Tip of the Day: Take Better Self-Portraits

Don’t deny it – you bought your camera to take pictures of yourself. Yes, you take pictures of you with your friends, with the people you meet, and with that stranger standing next to you, but the point is – you take pictures with you in them.

Usually, this means turning our cameras around, stretching your hands in front of yourself, and hoping you aimed correctly. Unfortunately, this often results in blurry shots of you and your friend’s ear. Need help? Some tricks you can try to get yourself in the shot are after the jump.

Use a bottle: We’ve already shown you how to make a tripod using a bottle,what
are you waiting for?

Let it rest: If you’ve got one of those small bead-filled travel pillows, you’ve got yourself a makeshift camera support. Lay your camera on the pillow and press it down a bit so the camera settles into the pillow. This works better with heavier cameras.

Grab a mic stand: If you twist off the clamp on top of a mic stand, the thread on the screw should fit perfectly with the mount on your camera. You won’t be able to tilt up or down, but you can get a rock-steady shot.

Ask for help: The typical tourist’s favorite – ask somebody else to take the picture. No, this might not be as steady as your other options, but at least you won’t end up with a dozen pictures of your hair, your chin, your ear, and pretty much everything but your face.

Spend $25: In the June issue of The Goods we lusted over the Quik Pod, a light little monopod that extends to 18 inches and attaches compact cameras and camcorders, it even has a little mirror so you can be sure you’re in the shot.
— Luis Cruz

Comments

[Andrew Ferguson]

Something missing from this list is 'Planning'. Most self-portraits I see are the result of a whim while sitting at a computer or in front of some giant historical thing.

Even with no equipment, you can take great photos if you just plan a bit. Think about what will be behind you, where you need the camera to be for a flattering angle, and everything like that.

The more thought you put into a self-portrait, the better they'll turn out.