DIY Photography

Hacking Photography - one Picture at a time

Search

Submit A Story

How photography has helped me survive difficult times

by 2 Comments

Ever since I became interested in photography, I would occasionally read a story about someone who’d used it to help them through an emotional low-point or mental ill health. Little did I realize that I would become one of them, too. Photography has had a positive impact on my life and helped me get through the past year. I was feeling down most of the time after a traumatic event and a particularly rough period of my life. Anxiety and panic attacks became a common feature of my life. But I’ve learned how to use photography to live through it. And live through it well.

The article you’re about to read is a very personal story. It’s more personal than any other article that I’ve written for DIYP. But it’s written with the hope that it can help someone else who might be feeling anxious or depressed. I’ve been through some tough times, and photography’s one of the things that has helped me to not fall apart. I want to tell you more about it and, hopefully, get you inspired and bring you some encouragement.

[Read More…]

How 15 different artists shot self portraits using only home lighting

by 2 Comments

About a zillion years ago (ok, it was February … so same thing basically), I created a self portrait image ( … ok, so it was several images) using ONLY lights from around my house. I wanted an exercise in something outside my current comfort zone and to challenge myself to get back to my photography roots.

I did a whole post about it. I encourage you to go and enjoy that blog post before reading this one, but it’s not required… or is it!? No, it’s not, but do it anyway. I then challenged any takers who might have felt like taking to also create a self portrait image without any traditional photography lights.

[Read More…]

Here are some posing tips to help you shoot stunning (self)portraits

by 4 Comments

If you photograph professional models, they know their tricks. But photographing yourself or non-model friends can be quite a challenge because not all of us know how to pose. Sorelle Amore has created a fantastic video to help you get through this. She shares a bunch of useful posing tips and tricks to help you take awesome portraits of others or of yourself.

[Read More…]

How to plan and shoot the perfect self portrait for social media profiles

by 5 Comments

These days, social media is a huge part of one’s branding. It needs to represent who you are as a person and a company. There needs to be consistency between Facebook, Instagram, YouTube. It needs to convey who you are, either as an individual or as a company, and your personality.

Photographer and YouTuber, Joe Edelman recently had to update his social media profile photos after acquiring a new pair of glasses. Joe treats this task as he would any headshot shoot for a commercial client. Because that’s essentially what he is. His own commercial portrait client. In this video, Joe walks us through his process, with some great tips, whether you’re shooting for yourself or somebody else.

[Read More…]

Why taking self-portraits is good for you [slightly NSFW]

by 11 Comments

As photographers, we find ourselves behind the camera way more often than in front of it. However, some photographers enjoy taking self-portraits as well. I belong to this group, and while I don’t feel too comfortable when posing to others, I am perfectly fine with posing to myself. I’m not a fan of selfies, but I think self-portraits can have certain benefits for photographers. I’d like to share them with you, and see if we think alike.

[Read More…]

This photographer and his new bride recreated their own wedding’s first kiss around the world

by Leave a Comment

Everybody wants to have special photography of their wedding. Particularly the first kiss. Some people will spend a fortune finding and hiring just the right photographer. Somebody to create images they know they will love for decades. For Thailand based photographer, Keow Wee Loong, the right photographer was himself.

You might remember Keow for similar shenanigans when he proposed to his now-wife Marta. Since that time, the couple have travelled to eleven countries to recreate their first kiss. England, Italy, Indonesia and Japan contain just some of the locations the couple visited. And while the idea itself is rather special, what makes this even cooler is that Keow shot each of these photographs himself.

[Read More…]

10 different ways to light yourself and the moods they create

Lighting yourself up for self portraits can be a lot of fun. You get to experiment, try different things, and if it looks silly, nobody ever has to see it. Or, perhaps looking silly is the whole point, in which case you should probably put it on Facebook. But trying to recreate certain looks and moods isn’t always that easy, especially if you’re not used to lighting yet.

This video from The Lighting Channel shows ten different ways to light yourself for a selfie, and the moods they suggest. And even if you don’t use the lighting on yourself, they can be great inspiration for using with other subjects on a shoot.

[Read More…]

Tethering through Lightroom

Anyone who has ever taken self-portraits will know the exhausting little jig that goes from in front of the camera lens, and around to check the screen on the back.

I’m pretty sure they now have this merry little dance down as fitness routine in your local gym, they call it the selfie workout! I joke, but anyone who has been dressed in full costume, running back and forth in a warm room. Wiping the sweat from their brow, and jumping back again before the timer runs out, will know my pain. The image above was created through this very technique.

I recently decided to purchase a tether cable from Amazon, not only would it help with self-portraits. But it would also be very handy to have whilst shooting models, who don’t have to squint to see themselves on a small screen on the back of my camera. My program of choice for this………Lightroom! Now before I hear a harmonic cry of ‘you should be using Capture One’ bellowing over the hilltops. Let me fill you in on my experience of tethering through Adobe’s image processor and organizer. And you too will find taking self-portraits like this easier….

[Read More…]

Free Resources

Advanced lighting book

Recent Posts