DIY Senior Portrait: Can I just do this myself?

Are you a high school senior looking to capture your unique personality and achievements in a stunning portrait? The countdown to graduation has begun, and you want to mark this milestone with a photo that truly reflects who you are. But hiring a professional photographer can be expensive, and you're wondering: can I DIY my senior portrait?

Why Go the DIY Route?

While having a professional portrait session is a fun experience and will usually offer you the best chance at flattering images that you will love (of course, I may be partial!) it is totally possible to capture your own senior portrait in a flattering way! Remember, NO SELFIES allowed for submitting to yearbook, but you can set up your phone on a stand or have a friend or family member take the picture once you have everything set up and you have taken a few practice shots.

Getting Started with DIY Senior Portraits

1. Choose the Perfect Location

Select a backdrop that speaks to you—a scenic outdoor spot, a vibrant urban setting, or even the cozy familiarity of your own home. The location you choose will set the tone for your portrait and make it uniquely yours.

2. Lighting Is Key

Good lighting can make all the difference in a portrait. Opt for natural light whenever possible, as it tends to be the easiest to work with to get a flattering result. Consider shooting near a window, when there is plenty of light spilling in, but not blinding sunlight, which will most likely create harsh shadows; time of day and what direction the window faces will make a difference. Pay attention to the direction that the light is coming from. Turn your face this way and that to experiment with angles, and change your position and distance from the window. Don't be discouraged with your first attempts. You will get closer and closer to a nice image as you stumble along!

3. Strike a Pose

Don't be afraid to experiment with poses! Whether you want to convey confidence, playfulness, or introspection, try out different stances and expressions to capture the essence of who you are at this moment in your life.

(the image above is an example, AI generated)

DIY Portrait Dos and Don'ts

Dos:

• Express Yourself: Infuse your portrait with elements that represent your interests and passions.

• Bring Props: Got a favorite instrument, book, or sports gear? Incorporate these items for a personalized touch.

• Edit Thoughtfully: Enhance your photo with editing tools to achieve the desired look while keeping it natural.

Don'ts:

• Over-Edit: While editing can enhance your portrait, avoid going overboard with filters and effects.

• Forget About Background: Make sure the background complements, not distracts from, the focal point—you!

Capturing the Moment

Once you've set up your scene, adjusted the lighting, and found your perfect pose, it's time to start snapping away. Don't be afraid to take numerous shots from different angles and distances—this is your moment to shine, so take your time and experiment until you capture that perfect shot!

Preserving Your Memories

Your senior year is a time to remember, and your DIY senior portrait will serve as a lasting memento of this significant chapter in your life. Whether you choose to display it in a frame, share it on social media, or include it in your graduation announcements, your self-captured portrait will proudly tell your story for years to come.

So, can you just DIY your senior portrait? Absolutely! By channeling your creativity and individuality into this project, you'll create a one-of-a-kind image that authentically represents you at this memorable moment in time. Embrace the process, have fun, and get ready to capture your senior year in a way that's uniquely yours!

leg.a.cy

What will you leave behind? My Grandmother was an amazing woman...unbelievably tenacious, loving, and fiercely devoted to her family and her God. She lost her beloved father to a work accident when she was just a girl, and was widowed as a young mother when my father was 4 years old. Her life was filled with struggles and hardships, and in spite of that, she (and her mother) managed to document the stages of her life in photographs. Not just any photographs, but beautiful, professional portraits...pieces of art. These photographs are precious to me. In one of them, she is 14 years old...in another, she is in her 20's. In another, she is a small child, and still in others, she is with her husband and my father as a boy- as a teenager- as a man. These images are absolutely stunning. They remind me of the life she lived...even before I came into this world; they remind me that she was not just "Grandma". She was Elvira Gomez; a person all her own. Her experiences were unique. Her beauty was unique to her, it was honest and fierce, and it came from within. Her entire life was a legacy to me...the lessons she learned and passed on readily to my sister and I will be with me forever. She did not collect fine things...but she collected these photographs of herself and her family that I will be able to pass on to my own children when I am gone. The first two images here are of Elvira, my grandmother. The last two are images I took in my studio, and are inspired by those of my grandmother. I absolutely love being able to create beautiful legacy portraits that will be cherished into the next generation and beyond.

Why are you so OBSESSED with Photographs?!

When I first became a student of photography, I had a Pentax ZX-M. It was a gift from my then fiancee (now my husband), when I graduated from UCSF. It came with a kit lens, had a "fancy" three point averaging meter, and was completely manual. Shortly before, I had expressed to him that I wanted to learn how to make beautiful black and white photographs...what I meant by beautiful was this: there were moments when I would see a framed black and white photograph that looked like a piece of art...that WAS a piece of art. It was clear to me that something set it apart from just a snapshot. What was it? Why did it look so intriguing? I can't stop looking at it. What made it look like that?! That is what I want to learn! That is what I want to do! I already had an obsession with photos...I came from a family where images were scattered and lost and sometimes found, fought after, stolen and "borrowed" for very long periods of time. I had virtually NO images from my early childhood due to a tumultuous upbringing. It was as if my history would die when my memories faded; it was as if the joyful moments of my past were just a dream I had. When I left home at the age of 18, I went to Germany as a member of the US Air Force. My dad sent me a Point-And-Shoot camera...a shiny black Vivitar. I was ecstatic! I was launching my adult life, and I was living in Europe.I wanted to capture EVERYTHING. Every moment, every beautiful and fascinating moment. And I did my best to do just that...to tell the story of my life, and then I would send all of the images back home. I did that for several years.

When I was a young girl I suddenly found myself in a very desperate and tragic situation. I will not sidetrack here, but from the age of 6 to the age of 12, my days were filled with sorrow. In the middle of this sorrow..there were moments when, walking along a road, or sitting in the grass, I would see something that looked beautiful to me...a candy wrapper drifting in the wind, and the way the light shown through it as it sailed down to the ground like a leaf; the sun setting behind my grandmother's lemon trees as I watered them in the evening. In the evening when I lay my head down and prepared myself for another day, I held on to that imagery... and to the scent in the air as the summer came to an end, to the sound of the water flowing in around the little tree trunk...and that light! That beautiful light!

An image can be powerful, if you allow it room to be. And to capture it...to be able to cherish it and look back upon it in full force...that is JOY to me! I have been a documentary photographer for many years, and now, being able to create a wonderful experience for someone...to create a beautiful portrait that uplifts her and that her family will cherish long after she is gone, it is just incredible.

Forever obsessed,

Christina

*one of the images shown now at BLUE SKY GALLERY for the month of September, in the Portland Photographers Forum community drawer*