Photography Lesson: Self-portraits

I am no photographer and half my photos on Dresses for Dinner my boyfriend takes. Before he bought his camera and years before I ever met him, I took my own photos. That's where the idea and inspiration to start blogging came from.

Being a fashion blogger (or any blogger for that matter) is learning the art of photography. The higher the quality of the photography, the higher the interest.

You don't need a fancy camera. A thousand dollar camera does not make the photograph. Your understanding of the camera, the lens, and creativity, however, do.

Tools:
-Camera: I own a Nikon d40 and Anna currently shoots with it. My photos are taken with a Canon 40d.
-Remote: Google the brand of your camera and viola!
-Tripod (or the art of balancing on inanimate objects): I prefer balancing on random objects, but that can lead to awkward angles and messing up the camera.
-Photo editing software: Something as simple as Picnik will work. I use Adobe Photoshop CS5.


Most dSLR's come with remote capabilities. Buying a remote control for my Nikon was one of the best $14.00 investments I've ever made. If you don't have one, self-timer is your best friend. Learn the ins and outs of your camera and shoot in manual. I cannot stress this enough. If you have a dSLR there is no reason to shoot in auto. The photos you will produce manually will be much higher quality. Which means learn the basics of photography: iso, aperture, exposure, shutter speed. Need a cheat sheet?

If your camera isn't top notch, rely on natural lighting and NEVER use indoor flash.

Find a location. The outdoors are perfect for ideal lighting situations and inspirational backdrops. Once you find a location, set up the tripod and camera. Take a couple test shots. Fix what isn't working and shoot away.

-Use props
-Dance
-Pretend you're a model
-Move your arms around in awkward positions
-Look at your toes
-Take advantage of the location
-Don't forget the details
-Let the clothes inspire your photos
-Try something new

Avoid shooting when the sun is brightest (i.e. middle of the day), dark, or in poor weather conditions. Not comfortable or sure how to pose? Try this.

Editing is typically necessary. I always re-size. Sometimes I crop and brighten the colors. I use Photoshop, but if you don't have that kind of money there are great alternatives such as Gimp or Picnik. Play around and see what works for all of your photos or just specific ones.

Inspired yet? Or need some help? I'd love to help. In the meantime, here are some of my favorite self-portraits.