Self-Portraits Around the House
I've recently embarked on a project of creating monthly self-portraits (again). I’ve done this before, and this year, I’m back at it. Today, I want to share the process and experience of my latest self-portrait from May.
The Theme: Around the House
This month’s theme was “around the house” because my relationship with my home is a classic love-hate story. I figured this theme would give me a chance to meet my house halfway, accepting it as it is.
The Process and Planning
I started by wandering around the house looking for good lighting spots. I wasn’t planning to change anything or use artificial lighting. My goal was to capture the house in its natural state, without moving things around or cleaning up. The look I wanted was casual and relaxed, which for me means linen and denim. I guess I was channeling my inner '90s vibe, which is perfectly fine because I’m a '90s person.
Setting Up the Shots
With my trusty tripod, camera, and remote, I was ready. Oh, and I had my phone on me because I was listening to my friend's Marco Polo messages. I chose my 85mm lens for this shoot. As a product photographer, I rarely use it, so it felt like the right time to give it some love.
I began in the hallway but wasn’t thrilled with the first shots I took there. So, I moved on.
The next spot was the most complicated—behind the couch with my plants. Setting up the tripod here was tricky, requiring a lot of back and forth to adjust the brightness and get the right angle. My initial shots were too bright, so I toned it down and added a bit of grain in post-production.
Exploring Different Spaces
I shot in the dining room next, facing a big window while sitting on a chair. I didn’t bother hiding the remote in these shots because I wasn’t focused on perfection. I opted for continuous autofocus to avoid the countdown timer, which usually messes up my focus if I move even slightly.
In the kitchen, I captured some great shots on the countertop. The lighting here was the best—diffused and flat. I also took a few quick ones on a stool and standing up to give a bit more context of the house, considering the 85mm’s limitation on capturing wide scenes.
Final Location: The Den
The final spot was the den, a room I’m still figuring out what to do with. It’s filled with plants and a treadmill, so naturally, it had some of the best lighting conditions. This shoot turned out to be quite “planty,” unintentionally of course, but plants thrive in good light, so it makes sense.
Little Hiccups and Reflections
A few things I would nitpick: I didn’t set up the camera straight in the kitchen shots, but I did this intentionally to avoid glare on my glasses. Also, I started with the wrong pair of glasses but corrected that as I went along. Despite these minor issues, I’m happy with how the shoot turned out.
The goal was to place myself in the space without manipulating it, and I think I achieved that.
Conclusion
That wraps up my May self-portrait. I hope you found this insight into my process helpful. Let me know if you’d like more of these follow-up posts as I continue my monthly self-portraits. Maybe next time, I’ll even record some behind-the-scenes footage!
Stay tuned and see you in the next post!
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