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Tuesday, January 2, 2018

Planning For Self-Portraits, Promotional Pictures And Selfies

Problem
How do I get good pictures of myself?

Answer
EVENT PHOTOS; parties, weddings, funerals
Any time you are dressed up, for Christmas, a party, a dinner, a wedding, a funeral, take a picture of  yourself. Also ask another person to take a picture of you.

If nobody is taking photos, suggest a group photo.

If the group refuse to be photographed, or to take a photo, try the head waiter, the chef, the waiter, the receptionist, another tourist.

My Photo Coup
At a grand restaurant in London, England, my family and friends wanted to concentrate on eating their meal, then went to pay, and to go to the toilet. Afterwards they would be rushing off. In the hallway, I spotted the chef who I recognized from the publicity email we'd been sent about the half price midweek lunch offer.  The restaurant owner was delighted that I wanted to photograph the chef. The chef could not refuse because the restaurant owner wanted the photo. I managed to photograph them separately, together, and with myself.

Get in the picture with the flowers, the sweep staircase, the sign on the door.

Be photographed with the bride, the camera man / woman, the cameraman's wife / spouse / business partner.

Even the corpse. Not allowed? Be photographed with a photo of the deceased at a funeral. Take a photo of the widow or widower with the order of service, the person who sent the wreath with the wreath.

Take the names of the people in the photo. Simpler and quicker, ask for their email, or ask them to type it into your mobile phone, and send them the photo immediately. That way:
1 You have photos matched with names and emails.
2 You collect all the emails of useful contacts.
3 Saves time later.
4 No trouble reading your own handwriting, nor losing the paper with the emails and names.
5 If they didn't receive the photo, you have time to check you have the correct email whilst they are there and if necessary get any typos corrected.
6 If they don't like their photo, you can take another.
7 If they like the photo, they can tell you, so you get the feedback.
8 They may reciprocate with a photo of you taken on your camera or theirs.

Take a photo of yourself with your new book and the publisher.
Do a rehearsal at home, even if you are planning a professional shoot at home, in a studio or out on location. You want to check:

Clothes
Shoes
Accessories and jewellery
Nails
Hands
Poses - standing or sitting
Accessories
Glasses and reflections

Hide Imperfections
If you have crooked top teeth, you can be photographed smiling with your mouth shut.
If you have crooked bottom teeth, see whether you can cover them with your lower lip or your tongue.
If your neck is creased, you have a prominent Adam's apple, or a double chin, cover your neck with a polo neck, scarf, high blouse or Mandarin collar. Alternatively, hold a paper, newspaper or book.

Take photos from left, right, looking straight at the camera, looking up, down, smiling, not smiling.
Clear the background of clutter.

If you wear glasses, try wearing them at the end of your nose and pushed right back. If they create reflections, take them off. If you feel that is concealing the real you, wear the glasses on top of your head like a hairband, or hold them in your right hand as if you are about to put them on or take them off, or rest them on a table or in a glasses case..

Check and correct. If you have a friend, family member or neighbour with a better mobile phone or camera than yours, ask them to take a picture of you.

If you are going for a professional studio picture, you can remember to wear the best clothes, turn to show  your good side, look up or down, and conceal your imprfections and reveal or promote your assets.

Author
Angela Lansbury, travel writer and photographer, author and speaker.

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