I like to be in my future?
Is there anything I want to change?
* What do I like about my picture?
* What do I dislike?
* How do I feel about the photographer?
* How do I feel about the photographer’s choice of camera?
* What do I wish I had done differently?
Can I do anything to improve this picture?
* What might I do differently if I was photographing this picture today?
* Is there anything I can add to make my photo better?
Where did the idea for this come from?
* How do I usually think of myself?
* What sort of things do I like about myself?
* Do I like the way I look?
* Are my clothes comfortable?
* Is my hair in place?
* Are my make-up and accessories neat?
What did I learn from this?
* What did I learn about myself?
* Did I enjoy doing this?
You don’t have to travel far to find a colorful and unusual location for self-portrait photography. You may find yourself drawn to a local park, a beach or even a garden or park in your own neighborhood. Some other fun ideas you may want to try:
- Use natural materials such as branches, leaves, rocks and stones.
- Use a mirror to reflect your image.
- Use your mobile phone as a camera.
- Create a mosaic using found objects.
- Try making a collage of images.
- Use your imagination.
- Find inspiration in unexpected places.
You might be surprised at the range of creative locations you can photograph yourself in. For instance, if you are out in a park on a rainy day, you might come across a colorful statue or fountain. You could sit down to draw or paint in front of the rain. You could also photograph yourself with a wide angle lens, trying to capture the scene around you. In fact, you may find a variety of photographic options when you visit a particular area and experiment to see which one works best for you. You may even find that your photography skills improve when you try a new technique or find a new creative location to explore.