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One of the best things about being a photographer is that it means I don’t have to hire someone else to take my pictures, and as an introvert, that is a score. However, the downside of this is that I had to get over my fear of being in front of the camera without someone coaching me through it.

I started my business while in grade eight. Still in my teen years, I was trying to figure out how to properly use Lightroom, what the exposure triangle was, and had no professional models. So, I was often left to figure things out on my own. This meant I would set my camera up on a tripod, take a test shot, see where I was going to fit into it. I would then try to remember some poses I had previously looked up on Pinterest and recreate them.

But because this was back in the day, there were no flip-around screens or front-facing cameras to use. Instead, I had to turn my timer on and run back and forth from where my camera was to where I was posing, hoping I could get back into the right spot each time. It was a hassle. And at times, it was a bit embarrassing. Thankfully, when I started taking self-portraits, I was often not in view of other people, finding spots in the yard where no windows could see me running or posing and feeling silly.

Here is an image from grade nine where I vividly remember one afternoon in April, going out and taking pictures to post to Facebook. I was so proud of myself. Looking back, it is nothing but cringe-worthy.

There is so much wrong with this image, but we won’t focus on that today. Instead I want to instill a sense of confidence that you too can take pictures of yourself and do it well with practice.

Taking an image of yourself doesn’t need to be scary. In fact, it is quite empowering. And whether you start by taking pictures that never see the light of day or you jump right into sharing them, the fact that you took them gets you one step closer to feeling confident in them.

My sister-in-law recently gave me a great peice of advice. I am recently married and we are thinking about family planning and all the wonderful things that come with stepping into this new chapter. She told me right after the wedding that I should take some pictures just for myself of how I look now, so in 20 years I can look back and be proud of how much my body has allowed me to do.

And the same can be said for grade nine Hannah. Looking back on this image above I am so proud of myself for not letting fear stand in the way of me building my business. Which at the time required me to be vulnerable and stand in front of the camera that I was still very much learning how to use. But it was through those self protraits that I landed my first wedding gig.

As well, because I put myself in front of the camera so often while no one was around, I got used to it. Since grade nine I have often taken my own images for everyday social media usage. Like this image below. I took this one using my cellphone on a random Wednesday afternoon while the little one I was babysitting was napping. It was quick and easy to do and made for a great picture to use multiple ways, espcially since my camera is in hand.

Now, I am a firm believer in hiring a professional photographer to take a new headshot, a professional product shot for a launch, running an event, or doing a brand refresh. However, I don’t think you need to hire one for everyday photography needs. But if you’re the face of your business and you’re not used to being in front of the camera, it can be daunting to start. So, let’s break it down.

Planning your self portrait?

Knowing the intended use is the first step in identifying what you need to do to take a great self-portrait. It’s important to ask yourself a few questions before setting up your shot.

• Who will see this image? (Social media, my website, in a course, ebook, etc.)
  • By asking this question, you can gauge how professional or high-quality it will need to be. For social media, you don’t need to worry as much about quality as you would on a website or in a printed book. You have more flexibility in settings and forgiveness in little details that are missed, as no one will likely be zooming in or looking for errors. The other side of this question is whether this is directed at someone who is coming across your content for the first time or has been around for a while and knows you and your business. Personally, I am an advocate for having a strong, high-quality first impression image that’s pinned so people can learn who you are as a business owner and then letting your personality really shine through the rest of them.
• What’s the purpose of this image? (New profile picture, general feed image, banner image, example, etc.)
  • Similarly to knowing who will be viewing the image, knowing the intended purpose goes a long way. Is this image supposed to entertain, educate, storytelling, or all of the above? Knowing its purpose can always help with knowing who should be the viewer. Because if you’re taking a picture of yourself prepping a healthy meal because you work in the health or food industry, then you’ll want to be sure to understand what it is you’re trying to convey or highlight. Knowing if you are going to be talking about the whole meal, a single ingredient, or how you can help someone who may be struggling with food will determine what should be the most in-focus part of the image.
• What’s the scene?
  • The next element is setting up the scene. Having the image make sense for where it is taken is key in great storytelling, especially for self-portraits. Even if you’re someone who focuses mainly on virtual consults and spends 95% of your business hours in the office, seeing your service in action or the tools you use or the problems you fix goes a long way. Your business will need more than a single photo of you at a desk with a computer or a cellphone. The viewer wants to see what you’re doing at your desk: are you writing blogs, recording podcasts or videos, taking pictures, prepping meals to provide dietary advice, working as a sleep consultant, or connecting with clients on their marketing? Whatever service you provide virtually, your audience wants to be able to see it. Take me for example, as a photographer, my self-portraits will likely include me taking a picture or holding my camera. Then there’s less room for confusion on how I can help someone.
• Do I know the dimensions that are needed? (Square for profile or thumbnail, Instagram story, Instagram or Facebook post, website thumbnail, email attachment, LinkedIn photo)
  • The last aspect of planning your self-portrait is knowing its final destination because each platform requires different dimensions for different things. LinkedIn, for example, sometimes favors square or horizontal images over vertical. Hootsuite actually compiled a list of the dimensions for social media. But why is this important? Simply, knowing the dimensions will save you from having to compromise quality. If you take a horizontal image or video and want to make it vertical, you will be losing quality because you’ll likely have to crop and zoom in. And with a smartphone, that’s almost always an instant noticeable quality difference. So knowing the dimensions and orientation can save you from making a quality mistake.

Why is it important to take self portraits for your business?

Having the ability to take a picture of yourself brings a lot of freedom. Whether it’s building your business without having to work around a photographer’s schedule, or realizing you don’t always need to justify the cost of a professional shoot for everyday content, being confident in taking your own self-portraits—using just your smartphone or camera—opens up so many possibilities.

Now, don’t get me wrong—I still firmly believe in hiring a professional photographer for big projects, launches, or rebrands. But for your day-to-day social media or blog posts, you already have the capability to do it yourself.

Your audience needs to know who you are. There are plenty of reels out there about how you can make money with faceless content. And it’s true—you can. But here’s what most of those creators won’t tell you: they still have at least a couple of recent images of themselves on their profiles and websites. Why? Because people want to know who they’re working with.

Your face doesn’t need to be in every photo—not even most of them. But it does need to be there sometimes. Even if you’re selling products, it’s important to include a “meet the founder” moment, a simple talking-head video about how to use the product, or a personal story about the problem your product solved for you.

Self-confidence is one of the biggest hurdles, but also one of the most rewarding experiences. Taking a picture of yourself, hitting “post” without hesitation, and allowing yourself to be seen is a huge milestone when it comes to self-portraits.

I hear so often that people don’t want their face in photos, or that they’re not comfortable in front of the camera. Trust me—I know that feeling. For the longest time, my response was: “Why do you think I like being behind the camera?”

But let me ask you this: if you saw someone of a similar age, life stage, or lived experience sharing photos of themselves online, would you feel proud of them? Or would you prefer they only post faceless content?

If your honest answer is faceless content, then maybe that’s where you should focus. But if, deep down, you’d feel proud of them for putting themselves out there, then it’s time to flip the script.

Be confident in who you are. Someone out there will be proud—and grateful—that you shared yourself. Even if your first posts feel corny or unpolished, your confidence will grow with each one. Over time, you’ll care less about what others might think and focus more on connecting with your clients, building trust, and showing up in a way that feels authentic and real.

Equipment considerations?

Scrap the ring light. Please remove it from your Amazon cart. I’ll wait.

If you already have a ring light, don’t sweat it—I’ve got some workarounds for you. But what I really want you to look for is something that gives you more control over directing light. A softbox, for example, is a great option. This two pack lighting set up, is on the smaller side, so it’s easy to store or leave set up.

Now, you might be asking: “Hannah, why can’t I use a ring light?” The short answer: it’s not flattering unless used correctly. Most of the time, when I see images online taken with a ring light, I can spot them right away because of the large white rings in people’s eyes.

And just for the sake of this blog, I went to YouTube and searched “How to use a ring light.” Almost every single video I found was made by professionals in the lighting industry (film, photography, etc.). But here’s the funny part—not one of them actually used a ring light in their own videos. Instead, they relied on a standard two- or three-light setup. None of those included a single light directly in front of the face. Ironic, right?

That’s because ring lights are fantastic for video calls, makeup, and situations where you need consistent, even light. But when it comes to creating flattering, natural, more controlled lighting for self-portraits, they just don’t deliver.

For more on single-light setups (ring light or not), check out my ebook and latest video [insert link]—a quick how-to on the best one-light configurations.

A tripod is your best friend. Having a tripod gives you way more freedom when setting up self-portraits. Whether you’re at your desk, out in the yard, on the go, or even in a coffee shop, being able to place your camera where it works best—rather than balancing it on random objects—is a total game-changer.

That said, many things can be used as a tripod in a pinch. I once set my camera on a cooler. Yup, a cooler. I had forgotten my tripod, wanted to get a picture, and the ground was too uneven. The cooler was my best option, so I used it. I’ve also propped my camera on Yeti cups with straps, hair ties, and even tree branches. You get the picture.

But keeping a tripod on hand makes life so much easier than constantly troubleshooting where to put your camera. Here’s the one I’ve used for years and recommend if you’re shooting with a phone [insert link]. And here’s the one I’d get if you’re working with a larger camera [insert link].

Remote shutters (or timers) are your new best friend.

Once your shot is set up, the next challenge is figuring out how to actually take the photo—without running back and forth, fighting with the timer, and hoping for the best. Luckily, there are plenty of options.

• Smart watch: I use mine all the time. I’ve set it up so that with one tap, it triggers a three-second timer on my camera. Once the shot is framed, I just press the button and I’m good to go. If you have a smart watch, check your settings—you might have this option too.
• Bluetooth remote shutter: This is a small handheld remote you click when you’re ready. You can set it to take the photo instantly or add a short delay so you have time to hide the remote.
• Built-in timer: The classic option. I’ve used this plenty of times—setting a 10-second timer and then quickly moving into position. This works especially well for closer shots, where you don’t have far to go to reach your phone.

Lean into self portraits and watch as you grow

Self-portraits don’t need to be scary. A photographer friend once told me that I should always take self-portraits so that, one day, I could look back and thank my body for helping me get to where I am. Through the trials and illness, as well as the happy moments and big wins, being able to reflect, whether fondly or with humour, is a gift.

The same is true for your business. When you look back on where you started, you’ll feel proud, recognize the lessons learned, shake your head at certain moments, and hold bittersweet memories of the people you met and the experiences that shaped you.

Self-portraits give us the chance to witness our growth, personally and professionally. They make celebrating the small wins feel even bigger. So don’t be afraid to pick up your camera and share your smile with the world. Someone else might need to see you first before they can trust you in business. And one day, your younger self will thank you for it.

If you’re ready to start, download my lighting ebook or sign up for my newsletter where you’ll get more tips and blogs like this one to help you feel confident in front of the camera.