Unlike a number of other fashion/style bloggers I do not have a doting boyfriend or husband who is willing to take my pictures every day for the blog. I do, on occasion, have a friend who is willing to take the photos but it is certainly not an everyday affair. Without a photographer waiting in the wings, I have needed to become very good at taking my own photos. The photos in the beginning were certainly nothing to talk about, but after A LOT of trial and error I’ve figured a few things out.
I also do not have a fancy high-tech camera; it’s on my wish list. But for now, I use a Nikon Coolpix for all my shots. It’s small, basic and gets the job done. The nice thing too is that because it is so small, I don’t call too much extra attention to me as I take my own photos and it is easier to slip into small spaces.
Here’s how I take my own style photos:
- Scout locations. This can be done either with the specific intention of finding a place to take photos or by keeping your eyes open while you run about normal tasks.
- Locate a flat surface to rest the camera on. I’ve put mine on light posts, fire hydrants, park benches, tables, chairs, fence rails, tree limbs, whatever I could find. After experimenting for months I can now spot a flat ledge almost anywhere.
- Find something to focus the camera on. You’ll notice I stand or sit next to walls, trees or fences in most of my photographs, this is because without something to focus on when setting the camera up, you are likely to be blurry when the picture is taken.
- Zoom in on the spot until you are close enough to frame your face or body. While you can crop out a lot of extra space if you are positioned far from the camera, I’ve found the shots are a lot clearer the closer you are.
- Set the timer.
- Lightly press down on the button that will snap the picture in order to make sure it is focused on the spot you desire. Then press down to set the timer.
- Run and get into position. Adjusting your collar, hems, jewelry as you go. Also, I find it helpful to count in my head so I know how much time I have to get there and be still.
- Smile. *Click*
- Check to see what the picture looks like. You might need a new angle depending upon the sun, interfering tree limbs, unsightly objects in the background, etc…
- Set up the camera, and begin again.
- By picky. The more photos you take the more you have to work with and usually the more picky you can be about what you post to the blog. Make sure you get some close up detailing of accents, accessories, shoes.
For example…
This photo I took by placing the camera on a parking meter:
This one has the camera precariously balanced on a rounded handrail:
And this one was taken by placing the camera on a mailbox:
56 Comments
These are some really great tips, thanks
I happened to get a camera that takes a little series of three pictures (and there are ones that do longer series) so that I don't have to push the button and run every time. For those who are thinking of looking for a new camera that is a great feature to have.
Also, the GorillaPod is a wonderful invention for getting camera height and angle right.
My pictures are not that exciting because I just take them inside my house. I don't live in a walking city or one with great public spaces, and there's no way I'm taking shots on the campus where I work. I haven't yet thought of a better approach/place.
Ever since the school year started, I have been taking my own pictures with a self-timer. Thanks for the helpful tips!
Great advice…..most of my pics are taken by my daughter…but I have invested in a tripod for those times she is not home……its the running back and forth I hate…lol
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Great tips!
I purchased a tripod, because I don't trust my camera on ledges, which works well for me.
Unfortunately, I work an hour away from where I live, so I tend to take photos around my apartment complex.
I have some other random ideas of places I want to take photos, but I wish I had someone else to go with me. I don't always want someone to take my photos, but I want someone there with me so I don't look like a fool in the woods in heels… LOL.
Fantastic post! I have a little Cybershot which really takes marvelous pictures for its size (and it's a pretty blue color; of course that's relevant). It has a self timer, but I'm embarrassed to try using it around my apartment complex because I draw enough attention as it is, being the only glaminista in a complex full of cowboys. (Seriously, western saddles are slung over balcony railings out here.) I'll definitely be bookmarking this post for reference, though.
P.S. Your pictures are amazing, and knowing how you took them is so fun. Mad skills, lady!
Great post, I too don't have a handy photography assistant nor flash camera!
Thanks for sharing.
x.o.x.o
Great tips! I always take my pictures indoors cos it's so much easier but pictures outdoors always look better! Sigh..
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Glad this helped. Now if only there was some way to either overcome our shyness about being seen taking our own pics, or to make ourselves invisible to the onlookers. LOL - Katy
GREAT ADVICE! My hubby hates taking pictures for me, so I end up doing it most the time.
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Great tips! i take horrible pics of myself lol
Great tips - you have this down to a fine art. You'd never know these photos were taken by you - they totally look like you had someone take them.
With all these silly weiestbs, such a great page keeps my internet hope alive.
Oh no, I wrote a long comment and it seems to have gotten eaten up!
Anyway, the gist of it was that these are great tips! And I will be trying some of them out! 😀
♥ Leia
Great post. My hubby usually takes my pictures, but sometimes I have to do it myself. This was very helpful
Thanks!
Fantastic tips!!!
Wonderful tips! I will definitely be using these ideas.
Thanks for the fantastic tips! I have a tripod but find it tricky to get a photo in as I'm rushing to work so most of my photos are inside. (Plus, as many have mentioned, I get nervous about whipping out my tripod in public!)
Some of my best photos are when I can convince my husband to take them of me outside somewhere.
Great tips and fantastic pictures!
These are tips are great. I have a boyfriend but he's not always a willing photographer!!
Unfortunately I have a DSLR - I love it, don't get me wrong but for inpromptu outfit shots, it is difficult to just chuck in my bag or use inconspicuously!
Word on the street is, you can get a wireless remote for a Nikon Coolpix for a mere $6 on amazon.com. It would make a difference for steps 5 through 7.
It's actually fellow blogger knowledge I picked up from the Asian Cajuns, who are awesome.
Trying to get crisp images drives me nuts. I do have a wizzy dizzy camera and sturdy tripod but relying on (even a tweakable) auto focus is a pain in the hindsight.
It 's embarassing how many shots it can takes to get a decent one. I am forever mumbling instructions to myself while scrutinizing the playback window "chin down, one step to the right". It 's great fun though and I'd never want to give up control of my images eventhough I have volunteers who'd be glad to lend a helping hand. Me, controlling? Never!
This is great! I'm with you, I really don't have someone ready to take the time to help me get great pics. I just ordered a good camera so that I don't have to use my blackberry for pics anymore. Thanks for the tips!
Good tips. I'm impressed at how you are centered in your self taken photos! I just started my blog and so far my self taken photos need a lot of improvment. Helpful post. thanks.
I have a friend who has a coolpix and says she can't take decent photos. But look at you: you take great ones! I'm sending her the link. GREAT tips. Thanks.
This is very helpful, thank you!
The problem I run into with taking my own photos is that it seems most logical to me to turn the camera on its side to take shots in profile, but my camera has rounded corners and doesn't want to balance on its side (it's a Canon Powershot A95, a few years old). I've dropped my camera twice, nearly breaking the lens, trying to do this!
I do also have my husband take pics for me, but he travels often, so I can't always depend on that.
But then, I don't put together memorable outfits nearly as often as I'd like…
These are such great pictures. I'm new to fashion blogging, and like you, I hardly have anyone to work with (my fiance works a lot of hours), so I've resorted to taking my own pictures as well.
The only problem I run into is scouting interior locations. I've only shot myself inside my apartment and aside from a walls and doors, there's not much I can work with.
Any suggestions?
This is something I’ve been wondering for a long time. I still have some problem taking my own pics. thanks for the tips.
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I just stumbled on your blog and very glad that I did. I just started my blog without really knowing how much preparation is required. It’s taken me about a week just to fine tune my site. The site was just launched but it took me three different “photo shoots” just to figure out what to do when it comes to taking pictures. Like you, I really don’t have a good photographer-so my 9 year old actually takes my pictures. Mother daughter bonding time
Thank you for the great tips, they’re going to save me some trials and errors of my own. I’ll be sure to come back often.
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Thanks for the tips. I get better at it everyday. Finally learned how to smile for photos! Everything is an adventure……….
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This was really helpful, i have the hardest times trying to take pictures that sometimes i have a good outfit on but the fact if trying to get that good shot just kills the whole feeling. This is a post that was really useful, more bloggers should def post things like this to help other bloggers =]
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[…] What you need to know to be an outfit of the day blogger, How to blog often without more time, How to take your own photos, Determining Blog Content, Most important Blogging Lessons, Blogger Mechanics, Labeling […]
Just found your blog today. Wow thanks for the tips. I thought bloggers who did self shots all used tripods. Didn’t know I could use other flat surfaces. Thought I had to be all fancy. thanks for the tips
Kemi at http://www.beautystyleandgrowth.blogspot.com
Thank you so much for these tips. I’m a new blogger trying to figure it all out and this sure does help!!
Thank you so so much for this! I really appreciate it. It’s so helpful to someone who is just starting out.
xx
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Great tips! When I was using a smaller camera I bought an inexpensive Gorillapod from Joby. It’s like a teeny-tiny tripod with flexible legs that can wrap around things like tree branches. May be a good idea for those precarious surfaces you mentioned.
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Thanks for these! I work with a DSLR, so I won’t be balancing $1000 of equipment on anything precarious anytime soon, but the idea that you just find something to focus on and go from there is helpful! I’m definitely going to try finding stuff to hang out with and be my photo buddy. XD
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Your tips is very helpful, btw what type or camera was u using? DRSL or pocket camera?
Finally someone else that doesnt have a big fancy camera! This was so helpful. Thanks so much!
Yeah, I don’t have a fancy camera yet. Although it is on my wishlist for this year, we’ll see how the saving-up goes. But I do think that even with a basic camera great pictures can be taken if you take the time to learn how to use it properly.
That was really helpful! I just started my blog and working on editing it and adding posts and worrying about taking pictures is always headache, especially as I don’t own a professional camera! It definitely is on my wishlist for this year!
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Sara - Glad this helped. I’m going to publish an updated post on this topic in the next few weeks so be on the lookout for that. But I think it is important to remember that it doesn’t take a very expensive camera to get nice pictures. Thanks for reading and good luck with your blog!
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THis is such a great post! I always thought bloggers had their own photographers or had their spouses/family members take them. What camera do you have by the way?
Thanks again!
Feev
Feev - Right now I use a Samsung Galaxy smart camera and my iphone based on the type of photos I am trying to get. I do believe the quality of the picture depends in large part on the photographer and a little on the camera. - katy
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