Mirror Self Portrait Photography: Techniques and Inspiration for Beautiful Shots

Have you ever heard of Vivian Maier?

The American photographer is mainly known for her vivid shots of New York street scenes.

However, her work also includes a huge amount of mirror self-portraits, shot in reflections throughout the city.

These are actually my favourite images from her collection – there’s something so intimate about seeing the scene she photographed and a glimpse of herself within it.

In this blog post, I invite you to channel Vivian Maier by incorporating mirrors into your self-portrait photography.

In the following sections, I will share some great reasons for using mirrors in photography, as well as some helpful essential tools and equipment. 

In addition, I will give you some technical tips and include some creative techniques you can try.

Let’s get started!

1) The Appeal of Using Mirrors in Self Portrait Photography

Vivian Maier certainly wasn’t the first person to use her reflection as a creative tool.

In fact, using mirrors for self-portraits is a long-standing tradition in art.

Painters from many different art periods, for example, Gumpp, Parmigianino, Toulouse-Lautrec, van Eyck or Bonnard, incorporated mirrors to include themselves in their artworks:

Equally, there are lots of famous photographers known for their self-portraits, for example, Robert Mapplethorpe, Lee Friedlander or Francesca Woodman.

Artists and photographers would use mirrors for various reasons – as a tool for introspection and self-reflection, to tell a story, or to show a transformation.

What makes using mirrors in art and photography so fascinating is that they blur the line between subject and observer.

Let’s say you take a photo of yourself in the mirror.

You are the creator of the image, but you are also the subject because the photo shows a reflection of you.

This can lead to an interesting dynamic, especially if you start playing with composition and framing, like using a reflective surface in an urban environment or incorporating props to convey a narrative.

Here are two examples:

Next, using mirrors can be helpful for beginner photographers:

There’s no need to focus the camera on your face, which can be tricky if you are new to self-portrait photography.

Instead, you can simply focus on the reflection, which is much easier.

Finally, I love using mirrors in my self-portraits because they are a great storytelling device.

Using your reflection, you can show your emotional state, explore your self-image, play with identity, and lots more.

But before we get to the creative possibilities of mirror self-portrait photography, let’s first talk about essential tools and equipment.

2) Essential Tools and Equipment for Mirror Self Portrait Photography

In this section, I will share some tips for essential and optional tools for mirror self-portrait photography.

Choosing the Right Mirror

The first accessory you will need is a mirror.

Which type of mirror you choose will significantly influence the aesthetic of your image.

For example, choosing a vintage, handheld mirror can give your self-portrait a sentimental, magical or fairytale-like look.

In contrast, a simple, minimalist full length mirror is a great choice for a more modern, reduced aesthetic.

Different Sizes for Different Effects

Next, consider the size of the mirror, as this will influence the size of the reflection.

For example, a full-length mirror easily captures a full-body reflection, whereas a small makeup compact mirror might only reflect parts of your face.

Considering Texture and Surface

Finally, you’ll also want to keep the surface and texture of the mirror in mind.

You’ll probably want to use a clean and intact mirror.

However, you can also achieve interesting artistic effects with a dirty, weathered, or fractured mirror, so it’s worth experimenting with old mirrors from flea markets or thrift stores.

Here’s an example of such a picture:

Mirror Alternatives

Using other reflective surfaces for mirror self-portrait photography can also be interesting, such as metallic cutlery, glass panes or windows, tiles, or metallic lampshades.

These surfaces may create lots of distortion, which can be fun to play with.

Camera and Lens Options

Next, what kind of camera should you use for your mirror self-portrait?

Here are some pointers for different camera and lens choices.

DSLR vs. Smartphone

If you have a DSLR/mirrorless camera at home that allows you to control the aperture, shutter speed and ISO, definitely use it, as it will give you more creative control and improved image quality.

If you’re unsure how to use your camera’s manual mode, check out my two articles on aperture and shutter speed/ISO for in-depth tutorials.

Smartphone Camera

If you don’t have a dedicated camera at hand, no worries! 

You can take beautiful self-portraits with your smartphone camera, too.

Most modern phones have very advanced cameras that will deliver excellent results. 

If you want more creative control, you can download a phone app that lets you change the shutter speed and aperture. One such app for iPhones is ProCamera.

What’s great about smartphone cameras is that you can edit your photos straight on the phone with free apps like Snapseed or paid apps like Photoshop Express.

Recommended Lenses

If you’re using a DSLR or mirrorless camera, you can try different lenses for different effects.

A wide-angle lens such as 35mm or less will capture you and the surrounding environment, meaning it’s an excellent choice for images with a lot of context.

If you prefer a close-up shot with background blur, try using a 50 mm or 85 mm prime lens.

Lighting Tips

The next important consideration for your self-portrait is lighting, as different light sources will create very different effects.

You can either go for natural light or artificial lighting – here are some tips for each:

Natural Light

The beauty of natural light is that you don’t need to buy any gear or equipment.

If you’re shooting indoors, position yourself at a 45-degree angle to a large window (without direct sunlight) to create beautiful, soft, diffused portrait lighting without harsh shadows. 

Tip: To brighten up the shadows on the side of your face opposing the window, hold up a piece of white foamboard or cardboard, reflecting the window light onto your face.

If you’re shooting outdoors, choose a cloudy day for even, flattering light (the clouds act as a natural diffuser).

If you’re shooting in direct sunlight, be aware that the light will be very harsh and create strong shadows on your face. 

Unless that’s the effect you’re going for, you’re better off shooting on an overcast day or during the very early/late hours of the day, when the sunlight is softer.

Artificial Lighting

Your other alternative is using artificial lighting (that’s what I do, as it gives me more control).

You don’t necessarily need a lot of fancy gear for this – experiment with a small ring light, a LED light panel, a small video light, or even household lamps. 

Position the light source at different angles to create interesting shadow patterns and highlights.

If you want to invest in some professional gear like a studio flash, read this post about artificial lighting.

Handy Accessories

Finally, you may want to gather some handy accessories for your mirror self-portrait photography:

Tripod

I highly recommend getting a tripod because it makes the process so much easier! 

Tripods are really not expensive, either, so it’s well worth investing in one.

Remote Shutter Release

Next, you can get a remote shutter release to trigger the shot from your camera. 

An alternative to this is a mobile phone app you connect with your camera, but this only works if your camera is Wi-Fi/Bluetooth compatible.

Just a little interruption to say…

Did you know I’ve written a free e-book with 50 self portrait photography ideas? More info below:

But now, back to the blog post!

3) Techniques for Beautiful Mirror Self-Portraits

With the essential gear out of the way, let’s discuss some techniques to give your mirror self-portraits more visual appeal.

Framing

First of all, you want to be strategic about how you frame your shot.

As mentioned in the gear section above, this also depends on your lens choice. 

A wide–angle lens will incorporate more of the background, while a 50 or 85-mm lens will give you a closer crop.

How much of the background you want to include depends on your concept.

Including your environment can create more visual depth or help put you in a specific context.

In contrast, if you use a telephoto lens, you only see a smaller portion of the scene, which can create more intimacy or mystery.

Composition

Next, think about the composition, too:

Do you want to use the rule of thirds, for example, or rather create a symmetrical composition?

The rule of thirds simply means that you place the main elements of the composition on the intersections of an imagined 3×3 grid – here’s an example:

In contrast, a symmetrical composition will look more like this:

There are no wrong decisions here, so feel free to experiment with different framings and compositions until you’re happy with the result.

Angles and Perspective

What’s so great about using mirrors in your self-portrait is that shooting from different heights and angles creates unique reflections.

Try placing your camera at eye level, above you on a table pointing down, or on the floor pointing up to create different shooting angles.

Keep in mind that if you photograph a subject from below, it will look taller, whereas shot from above, the subject will look smaller.

Focus and Depth of Field

If you’ve ever tried mirror self portrait photography before, you may have noticed that focusing can be challenging.

If you want the reflection in the mirror to be sharp, the autofocus sometimes has trouble with that.

To Focus on Your Reflection

For a sharp reflection, manually focus on the reflection in the mirror and then lock the focus so that the autofocus doesn’t focus back on you.

To Focus on You

If you want yourself, but not your reflection, to be in focus, it’s easiest to use an app connected to your phone –this allows you to tap on the phone screen exactly where you want the focus to be.

If your camera doesn’t have that functionality, you can use an object as a stand-in and manually focus on it; just make sure you stand in exactly the same place.

Using Focus Lock

If you’re using a smartphone camera, you can use focus lock to keep the focus where you want it:

On an iPhone, for example, you tap on the screen where you want the focus to be and hold your finger there for a few seconds. This will lock the focus on that area.

If you need more help with focusing, read this post with lots of technical tips for self-portrait photography.

Depth of Field

Next, consider whether you want everything in the scene to be more or less sharp (deep depth of field) or some background blur (shallow depth of field).

For a deep depth of field, use a narrow aperture like f8 or higher.

You can use a 50 mm or 85 mm prime lens with a wide aperture like f/1.8 to achieve the latter.

This visually isolates the background, creating a dreamy effect like in this photo:

If you need help with aperture and depth of field, check out this post here.

Common Issues

Finally, there are some common issues you will come across when taking self-portraits in the mirror:

Glare and Light Flares

These can be very annoying!

To avoid glare and light flares, try positioning the mirror away from direct light sources.

If you have a polarising filter, use it, as this will also help reduce glare.

Visible Equipment

Next, be thoughtful about what you include in the mirror reflection.

It can be fun to include the photographer (you!) intentionally, but sometimes, that may differ from your intention.

Try to carefully angle the mirror so it only shows exactly what you want included in the reflection.

4) Getting Creative with Mirror Self Portraits

After looking at the technicalities of mirror self-portraits, let’s now talk about some creative ideas you can try!

Finding Inspiration

For some people, finding inspiration can be the hardest part of self-portrait photography. 

A good first step is to do some research:

Look at the work of famous painters and photographers known for their self-portraits, like Vivian Maier, Lee Friedlander, Robert Mapplethorpe, Claude Cahun, Cindy Sherman, Francesca Woodman, Man Ray, Nan Goldin, Hiroshi Sugimoto, Frida Kahlo, Rembrandt van Rijn, Vincent van Gogh, Albrecht Dürer, Egon Schiele, Artemisia Gentileschi, or Caravaggio.

Next, I recommend you draw from personal themes for your self-portraits, for example, your emotions, your identity, a transformation you’ve gone through, etc. 

If you need more tips for finding ideas, check out this post here.

Telling a Story

Mirrors are actually a brilliant self-portrait tool because they allow you to easily tell a story in your image.

You could do this by choosing a particular mirror, such as a vintage mirror to introduce a nostalgic element or a fractured mirror to show themes of inner conflict or difficulties.

Or you could play with the positioning of the mirror to tell a particular story, like in this picture:

Try placing yourself within or outside the mirror’s frame for different effects.

You could even use postproduction to alter your reflection in the mirror.

Incorporating Motion

Next, it can be fun to introduce movement for a dynamic effect, like flowing hair or swaying fabric.

To capture the movement, use a slow shutter speed for motion blur.

Mood and Colour

Next, be strategic about your choice of mood and colour.

For example, you can convert your image to monochrome to add a timeless or sentimental feel or to highlight textures and shapes.

If using colour, remember that vibrant colours will achieve a different mood than faded or pastel colours.

You can enhance that effect in Photoshop through intentional colour grading – if you’re not sure how to do that, check out my previous post here.

Experimentation

Like with any creative discipline, it’s well worth experimenting as this often leads to the best results!

You can use distorted mirrors or even add several mirrors or reflective surfaces to the frame to achieve a cool surreal effect. 

Also, try playing with the direction of your gaze like in this picture:

Hopefully, this post has given you some helpful tips and ideas for mirror self-portrait photography!

If you do give it a try, I would love to see the results – make sure to take me on Instagram @desireesydow.photography 🙂

P.S.: If you want to dive deeper into self portrait photography, check out my in-depth guide below: