Self Portraits on 35mm Film
Taking self portraits on film is no easy feat! I try to finish off my studio pop-up sessions with some self portraits, but man am I sweaty and tired by the time I’m done with these portraits. Getting in front of the camera is usually uncomfortable for most people, photographers included. BUT! It’s important to get some fresh headshots as well as practice being on the other side of the lens once in a while.
If you’re wanting to do self portraits on film, here are a few tips (by no means am I a professional at self portraits though!)
Pre-focus with a purse, plant, etc. on auto focus and then switch to manual focus when you’re ready to shoot. This works especially well for more traditional, static portraits.
By switching to manual focus, you ensure accurate focus once you’re in the frame!
2. Play with a slow shutter speed for more creative vibes! Beware - this can turn into a total mess. Think blurry, horror-film looking faces (I’ll spare you the scary ones of meeee haha) but if you have long hair, it can work really well to do a little blurry hair flip!
3. Stop down your aperture so that more is in focus. If you’re trying to get a sharp image, don’t shoot at 1.4, 2.8, etc. It’s more difficult to nail your focus at these apertures. I love 5.6 for a self portrait, personally ;)
4. When all else fails, get a mirror. This is probably the easiest way to get a self portrait! Grab a mirror, frame yourself up and snap away! Remember - try not to hide your face behind the camera completely. Especially if these are for headshots. People want to see your face!
I hope that helped a little if you’re thinking of shooting some self portraits on film. It’s kind of a lot of work but it’s FUN! The results can be different than what you had envisioned, but that’s kind of the beauty of film, right?!
If you’d rather someone else take your headshots, I’m your gal! Get in touch if you want me to do all the hard work for ya!