A true behind the scenes shot because I took it accidentally when I was just done shooting and sweating my ass off. It’s about 40 degrees Celsius in my balcony and I got inspired to shoot. Taking self portraits should be an Olympic sport because it’s so physical when doing full body shots.
I don’t think people realise how much it takes physically to get the shot. Creating right angles and lines usually takes several tries per pose and you can really feel it in your body the next day. Longer lines always lool better so things like standing on your tippytoes and delicately extending your hands, all the way to posing your fingertips and toes, all need to be taken into account.
The best poses often are anything but natural or comfortable, but end up working in the final image. The key is to make everything look really effortless, just like a ballet dancer landing a jump, with a smile on her face and without making a sound when she hits the ground like a feather.
Here I can show you a pose that I think is great, but sadly compeletely out of focus so let it be a teaser. Doesn’t the form flow nicely and look effortless? Good, but it isn’t. I’m balancing on my tippytoes, one foot in front of the other, then angling my hips and pushing forward to create a nice curve where there actually isn’t any. Hand on the hip, leaning back, shoulders down put rolled forward a little, head up high from the neck but chin down. All of this needs to hold while finding the light, making sure the angle is right for the camera, then snapping the remote and holding the pose for two seconds.
When I do self portraits I try and take into account everything above and more, to create the image that is just right. This is my form of excersise and I love it.
Ps. Enjoy the boob sweat.
