
Self, Composed - The Art of Self-Portraiture
Whether you're looking to express yourself creatively, build your own brand, or simply feel more confident in front of the camera, this course is designed to help you take stunning, intentional self-portraits — completely by yourself.
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Introduction
Whether you're a content creator, business owner, artist, or just someone who wants better photos of themselves — this course is here to empower you.
Whether you're a content creator, business owner, artist, or just someone who wants better photos of themselves — this course is here to empower you.
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The Philosophy of Self-Portraiture
A self-portrait isn’t just about what you look like. It’s about who you are, how you feel, what you’re trying to say, and how you want to be remembered—or understood.
A self-portrait isn’t just about what you look like. It’s about who you are, how you feel, what you’re trying to say, and how you want to be remembered—or understood.
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Camera vs Smartphone
Whether you’re using a DSLR, mirrorless camera, or just your smartphone, the most important tool is your eye, not your equipment.
Whether you’re using a DSLR, mirrorless camera, or just your smartphone, the most important tool is your eye, not your equipment.
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Tripods, Remotes and Lightstands
Shooting solo means your gear becomes your assistant — so let’s talk about the three tools that will make your life a lot easier.
Shooting solo means your gear becomes your assistant — so let’s talk about the three tools that will make your life a lot easier.
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Backdrops and Setting Up At Home
Your space doesn’t have to be perfect — it just has to work for you. The best backdrop is the one that lets you shine through.
Your space doesn’t have to be perfect — it just has to work for you. The best backdrop is the one that lets you shine through.
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What we’ve covered and key takeaways.
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Natural Light vs Artificial Light
Lighting is everything in photography — and self-portraits are no exception. It’s the difference between a flat, dull shot and one that feels alive and intentional.
(My personal Pinterest boards are included).
Lighting is everything in photography — and self-portraits are no exception. It’s the difference between a flat, dull shot and one that feels alive and intentional.
(My personal Pinterest boards are included).
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Best Times of The Day to Shoot
There’s no perfect time — only the right light for the mood you’re creating. Get to know the natural rhythm of light in your space, and let it guide your shoot.
There’s no perfect time — only the right light for the mood you’re creating. Get to know the natural rhythm of light in your space, and let it guide your shoot.
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Lighting Yourself Like a Pro on A Budget
You don’t need expensive gear to light yourself beautifully — you just need to understand how light behaves and learn how to shape it with intention.
You don’t need expensive gear to light yourself beautifully — you just need to understand how light behaves and learn how to shape it with intention.
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What we’ve covered and key takeaways.
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Understanding Your Angles
The camera sees differently than our eyes do. Slight changes in angle, posture, and camera height can dramatically affect the emotion, energy, and aesthetic of a self-portrait.
The camera sees differently than our eyes do. Slight changes in angle, posture, and camera height can dramatically affect the emotion, energy, and aesthetic of a self-portrait.
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Creating Flattering Shapes with Your Body
Angles are just one part of the picture — posing well is about flow, shape, and energy.
Angles are just one part of the picture — posing well is about flow, shape, and energy.
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Challenge One
Create a series of 3–5 self-portraits that focus on body shapes. The goal isn’t to reveal, but to express — through light, shape and texture.
Create a series of 3–5 self-portraits that focus on body shapes. The goal isn’t to reveal, but to express — through light, shape and texture.
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Styling Tips: Simplicity, Texture & Intention
Don’t be afraid to experiment with clothes in ways you wouldn’t wear them day to day. Styling for self-portraits is about visual impact, texture, and storytelling — not practicality.
Don’t be afraid to experiment with clothes in ways you wouldn’t wear them day to day. Styling for self-portraits is about visual impact, texture, and storytelling — not practicality.
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Challenge Two
Choose three different outfits using only what you already have at home. For each one, focus on a different mood or energy.
Choose three different outfits using only what you already have at home. For each one, focus on a different mood or energy.
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Composition - Balance and Visual Interest
Good composition makes your self-portraits feel intentional and visually strong — even if you're just shooting in a corner of your bedroom. Here are a few simple but powerful techniques to elevate your shots.
Good composition makes your self-portraits feel intentional and visually strong — even if you're just shooting in a corner of your bedroom. Here are a few simple but powerful techniques to elevate your shots.
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What we’ve covered and key takeaways
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Editing Recommendations
You’ve done the creative work — styled, posed, and captured your image. Now it’s time to bring it to life with editing that enhances your vision, without hiding what makes it powerful.
You’ve done the creative work — styled, posed, and captured your image. Now it’s time to bring it to life with editing that enhances your vision, without hiding what makes it powerful.
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How to Maintain A Vibe
Having a consistent style makes your work instantly recognisable and gives your portraits a signature feel. But don’t overthink it, consistency doesn’t mean every image looks exactly the same. It’s about creating a mood that flows through your work.
Having a consistent style makes your work instantly recognisable and gives your portraits a signature feel. But don’t overthink it, consistency doesn’t mean every image looks exactly the same. It’s about creating a mood that flows through your work.
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Challenge Three
Edit with Intention — Choose one of your self-portraits and edit it using only the tools or apps recommended in this module.
Edit with Intention — Choose one of your self-portraits and edit it using only the tools or apps recommended in this module.
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Avoiding Over-Editing
Editing should enhance your photo, not erase its soul. It’s easy to get caught up in smoothing, reshaping, and tweaking — especially when you are editing yourself. But trust me: your uniqueness is the magic.
Editing should enhance your photo, not erase its soul. It’s easy to get caught up in smoothing, reshaping, and tweaking — especially when you are editing yourself. But trust me: your uniqueness is the magic.
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What we’ve covered and key takeaways.
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Instagram Best Practices
Sharing your self-portraits online can be exciting, vulnerable, and empowering all at once. Whether you're building a personal brand or just putting your art out into the world, Instagram is a great platform to connect, grow, and be seen — but a few mindful practices can make all the difference.
Sharing your self-portraits online can be exciting, vulnerable, and empowering all at once. Whether you're building a personal brand or just putting your art out into the world, Instagram is a great platform to connect, grow, and be seen — but a few mindful practices can make all the difference.
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Other Social Media Platforms
While Instagram is often the go-to platform for photographers and creatives, it’s not the only option. Each platform has its own vibe, audience, and creative potential.
While Instagram is often the go-to platform for photographers and creatives, it’s not the only option. Each platform has its own vibe, audience, and creative potential.
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What we’ve covered and key takeaways.
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