Want to learn how to take self portraits with your phone? It’s easier than you think! There are several ways to do it, but in this post, I’m going to teach my my favorite way that captures not only photos, but the moment.
Setting Your Phone Up
While a tripod would make your life much easier, you don’t need one. You can get creative and prop your phone up with things in your environment.
If you would like to get a tripod, I have this one (in white), and I really like it. I’ve had it almost 2 years and it just now in the last month has started to slide down on one of the sections, but only slightly and hardly noticeable. It folds up compact for taking it on the go and has a Bluetooth remote that will connect to your phone, and the remote makes taking photos within your regular camera super easy, in addition to allowing you to start and top videos. They have tons of options on Amazon.
Self-timer App
Lens Buddy is great for taking self portraits! It’s a free app, and you can set it to take several pictures so you have a better chance of getting a winning picture, which is why I prefer using this app over the self timer in the built in phone camera (I use it still, just this more so).
How to use it:
Step 1: make sure all settings are correct in the hamburger menu. You can set them to your preference, but these are my settings.
Step 2: Select mode (Photo, Portrait etc)
Sometimes I use photo, and sometimes I use portrait. It really depends on the situation and what look I’m going for. Also, how wide does the view of the image need to be? You can use a wider lens with a regular photo, but if you’re looking for that blurred background, you’ll want to use portrait mode. If you go with photo, you’ll have the option to use live photo mode as well, and I personally love live photos.
Step 3: Select the hourglass to put in your prep time. This is the time it will be before you take a picture AFTER you press the button. So in other words, this will tell you how long you have to get ready for the first picture to take.
Step 4: Select the little timer icon. This is where you set the time between each photo once they begin.
Step 5: Select the little picture icon. This is where you decide how many pictures you’d like to take total at once. I often times will pick 10 just to make sure I have plenty. 5 is also plenty because you can always take more after the first set if you don’t like them. I would think you would only ever select something crazy like 500 if you were trying to get a timelapse of something happening over a period of time. Maybe you’d also like to set a large amount if you didn’t want to think about how many photos because you can always stop it before it’s done. I personally would stick with 5 or 10 in most cases. I did recently do 25 when I took the picture below of us in the big chair because the first time, I only did 10 and it wasn’t enough for me to climb to get in the chair LOL We stopped it early though.
Step 6: Now my friend, you are ready to take your pictures! (Also, I’d highly recommend the back camera!) Press that button and get ready!
Posing
As a photographer, the number one thing I hear is “I don’t know how to pose.” When I’m the one photographing, I always tell them not to worry, that’s my job and I’ll tell them what to do and guide them. However, when you’re taking self portraits you don’t have that guidance, BUT
don’t worry!!! I still got you! 😉
First, you need to decide what you want the outcome of your photo to be. Do you want it posed like a portrait, lifestyle vibes where it’s posed with movement, or to document the moment as it is, etc.
If you’re going for more documentary style, just pay closer attention to the little moments and when you see a moment happening you want to capture, just set your phone up and make sure your camera is pointed in that direction. For example, if you are sitting with your kids while they are playing hot wheels, get up, get your phone ready, then just go sit back with them and continue what you were doing.
If you’d like more of a lifestyle feel where it looks like it’s in the moment, but guided, all you need are some prompts to help you and your family out. One of my favorites is dance. Here are a few other prompts to try:
-tickle your kids
-hug in with your entire family and look at each other smiling and then laughing
-peekaboo
-red light, green light (best outside 😆 )
You can always google photography prompts. The key word for lifestyle “posing” is prompts. They allow you to be guided without being stiff. Also, while my prompts are more family oriented, you can apply this tactic with any lifestyle posing!
If your going more for a traditional posed portrait, honestly the best advice I can give you is to just practice. You can check out poses on Pinterest for inspo, but don’t let yourself get too caught up in perfection. You can find some fun ideas that don’t need to look exactly like your inspo pic.
Editing
There are SO many apps out there to help you with this. This could honestly be a post all on it’s own. I’m going to share a couple of apps that are fun to use and play around with. Also, you don’t need to edit your photos, it’s just if you’d like to stylize them.
Dazz Cam
If you like vintage looking pictures, photos that were taken on a disposable camera, or anything in that wheelhouse, you’ll love this app. While they do offer a paid version, I only utilize the free features. This app also supports videos.
Lomograph
This is another app to help you make your photos feel older. You can add filters with light leaks, dust, and timestamps. They offer paid, but I only utilize the free version.
Lightroom Mobile
I have the paid version of Lightroom as a photographer, so Lightroom mobile is included with my subscription. This just means I have access to more features, but you can still do a lot with the free version. This app is a bit more complex, so as much as I hate to say it, you’re really going to have to be patient with yourself and just learn by playing around with it.
There are TONS of apps out there! Just head to your App Store and explore. If you find any super fun ones, report back so we can all enjoy! 😉
Remember, be patient with yourself! It doesn’t have to be perfect, and you will get better the more you do it. Everyone has off days. Even as a professional photographer, there are days that I feel like every photo I take, especially if I’m in it, sucks. However, when I’m feeling better on a different day, I realize it wasn’t as bad as I thought! I just needed sleep, water, or even a break.
You’ve got this! 💕
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