DIY Photography

Your one stop shop for everything photo-video

  • News
  • Inspiration
  • Reviews
  • Tutorials
  • DIY
  • Gear
Search

Submit A Story

The Ultimate Selfie – time to practice during this down time period

Mar 20, 2020 by Barry Mountford Add Comment

  • Share
  • Tweet
  • Flipboard
  • WhatsApp

Hey Folks the ultimate selfie not a post I thought I would write BUT I saw great value in sharing this even more so during this world pandemic which has hit this and many other Industries hard! as of writing this work has disappeared as it has for many and I now have more time on my hands BUT this is only temporary and it WILL get back to normal, just got to hang in there folks! So with all of these work responsibilities  being taking from us, take this time to have a breather, try and relax a little I know it will be hard but what’s the alternative right?

With all this time on our hands it’s time to PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE, and get ready for hitting the ground running when it all returns back to normal which it will.  I know how difficult it can be to test out ideas for a shoot when you don’t have models at hand at all times of the day, or when we have exhausted all of the family members good nature to help in our time of need and I also know many other photographers can relate to this.

As a Photographer I am always thinking of ideas, lighting setups, looks I want to create and the huge frustration which comes with those thoughts, as we all know how much preparation and time one image can take, but the biggest problem for most photographers is we are left with only a pen and paper to jot down ideas or maybe draw some diagrams, or some may have great software to recreate these ideas/looks in a 3d rendered environment, but for me there is no better way than to stand in front of my own camera and run through the test setups when I have no one at hand to help, having that human element in front of the lens to test is far better than using a mannequin  or a polystyrene head as it can help greatly for an upcoming shoot you are testing for or just trying to recreate a look you have seen.

Walking into a shoot I have already tested out allows me to approach the session with great confidence which instills confidence in the model, which then yields great results or at the least the exact results you were after from your initial ideas/concepts. Without a doubt knowing how to set up your lights to create a specific look without having to go through this process will come with experience but to anyone starting out or learning the craft, this is the perfect way to learn at your own pace and in your own environment.  I guarantee it will boost your confidence going into your next shoot!

I am going to walk you through my process in the hope it will help you get up and test out those ideas so they don’t fall victim to ‘ that would work really well’ or end up not being possible to create for all the excuses which quickly follow!

First is the most obvious, you’re going to need a tripod, remember you are alone with no one to hold your camera so it’s essential :)  You will also need a Camera I will link to all the gear I used no doubt you will have your own but if you want to check them out links below.  You will also need a wireless trigger, oh and lights/strobes.

About the Author

Barry Mountford is a portrait photographer based in Gateshead, England. For more of his work, check out his website, follow him on Twitter and Instagram and subscribe to his YouTube channel. To get in touch, you can look him up on Facebook. This article was also published here and shared with permission.

FIND THIS INTERESTING? SHARE IT WITH YOUR FRIENDS!

  • Share
  • Tweet
  • Flipboard
  • WhatsApp

Related posts:

Up your selfie game with the ultimate automated selfie stick featuring beauty light, hair fans, and more This insane timelapse shows the volatility of the Sun’s surface over a 10 hour period The “Ultimate Lens Hood” is… the ultimate lens hood? Instagram in Hot Water for Censoring a Photo of a Fully Clothed Woman on Her Period

Filed Under: Inspiration Tagged With: Barry Mountford, self portrait, self portraits, self-isolation, selfie

Guest Author: from diyphotography.net

About Guest Author

This article was contributed to DIYP by a member of our community. If you would like to contribute an article, please contact us here.

« Samsung rumoured to be developing an insane 150-megapixel 1″ sensor for a smartphone coming in Q4
Sony World Photography Awards announces stunning winners of its National Award »

Submit A Story

Get our FREE Lighting Book

DIYP lighting book cover

* download requires newsletter signup
DIYPhotography

Recent Comments

Free Resources

Advanced lighting book

Recent Posts

  • Here’s a bullet time video booth you can build yourself
  • Ricoh has discontinued the HD PENTAX-DA 21mm F3.2AL Limited silver lens
  • This “stellar flower” unravels the twilight’s evolution in 360 degrees
  • Strobes vs Continuous LEDs – Which is right for you?
  • Wave goodbye to Apple’s My Photo Stream next month

Udi Tirosh: from diyphotography.netUdi Tirosh is an entrepreneur, photography inventor, journalist, educator, and writer based in Israel. With over 25 years of experience in the photo-video industry, Udi has built and sold several photography-related brands. Udi has a double degree in mass media communications and computer science.

Alex Baker: from diyphotography.netAlex Baker is a portrait and lifestyle driven photographer based in Valencia, Spain. She works on a range of projects from commercial to fine art and has had work featured in publications such as The Daily Mail, Conde Nast Traveller and El Mundo, and has exhibited work across Europe

David Williams: from diyphotography.netDave Williams is an accomplished travel photographer, writer, and best-selling author from the UK. He is also a photography educator and published Aurora expert. Dave has traveled extensively in recent years, capturing stunning images from around the world in a modified van. His work has been featured in various publications and he has worked with notable brands such as Skoda, EE, Boeing, Huawei, Microsoft, BMW, Conde Nast, Electronic Arts, Discovery, BBC, The Guardian, ESPN, NBC, and many others.

John Aldred: from diyphotography.netJohn Aldred is a photographer with over 20 years of experience in the portrait and commercial worlds. He is based in Scotland and has been an early adopter - and occasional beta tester - of almost every digital imaging technology in that time. As well as his creative visual work, John uses 3D printing, electronics and programming to create his own photography and filmmaking tools and consults for a number of brands across the industry.

Dunja Djudjic: from diyphotography.netDunja Djudjic is a multi-talented artist based in Novi Sad, Serbia. With 15 years of experience as a photographer, she specializes in capturing the beauty of nature, travel, and fine art. In addition to her photography, Dunja also expresses her creativity through writing, embroidery, and jewelry making.

Copyright © DIYPhotography 2006 - 2023 | About | Contact | Advertise | Write for DIYP | Full Disclosure | Privacy Policy