As a portrait photographer, I often struggle to create new works. To add a new image to my portfolio, I must have at least one other person who will be photographed by me. Contrast this with a landscape photographer, who can get in her car, drive to an interesting shooting location any day she wants, and create new photos with relative ease. .
In the video above, the photographer Laura BC offers a solution for portrait photographers who want to make creating new work easier: she recommends taking pictures of yourself. Laura first started photographing over a decade ago when she photographed surfers. It’s easy for her to create new work because she can show up on the beach and take pictures without having to arrange a formal meeting with someone else. However, Laura was intrigued by portrait photography. She had been photographing models for a while, but she didn’t like the complicated posing of models, so she started taking pictures of herself. Today, she has a strong portfolio that includes several self-portraits.
In the video, Laura details how she took a highly accurate selfie portrait. The cost of creating footage is minimal. She used white paint and sunglasses as props and lit the photo with diffused natural light. The photo was taken on an 8-megapixel Canon 30D camera. Although the photo was created without the use of models or the glamor team, the photo was licensed by a makeup company.
Some photographers may be hesitant to take pictures of themselves. Many of us have taken our place behind the camera for the reason that we are not comfortable being in the limelight. Laura recommends remembering that you can use yourself as a model to enhance your skills as a photographer, but you don’t have to show anyone else the final images. Best of all, you can schedule a photo shoot anytime you want without having to spend time searching or booking a model.
Watch the video for more insights from Laura.
