21 Creative Self Portrait Photography Ideas To Easily Practice Yourself

Are you a professional photographer who wants to try his hands on self-portrait photography? Or maybe o are you a professional photographer who wants to try his hands on self-portrait photography? Or maybe an aspiring photographer wanting to start out with self-portraits and expressions

But before starting your journey, you should know a thing or two about self-portraits and how they are different from regular photography. From the opening of a new perspective to paving the way for better portrait photography skills, self-portrait can really level up you as a photographer.

Why are Self-Portraits Considered Crucial?

Self-portraits play a very important role when we say world photography. The concept itself is ancient and is nothing new. Also, we often see self-portraits on a regular basis but in different forms, and forms.

Self-portraits aren’t just about showing your surrounding for yourself but it’s about putting your vulnerability out there and expressing yourself through the picture.

What do you think, self-portraits aren’t just about showing your surrounding for yourself but it’s about putting your vulnerability out there and expressing yourself through the picture. What you think, see, or feel, becomes a part of your self-portrait.

The Best Way to Start with Self-Portraits

If you have no idea how to start without a self-portrait then don’t worry there are multiple ways in which you can start this journey. For starters, you can use your mobile phone to take some selfies now barred from taking regular selfies, try to change some angles and experiment with the light.

You will Realise that it will give you a fresh perspective and help me understand how self-portraits work. Then you can start clicking with your digital camera by setting up a tripod and using the timer setting. Just set the right frame and timer setting and you’re good to go. 

How to Take Cool Self-Portrait?

When it comes to taking a self-portrait, a lot of people suddenly become conscious. For starters, it could be the nervousness, and also a lot of times it’s the cluelessness of how the shot should be taken.

But in reality, it’s really easy to take a self-portrait. You can start out by seeking out the perspective that you need in your photograph. This way you will be able to find out what and how you need to click the picture.

Also, don’t shy away from taking as many pictures as you can. This will help you make some decent pictures and bad pictures and maybe some outstanding pictures.

Do You Have to Show face in a Self-Portrait?

Self-portrait sounds like taking a photo of your physical self that shows all your features clearly but that’s not true at all. Self-portraits are all about expressing yourself and it doesn’t necessarily have to be about you showing your face. 

You can either crop your face out or not show it in the frame at all or you can wear a face mask or do makeup to change your identity. So apart from taking pictures of your face, you can just take the picture of your body parts like your hands, your fingertips, feet, etc.

21 Creative Self Portrait Ideas To Easily Practice Yourself

1. Long exposure

You can take amazing long exposure shots like the one shown in the picture. For this, you can use bulb mode on your camera and a Low lighting environment. You can be creative with your shotts and take portraits and other close up shots. You can spice up your picture by showing emotions, props, etc.

2. The Closeup Shot

This is the basic close up shot where you take the picture of only your face. But it’s not like taking Selfie as you will be using a tripod or some other DIY to keep your camera straight so that your picture looks more like a portrait rather than a phone selfie.

To add a little perspective or depth to the picture, you can try playing with the Shadows. You can also work on the DOP to make the background a little blurry to give your self-portrait a bokeh effect.

3. Double exposure

Another great way to take a self-portrait by taking double exposure shots. For this, you need to merge two surfaces. One with you and the other can be anything that can make your portrait look a little aesthetic.

Double Exposure shots are considered very artsy because they solely depend on the creativity of the photographer. Here are some of the examples to give you the idea of how you can take double exposure shots.

4. Abstract 

You can keep your self-portraits a little abstract by playing with the colours and adding a little drama to the picture.

For this, you can keep your focus more on capturing a picture that is making a statement rather than focusing on a particular theme. It’s all about listening to your photographer’s instinct. You can check out some of the examples shown below to get the idea of how you can use abstract photography for taking self-portraits.

5. Use Your Flora

You can make good use of flowers and nature around you to take some outstanding Self-portraits. From making a beautiful tiara to decorating your entire dress with flowers and leaves can help you capture stunning self-portraits.

Why don’t you just check out the examples of amazing use of flora in these pictures.stunning?

6. The Expressionist

The best way to do self-portraits by capturing self-expressions. Expressions are a great way of showing what you feel through the pictures. You can show certain emotions or send a message through your picture that you’re taking.

Expressions can really enhance your self-portrait and give it a lively touch. This can help the audience relate more to your picture and you can work towards excelling in the genre.

7. Paint Yourself

Now, this doesn’t mean that you actually have to paint yourself. It’s just that you can also use makeup or some other thing to enhance your looks. You can use an attractive eyeliner and eye shadow, you can also choose to paint your face or neckline with colours that can actually make a statement in your self-portrait.

Such kind of pictures, when taken the right way, can really your photography to the next level.

8. Not Just the Face

Do you know that Self-portraits are not just about showing your face but also you can show off your hands and legs?

There are tons of ways in which you can capture your own hands and legs or other parts of your body and capture amazing self-portraits. It’s more about how you express your picture rather than what subject you are using.

9. Stop the Time

If you want to capture some insane self-portrait shots then you can try stopping time as in capturing the fraction second of any action. For such shots, you can get creative with the props you are using or location. You can jump in the air and pose or throw something in the air and take your shot by capturing all the elements to make them look still. Here are some examples of that. 

10. Frame in a Frame

You can also try frame in a frame where you use some prop to create a layer above your own portrait to make it look like a frame. This can enhance the appeal of your photograph.

Self-portraits can be tough to capture for those starting out but once you’ll get used to it, you will easily be able to find the perfect elements that you can use for such kinds of shots. Here are some interesting examples of that. 

11. Silhouette

Silhouettes are another easy way to capture self-portraits. Silhouette, in general, are amazing and the process itself is peaceful. For the silhouette, you can choose the time when the sun is setting as it will give you golden lighting and a beautiful sky. 

You can actually do more while capturing a silhouette, for example, you can create a time-lapse by putting the tripod in front of you or take a long-exposure shot. 

12. Golden Hour Portraits

As mentioned in the above point, timing is everything. You can choose the golden hour for your self-portraits and actually get some decent pictures. If you are going early morning or late evening, you will be able to find just the right lighting to click your picture. Here are some examples of how you can do that. 

13. Choose the Right Background

Now if you are a professional photographer who just wants to build the skill of self-portrait photography then you can always use a studio to get your photography done. But for those of you who don’t have access to a studio, they are considered the world around them as their background and be creative with it.

From the greenery of the forest to the mightiness of the sky, anything can be used as a background for your self-portrait.

14. Artistic Self Portraits

You can capture some artistic self-portraits by wearing something mysterious or adding mystery to the image itself. For such kind of portrait photography, you can try sticking to a particular theme. It can help you make better decisions altogether when it comes to choosing the right outfit, the right background, etc. 

15. The Profile Picture

These are the kind of self-portraits that don’t have much unusuality apart from the fact that they are somewhat professional but have that causal touch to it. Also, they give a brief description of your personality. 

16. Use LED lights

To step up your self-portrait game, you can make good use of LED lights. Using artificial lights can help you control the mood of the picture. And with colours like red and blue, the true aesthetics of the picture come out naturally. 

17. Black and White Photography

You can also do black and white photography to capture self-portraits. B&W pictures tend to add depth to the picture and add a story to it. It’s cool how a lack of colours can open the doors to countless possibilities and imaginations. 

18. Natural Light

The best way to get the perfect lighting for your self-portrait is by utilizing the natural light as much as possible. You can take pictures in bright daylight so that you can get just the right amount of exposure that you need. 

19. Travel

You can also click some self-portraits while travelling. In fact, it is one of the best reasons to pack your bags now for a solo vacation. Just look for the most appropriate place you can book your tickets for and charge your camera batteries. 

20. Concept

Self-portraits are the best way to experiment with concept photos. Such photo shoots are generally based on a particular theme and revolve around a concept. They can be done to make a statement or send a message.

Concept self-portraits are easy to take. All you need is the right surrounding, prop, and outfit.

21. Corporate Photoshoot

The best way to utilize your self-portrait is by putting it up as the face of your brand. For that, you can take some professional pictures that can pass the corporate eye. For such photoshoots, you just need to make sure that you dress properly, set your hair right, get rid of oil from your face, keep an upright posture, and smile. 

Conclusion

Self-portraits are a reflection of your own self. This is the reason why there are higher possibilities of you clicking a unique shot. If you are already good at portrait photography then you can practice the same applications on yourself. But if you are not much aware of clicking portraits then you can just practice more and more until you start getting decent portraits of yourself.