Intro to Self Portrait Photography
Finding Satori in emotional self-portrait photography
Throughout 2020 I have been exploring the experience of self-portrait photography and how it can be used as a tool for emotional release. For me, it was a way of giving myself permission to dive internally and discover authenticity in myself when I couldn’t make heads or tails of what I was emotionally feeling at any given point in time.
Self-Portrait Process
I've developed this practice to assist in releasing blockages in my own emotional energy. If you ever wake up in the morning frustratingly thinking what are these feelings stirring in me?
This might be a good practice to shake up some vulnerability and cultivate some authenticity.
Set up your camera/phone to shoot a photo every 2 seconds and get after it. Throw all your emotions into the camera lens. Don't hold back. Feel whatever it is you wanna feel.
Example Video on Instagram
Late last summer I created a short video that showcases and describes how I utilize self-portrait photography.
https://www.instagram.com/tv/CCtDr6_Ayku/
What to Expect When Trying it for Yourself
As a photographer, it was quite a challenge to step in-front of the other side of the lens. There’s a feeling of jumping off into a deep dark hole of the unknown. You’re equally balancing a racing mind worried about the photos technical details (composition, lighting, shutter, aperture…) but also attempting to keep a relatively clean mind to let yourself be present in the moment.
Set it and forget it
This is where I’ve found that an interval timer works best; it creates a harmonious rhythm to the camera (or cell phone!) firing and taking a photo.
There’s an inherent trust that’s building between you and the camera opening up a sliver of a doorway to be more authentic in your own self.
When you’re taking an image every 2/3/4 seconds it also prevents you from dwelling too much on the past you from a second ago and openly invites you to answer the question of who are you right now? In this moment?
The review process
This part was one of the toughest parts for me at first. Looking at hundreds of pictures of myself.
What a journey to have to see so many different representations of who you are all at once…
The first time you see the results there might be a natural inclination to just throw away the entire album. I know I felt that way the first time
Yes, there’s a lot to be discarded (out of a typical 300+ photo session, I’m usually saving around 8)
But after you get past that initial hurdle a whole new world starts to unfold.
Satori Moment
Those moments of satori come from finding the authentic you that came out to play. The version of you that showed your true and genuine emotions directly in that moment.
Maybe it’s a version of you that you haven’t seen in a while or only comes out under specific circumstances…
Maybe it’s a version of you that you thought was left behind…
Maybe it’s a version of you that you’ve never seen before…
Whatever it happens to be for you, there’s an invitation to find new appreciation for yourself and gratitude for the wide range of emotions we as humans get to feel in our existence.
My challenge to you is to give yourself a moment to shoot some self-portraits (bonus points if you do it when you’re really not feeling it!) and see what version of you comes out to play.
If you are interested in receiving another Satori Stori in your inbox click below