The Importance of Self-Portraits for Photographers
As a kid, I heavily studied art, and it was always clear just how many artists painted self-portraits for various reasons. So, as an artist myself, I decided to do a self-portrait photoshoot.
In the past few days, a lot had happened, and I was in a bit of a slump. One thing I’ve learned is that when I’m feeling this way, I need to reconnect to the gifts the Creator has given and create. I didn’t have any shoots lined up, and I wanted to go out and shoot something for fun, so I decided to try something new and do a self-portrait session.
The whole time during the shoot, I was getting torn up by mosquitoes, and I somehow got a rash on my arm from climbing into the bushes. I’m also pretty sure my neighbor thought I had officially lost my mind. It was so worth it, though. I enjoyed myself so much and felt my mood immediately brighten. Not to mention capturing photos that I was super proud of.
As I was doing the shoot, I realized just how beneficial doing a self-portrait session was and why so many of great artists implemented it. Here are some of my takeaways from the experience!
1) Put yourself in your subject’s shoes.
As a portrait photographer, I’ve worked with a range of people. Some have been modeling since they were kids; others haven’t stepped foot in front of the camera and don’t know where to start.
I’ve learned from my experience as a film director just how beneficial it is to have even basic knowledge of the different roles on set. What better way to gain some of that knowledge than to give it a try yourself? If I’m being 100% honest, the first few shots felt as though I was trying to pose in ways that were copying work from others, but toward the end, I felt myself truly getting comfortable and therefore capturing more natural expressions and poses.
What a great lesson for working with others! Immediately, this shows the importance of utilizing a variety of different posing prompts and angles to highlight each person’s unique beauty. Being in front of the camera also helps me find ways to make subjects feel comfortable in front of the camera, experienced or not.
2) Staying Consistent.
You know what they say: Practice makes Perfect. Before I started doing photography full-time, I worked part-time as a boat and snorkel tour photographer. I was easily taking 2000+ photos a week - and my skills improved immensely for the 6 months I was there.
January for many photographers is a slower season, especially here on Maui when many visitors have returned home during this time. With that being said, I’ve found it dangerously easy to become complacent during these times. Breaks are great, but I also find it incredibly beneficial to use the empty calendar to focus on improving at least one aspect of my photography.
Since I was alone shooting myself, each shot took extra time and care to set up, forcing me to pay attention to all the small details. Where is the natural lighting best? What angles are most flattering? What poses would be best in this situation?
The great thing is that each shoot I do, I learn something new, and that sticks with me whether my calendar is empty or I’m completely booked.
3) Room to experiment and create.
The awesome part about doing a self-portrait session is that there’s no one but me! I have as much time to experiment, get creative, and try new things as I allow myself.
The theme I had in mind for this session was “One with Creation”. It was great being able to play around using the natural tropical foliage as props and incorporating my handmade lei po’o and coconut hat to capture photos that told that story.
I’ve noticed over the past months just how important it is for me as a photographer, filmmaker, and artist to prioritize my creative work. It’s why I fell in love with this artform in the first place, and it’s so easy to get caught up in the day-to-day, though. We spend so much time consuming, but we were created to, well, create! So, it’s crucial to keep that at the forefront, especially during slow seasons.
It’s also a great way to continue to let photography feed my other art forms. After this photoshoot, I immediately was able to generate ideas for a new short film, was inspired to finish a painting I started, and overall walked away feeling more creative.
Doing a self-portrait session turned out to be exactly what I needed, and I’m grateful I took the time to explore this creative outlet. It was a refreshing reminder of the joy and fulfillment that comes from creating for the sake of creation, not just for work or expectations. The experience helped me rediscover my passion, and even though it was challenging at times, it was a truly rewarding process. I hope this inspires others to take a moment to connect with their art, whether it’s through a self-portrait or some other creative endeavor. Sometimes, all we need is to get out of our heads and into our art to reignite that spark!
Thanks so much for reading and following along with my self-portrait journey! If you enjoyed this, feel free to connect with me on social media, where I share more of my work and creative process. If you’re feeling inspired to create, I encourage you to give a self-portrait (or any creative project) a try—it's such a great way to reconnect with yourself and your art. Until next time, stay creative and keep making!
Blessings,
Amia
