Quick tips at a glance
- Put your camera on a tripod or another stable surface.
- Trigger the shutter with a remote, app or timer, not your hand.
- Lock focus on a stand-in before you step into frame.
- Use a moderate aperture so small movements do not throw you out of focus.
- Choose soft light such as window light.
- Keep moving and shoot many frames.
- Zoom in on the screen to check that your eyes are sharp.
For the wider picture, including gear and ideas, see our guide to self-portrait photography.
Stabilize and trigger hands-free
A tripod gives the most flexibility, but a stack of books or a sturdy shelf also works. Fix the framing before you step in. For firing the shutter, a self-timer, wireless remote, camera maker’s phone app or intervalometer all work. An intervalometer set to take a frame every few seconds lets you change poses without walking back and forth.
Lock focus before you move
Place a chair, light stand or other object where your face will be, focus on it, and switch to manual focus. Then remove the object and take your position. If your camera has face or eye detection, try it too, but check your results since it can miss.
Choose forgiving settings
A moderate aperture, roughly f/5.6 to f/8, gives you a wider zone of sharpness so a small sway forward or back is less likely to ruin the shot. Use a shutter speed fast enough for any movement and keep ISO as low as conditions allow. If you want a very shallow depth of field, expect to throw away more frames.
Use soft light
Stand near a big window or shoot in open shade (see soft light portrait photography). Avoid hard midday sun on your face. A white reflector or sheet of card opposite the window softens shadows. If you want mood, turn partly away from the light to deepen the shadows on one side.
Why am I not photogenic?
Plenty of people feel they look different in photos than in the mirror. A few explanations, none of them a verdict on how you look:
- Camera distance. A phone held close to your face exaggerates features nearest to the lens. Stepping back and zooming in a little, or using a longer lens (see the best lens for portrait photography), usually looks more natural.
- Mirror habit. A mirror shows you a flipped version of your face, which is the one you are used to. A camera shows what other people see, so photos can feel off at first.
- Tension. Holding a pose makes expressions stiff. Moving and breathing out between frames often helps.
- Light and angle. A small change in direction or height can change a result noticeably.
Compose with the rule of thirds
The rule of thirds is a simple guide: imagine the frame divided into three columns and three rows, and place your face or eyes near one of the lines or intersections. It is a starting point, not a requirement. Also consider leaving space in the direction you are looking.
Pose naturally
Shift your weight, turn your shoulders slightly from the camera, and change where you look (more in portrait poses and camera angles). Try walking into the frame, laughing, or acting out a mood. Giving your hands a task, such as holding a cup, helps.
Mirror or camera: which should you trust?
Neither is the “true” you. The mirror is familiar but reversed, and the camera shows the real orientation but through a lens and a single moment. Look at several frames rather than one.
Review and improve
After the first dozen frames, zoom in on the image to check focus on your eyes, adjust framing and repeat. Delete the clear misses, keep notes on what worked, and aim to change one thing at a time. Once you are comfortable alone, taking couple photos by yourself is a natural next step.