How to Take Better Self Portraits: Tips for Perfect Shots Every Time

Would you like to learn how to take better self portraits?

Then make sure to keep reading, because in today’s post, I share five tips for improving your self-portrait photography.

I’ve been taking self-portraits for about nine years now, and I’ve been able to “fine tune” my self-portrait photography process by taking numerous courses and learning from LOTS of mistakes.

I’ve now distilled all this experience into the five steps below—read on to discover them and to learn how to take better self portraits.

(Just so you know: This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases).

Tip 1: Make the Process as Painfree as Possible

If you’ve already tried taking self-portraits, you may have noticed that it’s actually pretty hard!

The reason why it’s so challenging is that you have to do everything yourself.

You have to set up the camera, get the framing right, and come up with a visually interesting pose—all while trying to focus on yourself and taking the shot remotely.

I cannot tell you how many times I got incredibly frustrated during my self-portrait shoots because:

• The camera wouldn’t focus on my face
• I kept having to redo my make-up
• My camera battery ran out
• My remote trigger wouldn’t work
• My camera card was full
• My studio flash suddenly broke…

…you name it.

Whatever ‘self-portrait challenge’ there is, I’ve encountered it!

That’s why my very first point in this blog post is this:

“If you want to take better self portraits, take the stress out of it by making the process as easy and hassle-free as possible.”

How?

Try the following tips:

Use a Smartphone App to Take the Shot

If you have a fairly modern camera model, you can take the shot remotely using the corresponding phone app. 

The app is connected via the WIFI or Bluetooth function of your camera.

You can use Imaging Edge Mobile for Sony and SnapBridge (or WMU for older models) for Nikon.

I’ve never used Canon cameras, but I believe their remote shooting app is called Canon Camera Connect. 

If There’s no App Available for Your Camera:

Unfortunately, the remote shooting option via phone app won’t be available for every camera model, either because it doesn’t have WIFI/Bluetooth compatibility or because it’s simply too old/analogue.

In that case, try the second-best method for taking your self-portrait:

Use a Wireless or Cable Remote

Ideally, get a remote control with a delayed function, so you have time to move the remote out of the shot before taking the picture.

Also, make sure to buy a compatible remote control for your camera model, as they are usually not universal.

Make the Best of Your Autofocus

Before you start taking your self-portrait, make sure to set your camera to autofocus/face recognition.

Depending on your camera model, this may be called “eye tracking mode,” “portrait mode,” etc.

Unless you have an object in front of you, the camera should now autofocus on your face and eyes.

If you use a phone app as recommended above, focusing is really straightforward because you can tap on the screen where you want the focus to be.

If you’re using a remote control, half-press the button to trigger the autofocus, wait for the lens to focus, and then take your shot.

Remember, though, that if you want the focus elsewhere, e.g., on your hand, make sure to turn off face recognition and use regular autofocus mode.

What if You Have an Older Camera Without Autofocus?

If your camera doesn’t have autofocus because it’s too old/analogue, there is another way:

You can simply place an object (e.g. a tripod) where your face will be later in the shot, focus on it manually, then remove the object and try to stand in precisely the same place.

Then, press the self-timer button on your camera and get in the frame.

Prepare for Your Shoot in Advance

On the day or morning before your shoot, charge your battery, gather any props or equipment you may need, tidy up your space, etc, so you don’t have to stop mid-shoot.

Basically, you want to have all your gear charged, prepared and ready to go.

I also always delete old pictures from my memory card so there is enough space for my shoot (make sure to back up the images first, though!).

Before I get to the next section…did you know I’ve published a free ebook with lots of self-portrait ideas? Check it out below:

…but now, back to the blog post!

Tip 2: Invest in a Suitable Camera

Next, I would love to discuss the tools of the trade and give you some pointers on the best self-portrait camera.

A Little Disclaimer

However, let me preface this with a little disclaimer: 

Please don’t ever think you can’t start taking self-portraits (or any other photos, for that matter) until you have the best camera, the right camera, the most high-tech camera, the most expensive camera…or whatever else you think you may be lacking.

In theory, you can take a self-portrait with ANY camera as long as it has a self-timer button or function (or, of course, with your mobile phone).

So, if you feel motivated to take self portraits and only have a basic camera or smartphone available, go for it!

Never let the quest for the perfect tool slow you down. 

When it comes to self-portrait photography, the end result (your self-portrait) matters, not the tool you used to create it.

If You Do Want to Invest in a Camera for Self-Portraits

Having said that, you may still want to invest in a more suitable camera specifically for self-portraits.

This could be because:

• you take self portraits regularly and are ready to upgrade your camera
• you’d like to have more creative control and want a camera with manual mode/more settings
• you want to achieve more professional photos that can be edited and printed at the highest quality.

In this case, read on to find out more about choosing the right self portrait camera.

The Best Camera for Taking Better Self Portraits

As far as I know, there currently isn’t any camera on the market specifically tailored to self-portrait photographers.

However, there are a couple of cameras that I highly recommend for self-portraits.

I know they are great because I’ve personally used and tested them, so you can be sure they’re definitely a suitable choice.

My favourite cameras for self-portrait photography are:

Sony Alpha IV

I really am not sponsored by Sony, but I do LOVE this camera.

It’s more on the professional end of the price range, so it’s probably not the right choice if you’re just getting started in photography (in that case, skip to the next paragraph for a budget version).

However, if you want to take your photography seriously, it’s a great choice because:

• It has an excellent autofocus system. This is super important in self-portrait photography because you can’t focus on yourself from behind the lens!
• It iss a full-frame camera – meaning it has a larger sensor and a higher resolution.
• It is mirrorless – relatively light and compact.
• It has a good corresponding mobile app.

Get the camera here:

Sony Alpha 7 IV Full-frame Mirrorless Camera

Budget Version: Nikon Z30

This crop sensor camera is actually aimed at content creators, for example people who film Youtube tutorials. 

However, that’s one of the reasons it is so great for self portraits:

It has a screen you can flip and turn to the front, so you can see yourself while you’re posing.

I’ve used this camera quite a lot, and I love the face recognition autofocus which reliably tracks your eye/face.

If you want to read more about self portrait cameras, check out my in-depth camera review here.

General Tips for Buying Self Portrait Cameras

If you want to buy a different camera than the models above, try to pay attention to the following features when shopping for a self-portrait camera:

• has face recognition mode/good autofocus
• can be connected with a phone app for taking the shot remotely (most newer cameras will have this, but check before you buy)
• mirrorless is recommended, as DSLR cameras have a different autofocus system, which can make the autofocus a bit less foolproof
• offers manual mode (not just a point-and-shoot camera without adjustable settings). See the next tip.

Tip 3: Use Manual Mode: Learn the Basics of Photography

My next answer to “How to take better self-portraits ” is to familiarise yourself with your camera’s manual mode.

Shooting only in auto mode is actually very limiting—you can’t intentionally achieve certain effects, like slow shutter speed or motion blur.

If you use auto mode, you’re always relying on your camera to make choices about the “best exposure,” which may not be the exposure or effect you want to achieve.

Hence, I am a massive fan of learning the basics of how a camera works. 

Being able to shoot manually will give you so much more autonomy when it comes to creating the exact shot you want, and it’s way less intimidating than it may seem.

If you’re not familiar with manual mode, you could take a beginner’s course in photography or, even easier, get a good book explaining the basics of photography, including ISO, aperture and shutter speed.

I personally really like this book:

Digital Photography Complete Course: Learn Everything You Need to Know in 20 Weeks (DK Complete Courses)

Knowing and understanding all the settings of your camera will make you a better and more confident photographer, which will inevitably lead to better self portraits.

Tip 4: Create a Concept for Your Self Portrait Shoot

My next tip for better self-portraits is to map out a plan or concept before you start shooting.

Of course, you can simply hop in front of your camera and start shooting without a plan—I’ve certainly done that in the past, too.

However, I’ve noticed that those particular self-portraits often didn’t turn out great because:

• the lighting wasn’t ideal
• I hadn’t prepared a good pose/make-up/outfit
• I couldn’t find the right angle/framing and got frustrated during the shoot.

Therefore, I suggest you come up with an idea before you set up your shoot.

Next time, try to decide on a particular theme for your self-portrait:

Maybe there’s an emotion you want to convey?

Or is there a particular colour theme you would like to stick to?

Perhaps you could find a beautiful pose on Pinterest/Google that you can emulate?

Or how about picking a particular technique, like double exposure?

These are just some quick thoughts – I wrote a whole article on how to tell a story through photography, which tells you more about idea generation and development. You can find it here.

I have noticed that whenever I develop a concept or idea first, my self-portraits are much “richer,” more interesting, and more evocative.

Also, knowing what you want to do in advance will help you on the actual shoot day:

You can plan in advance what kind of lighting, props, or costumes you need, what angle you will shoot your self-portrait from, and so on.

This, in turn, will make the actual shoot much less stressful because you’re well-prepared and know precisely what you want to do.

Tip 5: Invest Some Time in Post Production

The last tip I want to give you in order to improve your self portraits is to really spend some time selecting and editing your image.

Image Selection

First, go through all the self-portraits you took and pick five favourites.

I recommend you do this in image cataloguing software such as Adobe Bridge or Lightroom, as it makes it really easy to open files and compare images.

Next, take a break. 

When you come back to your photo selection the next day or so, you can look at your five favourite images with fresh eyes and pick your number one shot to edit.

Editing Your Image

I highly recommend you invest some time learning how to edit your photos in Lightroom, Photoshop or another editing software programme.

I personally use Photoshop, and mastering the different Photoshop tools has improved my self-portrait photography tenfold.

Although the interface may initially seem daunting, you can do a lot with just two or three essential tools, such as the clone stamp or the brush tool.

If you’re a total Photoshop beginner, you could invest in a course or teach yourself for free through watching YouTube tutorials.

I also recommend this website here (not sponsored; I’ve found it very helpful!): www.nucly.com.

They offer Photoshop tutorials on various topics, such as colour grading or compositing.

Yes, familiarising yourself with Photoshop takes time and effort, but your self-portraits will be so much better as a result.

Also, I recommend you watch some tutorials on colour grading in Photoshop.

An intentional colour grade will give your photos that “professional” look and really make a big difference.

To start, you can read my last article, which contains everything you need to know about colour grading.

6. Next Steps

Do you want to learn even more about self portrait photography and how to take better self portraits? 

Then check out my expert guide on self portrait photography below: