The Importance of Self Portraits Q&A
Last week I asked a question on my Instagram stories, “what holds you back from creating self portraits?” And the answers filled me with so much emotion and sadness. Some answers were practical and I’ll go through those later but the overwhelming majority of the answers were worries about body image and other’s reactions.
Here are the responses to the question “what holds you back from taking self portraits?” and my answers:
01. Having a nice place to take them
My answer: It’s not about finding the perfect place or looking a certain way, dressing in fun outfits or completely bringing your vision to life. Of course it can be, for sure! More planned self portrait projects are super fun however, if we’re always waiting for the perfect place, look, thing, we will miss so many opportunities while we were looking. These next images were taken in under 3 minutes and prompted by a patch of morning sunlight in my room. My house is not aesthetically pleasing in the slightest, I simply used my mirror (covered in my kids’ hand prints) and the presented opportunity. Self portraits can be about honesty and your reality, so show your life honestly. People connect to honesty.
02. I don’t have the time
My answer: Do you really not have the time or is there something else holding you back? See the above images, they look less than 3 minutes, not perfect, and I wouldn’t want them to be. They’re a true reflection of who I was in that moment. If you want your self portraits to be a true reflection of you, your life, your parenthood journey, your creative process, then take the picture. Some of my most treasured images with my children are my self portraits. They are heirlooms now. They have so much meaning because they came from me and my brain. They are a creative outlet for me. So get up, get off your phone and spend 5 minutes creating. It doesn’t matter if it doesn’t go right or they’re all out of focus. Try again the next time.
03. I worry in case people think I love myself
My answer: I have a few things to say here.
1. Does that matter?
2. Do YOU think artists who do self portraits love themselves?
3. Isn’t self love the goal here?
4. You’re creating for YOU, not anyone else.
04. What others will think - mainly my mother
My answer: They’ll think you’re brave and creative, all good things. If they think bad things, that’s their thought and we can’t change that. We can only control what we do and think.
I also don’t know your mother, but as a mother myself, I would be so proud of my kid for creating.
05. Not knowing how to pose myself
My answer: This is always a challenge however, it’ll only get easier the more you practice! If you’re going for a more documentary approach, then lean into whatever you are doing - breastfeeding your kiddo, painting, whatever you’re doing, fully engross yourself. A tip with this, is to see if your camera has an intervalometer timer where it’ll periodically take a picture every 10 or so seconds. If not, a remote, an app (check if your camera has this function) or timer. Even if I have a remote or using the Canon Connect app on my phone, I ALWAYS using timer so I have time to hide my phone/remote.
06. Feeling fat and not wanting to get seen by my neighbours
My answer: I have very bad self body image, but I would rather have the memories to look back on. Doing self portraits has helped me heal from years of body image trauma because I can see that I am real and human. It makes me feel grounded and connected. Here’s a self portrait from when I was pregnant with my son. These hold so much meaning for me.
As for the neighbour, probably be the highlight of their week. If they see you and judge you, what are they gonna do? And if they come and talk to you, just say you’re creating. I bet Picasso had some nosey neighbours but still created, ya know.
Take a deep breath and go for it.
07. I don’t know where to start
My answer: This is always tough, and there are a few answers here. Create from within and let your emotions lead the way. Start with something simple that would convey how you’re feeling.
I’ve also created 30 self portrait prompts to help you get started - click HERE and join the self portrait community. Don’t forget to tag @hannahbselfportraits and #HBP30Days to have your chance to be featured.
08. I always hate how I look
My answer: I don’t like how I look with face on images but I share them anyway. Why? Because that’s my face, I cannot change that. That’s me. My friends don’t love me for how I look or what my body looks like. Would you describe your friends and your relationship with them based on their body? No. They wouldn’t do that to you, too.
The point of self portraits is to show YOU who YOU are.
I’ve started creating reels on how to pose yourself on my Instagram, I’d love for you to join me.
09. Seeing myself
My answer:
1. self portraits don’t have to be of your face if you don’t want them to be.
2. if they are, know that your clients will LOVE to see YOU before you meet for your shoot. You’re breaking down a barrier. It might even be the thing that gets them to book you because they feel they know you.
3. you are wonderful, just as you are.
10. The judgement from others I feel would happen
My answer: If people are judging you, do you really want them to be in your life?
11. My face
My answer: Do people truly love you for the way you look? Do you truly love people for the way they look? Do you not connect with people or form relationships because of how they look? No, and if they do, it’s not worth your time and energy pursuing that relationship.
I’m sending love and warmth and a big hug to everyone who answered that they feel too ugly, fat, don’t like how they look etc. It’s really hard to see the inner and outer beauty of ourselves when the world can be so focused on looking a certain way. But you are loved for who you are, not what you look like. If you can see the beauty in people, someone is seeing the beauty in you too.
All my love and kindness,
