The Modern Self Portrait : 5 Ways To Be More Creative With Selfies

in the world of self portraits, we have come a long way from sitting in a chair and looking straight at the camera.  today, self portraits are so much more than that.  they tell people who we are and what we are passionate above.  they tell people what makes us happy and what makes us afraid.  the modern self portrait is so much more than an expression on one’s face.  chuck palahnuik says, “your handwriting.  the way you walk.  which china pattern you choose.  it’s all giving you away.  everything you do shows your hand.  everything is a self-portrait.  everything is a diary.”  that quote is just so rich and true.  everything we do is a representation of ourselves, and our self portraits are one of the ways we can introduce our true self within the frame.  as you are preparing to take a self portrait, try out these 5 ideas for being more creative with your portrait.  you may just like the results!

need help learning how to take a self-portrait?  check out my step-by-step guide to taking a self-portrait with a DSLR.

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The Modern Self Portrait : 5 Ways To Be More Creative With Selfies

the self portraits in the post were achieved using : nikon d750, sigma art 24mm f/1.4 lens, and tripod.

1.  Incorporate Movement

movement is something that is really compelling in a photograph.  it allows you to portray yourself in a more real way, as you aren’t frozen within the frame.  there are so many ways to incorporate movement in a portray from flipping your hair, spinning around, jumping, etc.  remember, you set the tone for your self portrait and movement can be a wonderful way to encourage tone and expression.

2.  Faceless

when we think of portrait, we instantly think of eyes, nose, mouth.  but, believe it or not, you don’t have to have your face visible or present within the frame to have a self portrait.  sometimes faceless is very powerful.  whether you decide to cover your face with a book, turn to the side to hide your face, or crop your face out of the frame entirely, consider how creating a faceless self portrait could be really interesting.

3.  Include Someone Else

while individual portraits are lovely and necessary, sometimes including another person within the frame is a wonderful idea.  i like to do this with my daughter.  while i still consider it a portrait, i love to include her within the frame with me because she helps to tell a story about the time in my life.  children change so quickly in their appearance and having them present within the frame helps to put a time stamp on the portrait.  when i look back on a portrait of myself and my daughter together, seeing her age helps me remember when the photo was taken.

4.  Include an Activity

portraits don’t have to be boring or stiff, the can simply document what you are doing.  whether that is putting a baby down for a nap or reading a book, it’s okay to be doing something within your portrait.  remember, you don’t have to be sitting and staring at the camera in a self portrait, you can be documenting true life.  i  like to do portraits in the car, in my office as i am working, etc.  using a wide angle lens can be really fun with self portraits, as it can include more of your environment within the frame, instead of just you.

5.  Base Your Portrait on a Life Event

if you are feeling stuck with how to be creative with a self portrait, base it on a life event.  sometimes i simply take a self portrait to document a time in my life, whether that is to document just having a baby, moving, a trip, etc.  sometimes it is hard to be inspired to just randomly get in front of the frame, although i argue that you definitely should do this routinely.  taking advantage of life events to give opportunity for a self portrait can be a great motivator.

the modern self portrait can be really refreshing because it is more about you and expression.  it is about telling someone who you are and what your life is about.  there are so many things that you can tell your viewer through the modern self portrait and, by keeping these five things in mind, you can be encouraged to be more creative when getting in front of the camera.

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