Solo Photography- 6 Ways To Take Your Own Blog and Instagram Photos
Solo photography can seem quite intimidating to a beginner, but it doesn’t have to be.
As someone who has been taking solo photos since 2008 (yes, when digital cameras were still relatively new and before my Instagram Husband came along), I’ve come a long way.
Today, my husband helps me to take a lot of the pictures you see on my blog and instagram.
I also know that it’s important to be resourceful. In those times when he’s unavailable, I know that I can count on myself to still take some pretty awesome photos (If I say so myself).
In this blog post, I’ll impart the wisdom that I’ve gathered throughout the years.
You’ll learn 6 different ways to take your own photos for your Blog and Instagram. I’ll also be sharing some solo photography tips that will help make it easier for you to get the most flattering pictures of yourself.
I know that the thought of taking your own photos for your blog can seem overwhelming and maybe even a bit intimidating, but it’s a lot easier than you think. I hope that you’ll give one of these methods a try.
I’ll be starting off with the easiest method and then working up to more advanced self-photography methods.
If you already take your own photos, why not read on to see if there are some other techniques that you haven’t tried already. You never know, you may even learn something new.
6 Ways To Take Your Own Blog And Instagram Photos
A Good Ol’ Selfie
There’s nothing wrong with taking a selfie every once in a while. It’s a great starting point to help you get used to taking pictures of yourself.
Whether on your smartphone or camera, you can learn a lot about lighting and getting the right angles by practicing your selfies.
If you have a smartphone, I recommend downloading the app called “VSCO”.
VSCO is a popular photo editing app that allows you to easily add filters and vintage effects to your photos. If you would like access to a wider selection of filters, you can upgrade to the paid version.
A solo selfie is usually as easy as looking at the camera with a friendly expression on your face. Make sure that you have a good light source in front of you to get a nice crisp shot. (I like to take my selfies standing in front of the window.)
You can get even more flattering pictures when you try to keep the camera as far away from your as possible. This is where selfie sticks can come in handy.
Selfies are great for social media platforms such as Instagram. The occasional selfie on the blog is ok too.
The Self Timer Method
Ah yes- the tried and true self-timer method.
Pretty much every camera these days including smartphones comes with some sort of self-timer.
This is by far the simplest way to take pictures of yourself without having to hold the phone yourself.
Simply set your camera to self-timer, and then find a surface to place the camera. This could be anything from a tripod, the back of a chair, or even the floor.
It’s important that this surface has enough room for you to step away from it before snapping the photo on solo selfies as well because if not, you won’t end up in the picture.
Set your timer, run into your position, and pose.
Easy!
This method might not seem like much of an improvement over selfies but it allows you to take full-length photos of yourself- something that is quite challenging with the selfie method.
But running back and forth isn’t always ideal.
It’s often quite difficult to get to your pose in time for the timer to count down.
Depending on how long you set your timer for, you can have a lot of wasted time waiting for the shot to fire.
Or you set the timer for too short an amount of time and, you’ll likely end up with half of your photos being blurry.
A Wireless Camera Remote
A wireless remote can be used to take pictures on cameras and even your iPhone.
You’ll need to find a remote that pairs with the camera that you are using. When you do, simply use your remote to snap a solo shot of yourself.
The only caveat with this method is that the remote needs to be in the line of sight of the camera. It’s hard to point the remote while trying to hide it at the same time.
Sometimes what I’ll do when I don’t want the remote to show is to set up the self-timer, point the remote, press and as the countdown begins, I quickly hide the remote from sight.
Another drawback with this method is that the range from which you can take the photo may be limited. This means that you can only stand a certain distance away from the camera to use the remote.
Most DSLR cameras allow you to use a line of sight remote to take photos of yourself.
Bluetooth Remote
Similar to the line of sight remote controls, these remotes allow you to take pictures using a remote. The only difference with this method is that it connects to the camera via Bluetooth.
This is great because you don’t have to point the remote directly at the camera.
Bluetooth remotes also generally have a wider range from which you can take your photos. This is a plus especially when you are trying to capture wide angles and may need to be far away from the camera to get your shot.
When you are looking for wireless remotes, make sure that you read the description to find one that is compatible with your camera or smartphone.
iPhone Remote
If your camera supports Bluetooth you can connect your camera to your phone by downloading the corresponding app.
For instance, I currently use the Canon 70D camera, so I have downloaded the Canon app to my phone.
I really like this method because I can see the contents of the camera viewfinder on my phone. So I know exactly what’s in the frame when I press on the remote.
It’s also a really simple way to transfer photos you take directly to your phone for editing and posting on Instagram.
Most times, when you see me with a phone in my hand, just know that I am taking the picture using my iPhone remote.
Shoot A Video in 4K
To take pictures using this method, all you have to do is shoot a video on your camera in 4K.
Change the shooting settings to the highest frames per second and make the shutter speed as fast as you can without the image looking too dark.
Once you have your settings, simply hit record and film
Once you have your video, you can go through it to look for frames that work for you.
Now I realize that not all cameras have the ability to shoot in 4K. If your camera doesn’t allow this, you can shoot in 1080HD. Just be aware that your pictures just won’t be as crisp.
This is by far one of the best solo photography tips for beginners because it’s easy and doesn’t require any additional equipment.
It’s also a great photography tip for awkward posers like myself. I often don’t know what to do with my hand or body but by filming this video you can just have fun and go back later to find the frame that you’re happy with.
I have been using this method a lot lately for family portraits.
It is extremely difficult to get a toddler to stand still for photos. I find that this method works because we allow him to move around and we can capture really beautiful candid moments.
Solo Photography Tips For Beginners
Now that you know how to take pictures of yourself, I would like to leave you with a few camera tips and tricks that should help make the process easier for you.
Take A Batch Of Photos And Then Check
There’s nothing worse than taking photos, packing up leaving, and uploading them to your computer only to realize that none of them turned out how you imagined.
Instead of taking one batch of photos, make it a habit to look through what you have every few minutes.
Look to see if you like how things are turning out.
Do you like your pose?
Are the pictures blurry?
Can you change any settings to make them more of your style?
Take Hundreds Of Photos
I’m not exaggerating when I say this, but you often have to take hundreds of photos to find the ONE that works for your needs. Don’t give up easily when things don’t look like they are working out.
Keep shooting so that you have lots to choose from.
Take Pictures From Varying Perspectives
One mistake I see people make when taking photos of themselves is that they tend to take all the photos from the same angle.
I get that it is difficult to keep changing angles- especially when you are flying solo. But try to change things up a bit otherwise all your pictures will look the exact same.
When you change things up, remember to check the lighting and the focus to make sure that you’re still in focus.
Try turning the camera to the side as well. You can get completely different looks when you take photos landscape versus portrait.
Play around and make sure you give yourself options to choose from.
Practice Practice Practice
In photography and in life in general, practice makes perfect,
The first time you try to take pictures of yourself, it may end up looking really awkward.
But with time and practice, you will get the hang of solo photography.
After taking a lot of solo pictures over the past few years, I can certainly see a huge improvement in my ability.
Don’t give up if you don’t get the results you want right away. Just keep trying.
Final Thoughts
The solo photography tips and tricks I mentioned in this blog post should help you when photographing yourself. Remember that solo photography is nothing to be scared of- it can actually be a lot of fun! With the right equipment, solo photos are just as good if not better than ones taken by someone else. Don’t forget these simple solo photography tricks and tips to get you started.
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