A Self Portrait Photo Challenge is the perfect way to explore new ideas while pushing your artistic boundaries, and expressing yourself in unique ways.
Ever since I embarked on my photography journey many moons ago, self portraits have been a consistent part of my work. At times, I captured them because I needed images of myself for my business. More often, they served as a way to practice techniques before applying them to a client or model. And occasionally, I took them simply to give myself a much-needed confidence boost.
With this in mind, whatever your reason for wanting to start a self portrait photo challenge, it is always a good skill building exercise.
This self portrait challenge with 50 creative ideas will not only inspire you to think outside the box but also learn the art of being in front of and behind the camera.
What is a Self Portrait Photo Challenge?
A Self Portrait Photo Challenge is a fun and engaging way to develop your photography skills because you’ll be capturing images of yourself in various creative styles and settings. These challenges encourage experimentation with lighting, composition, and storytelling, helping you explore your artistic voice while building confidence behind and in front of the camera. This activity is ideal for photographers of all skill levels, offering an excellent opportunity to nurture self-expression while enhancing your skills and growing creatively.
Pro Tips for Your Self Portrait Photo Challenge:
- Use a Tripod: For a lot of these ideas, you can’t be holding your camera, therefore you’ll need a tripod to hold your camera at the desired height and angle.
- Self-Timer or Remote Shutter: These are lifesavers for hands-free shots because you won’t have to physically be near the camera. I use a wireless remote shutter for my self portraits.
- Plan Your Setup: Find a good space in your home or location to keep to the theme of the self portrait idea that you’re going for. For example; A modern bathroom wouldn’t be a good spot to photograph a vintage style portrait.
- Experiment: Play with props, outfits, and angles until you find what works.
How To Take Part in the Self Portrait Photo Challenge:
You can take part in this photo challenge in several different ways.
Either you can do the self portrait challenge over the course of 50 days, or 50 weeks. You could also simply choose 30 prompts from the list and do a 30 day self portrait photo challenge.
In other words, it’s up to you how you use the self portrait prompts.
If you’d like to join in with others and see how people interpret the prompts, use the hashtag #clicksphotochallenge and tag @clicksandconfetti on Instagram to be featured.
Self Portrait Photo Challenge (50 Ideas)
Let’s get into the challenge. Remember, you don’t have to complete all 50 ideas, you could simply choose 30 of the prompts and do them over the course of the month. But if you want to do all 50, go for it. I’ll be seriously impressed and would love to hear from you for a feature!
Self Portrait Photo Challenge: Using Random Objects
1. Use a mirror.
Capture a creative reflection by using a mirror and get creative with it. It’s quite a skill to get the angle right but it can make your self portrait a little more interesting.
2. Frame your face with fairy lights.
Start by wrapping fairy lights around your face or holding them close, which will then create a soft, warm glow, adding a magical touch to your portrait.
3. Pose with books stacked around you.
Stack books around yourself to create a cosy picture. You could sit among them or hold an open book. If you’re a massive reader, this is the perfect self portrait.
4. Create a portrait through a glass jar.
Shoot through a glass jar to add some distortion, which will certainly add an artistic twist to your self portrait.
5. Use kitchen utensils like colanders for shadows.
First, shine a light through a colander or other utensils; as a result, interesting shadow patterns will form on your face, enhancing the visual depth and drama of your portrait.
6. Shoot through a rainy window for a moody portrait.
Use a rainy window to capture a moodier, cinematic self-portrait. My top tip for this shot, would be to firstly have something in your place to manually focus on. Then, when you have the focus, get into your place and take the photo. Sometimes the autofocus can struggle through raindrops because there’s too many points of focus. You could even focus on the raindrops and keep your face blurry in the background if you want to try a different approach.
7. Shoot with confetti, lots and lots of confetti.
Throw confetti in the air or stick it to your face for a fun, colourful self portrait that pops with energy. I obviously have done lots of these confetti self portraits, so here’s a handy confetti shoot guide.
8. Use houseplants to create a natural aesthetic.
Surround yourself with houseplants to give your portrait a fresh, yet natural look. Maybe you could use them for shadows on a bright day or you could even shoot through the plants for a different perspective.
9. Use an old picture frame to create a “picture within a picture.”
Hold an old picture frame in front of you to create a layered effect, like a photo within a photo.
10. Experiment with shadows from blinds or curtains.
Let light filter through blinds or curtains to create dramatic shadow patterns across your face or background.
Experimenting With Lighting in Your Self Photography Challenge
11. Use a candle as your only light source.
Light a candle and use its soft, flickering glow to create a warm and intimate self-portrait.
12. Try a prism in front of the lens.
To create some undoubtedly unique reflections or rainbows in your portrait, hold a prism in front of your camera lens. This will bend the light, adding a rather captivating, colourful effect to your image.
13. Use coloured gels or transparent wraps to tint your lighting.
Place coloured gels or transparent wraps over your light source to bathe your portrait in vibrant hues and create different moods.
14. Shoot with string lights wrapped around your body.
Wrap string lights around yourself for a glowing, dreamy effect in your self portrait. If not all of your body is in focus, you’ll create a nice bokeh effect as well.
15. Use natural light streaming through a window for soft, diffused results.
Position yourself by a window to use natural light for soft, flattering illumination in your portrait.
16. Capture a silhouette against a bright window or screen.
Stand in front of a bright window or a lit screen to create a striking silhouette that highlights your profile. You’ll need to be a little more inventive with poses here though, as you can’t rely on any of your facial features.
17. Create bokeh with lights in the background.
Place fairy lights or other small light sources in the background to create beautiful bokeh effects in your portrait.
18. Use reflective surfaces like tin foil for creative lighting.
Use crumpled tin foil as a backdrop or try a silver or gold reflector to scatter light and give your self portrait a bit of a futuristic feel.
19. Try light painting with a flashlight in a dark room.
Move a flashlight around yourself in a dark room while capturing a long exposure shot for a cool light painting effect.
20. Use a projector to cast designs or photos onto your face.
Project some patterns, images, or meaningful text onto your face or body to create a striking self portrait that provokes a bit more conversation.
Props & Costumes Self Portrait Photo Challenge Ideas
21. Wear a colourful wig.
Put on a vibrant, colourful wig to add a playful and bold twist to your self-portrait.
22. Pose with your pet. (Disclaimer: I know your pet isn’t a prop, but shh.)
Include your furry (or not-so-furry) friend in your portrait for a personal touch. It’s also a great memory to keep or print.
23. Use sheer fabric or lace in front of your face (that rhymes).
Drape sheer fabric or lace in front of your face to create soft textures and add a dreamy, artistic effect.
24. Use things from nature; Leaves, pinecones, flowers.
Incorporate elements from nature, like leaves, pinecones, or flowers, to bring earthy tones and organic textures to your portrait. You can shoot with them outside or bring them home and use them creatively.
25. Capture yourself drinking a hot drink.
Hold a steaming cup of coffee, tea, or hot chocolate to create a cosy self portrait.
26. Photograph yourself with your camera..
Use a mirror to capture yourself holding your camera, showcasing your passion for photography in your portrait.
27. Stick on some fake butterflies.
Attach fake butterflies to your face, hair, or background for a whimsical and enchanting self portrait.
28. Wearing your best outfit.
Put on your favourite outfit to show off your individual style and confidence.
29. Pose with balloons.
Use colourful balloons as props. Throw them in the air and capture them with a fast shutter speed as they come down, for a creative shot.
30. Photograph your hands, holding something interesting.
Focus on your hands holding an intriguing object, like a vintage book, a delicate flower, or a pocket watch.
Self Portrait Photo Challenge Ideas With Unusual Perspectives
31. Take a bird’s-eye-view shot of you lying on the floor.
Position the camera directly above you and lie on the floor to capture a unique photo.
32. Shoot from a low angle for a larger-than-life perspective.
Place the camera low and angle it upward to create a dramatic, towering perspective in your portrait. Works well in a field of flowers or from dewy blades of grass.
33. Use a fisheye lens.
Experiment with a fisheye lens to capture a distorted, wide-angle view that adds fun look to your portrait.
34. Take close-ups of specific features like your eyes, hands, or lips.
Focus on individual features like your eyes, hands, or lips to create detailed, intimate self portraits. Perhaps use a macro lens if you have one.
35. Create a dark and moody photo with strong lighting on one side.
Illuminate one side of your face with a single light source while allowing the other side to remain in shadow, which creates a striking and dramatic effect.
36. Don’t show your face.
Focus on other parts of yourself or position your camera behind you while you stand in front of an amazing landscape.
37. Shoot yourself through a doorway or window.
Frame yourself within a doorway or window to add depth and create a natural frame for your portrait.
38. Take a photo POV style, that sums up your day.
Photograph your hands, your shoes, or an activity from your perspective to capture the essence of your day in a self portrait.
39. Use a slight slow shutter speed, point the camera towards your face and spin around with it.
Set a slow shutter speed and spin while holding the camera for a motion-blurred effect in your portrait. It will likely take a few goes to get right. You will need to keep the camera focused on your face whilst your spinning which is unquestionably tricky.
40. Take a reflection photo in a big puddle or a still lake.
Find a puddle or still lake and use the reflection to capture an artistic, mirror self portrait.
Artistic and Conceptual Self Portrait Photo Challenge Ideas
41. Wrap yourself in plastic or cling film.
Use cling film or plastic as a prop to create an abstract and edgy self portrait.
42. Paint your face or hands with bold colours.
Apply vibrant paint to your face or hands to create a striking, artistic self portrait full of personality.
43. Use double exposure effects to overlay two images.
Experiment with double exposure to blend two images together such as your face with a landscape or two versions of you in the same image.
44. Shoot an image of yourself based on a dream or nightmare.
Recreate the mood of a vivid dream or nightmare with props and costumes to bring your dream world to life.
45. Try a black and white theme.
Shoot in black and white to focus on contrast, shadows, and emotion in your self portrait.
46. Use intentional motion blur for an ethereal, dreamlike photo.
Move slightly while taking your photo, to add soft motion blur, so that you can create a ghostly or dreamy aesthetic.
47. Create a self portrait based on music lyrics you find relatable.
Pick a lyric that speaks to you specifically and express its meaning through poses, props, and mood in your portrait.
48. Try a self portrait photo challenge series based on fears and phobias.
Explore fears or phobias by creating a series of portraits that symbolise or reflect them in a rather thought-provoking way.
49. Pose with vintage items or items that have deep meaning.
Use heirlooms or vintage objects due to their sentimental value and add a personal and nostalgic touch to your picture.
50. Create a birthday themed image to celebrate.
Celebrate your birthday with a fun portrait featuring balloons, candles, or a festive cake as part of the scene, or you can make it dark and moody like I did in the images below.
Self Portrait Photo Challenge FREE Printable
Embarking on a Self Portrait Photo Challenge is more than just a photography exercise. It’s an opportunity to discover new facets of your creativity, experiment with techniques, and tell your story though photographs.
Whether you’ve followed these 50 ideas step-by-step or let them spark entirely new concepts, each portrait is a step toward honing your craft.
To keep you motivated, here’s a free printable (PDF) version of the challenge for you to download. Print it out and keep it somewhere you will see it often and tick off the ideas you have completed.
*DOWNLOAD THIS FREE SELF PORTRAIT PHOTO CHALLENGE PRINTABLE*
If you have any questions then please share in the comments and tag @clicksandconfetti/#clicksphotochallenge on Instagram in order to share your self portrait results!
Self Portrait Photo Challenge Resources That May Be Helpful:
Check out my guide on How To Take Good Pictures Of Yourself, as it has lots of various helpful tips and tricks for capturing DIY self portraits, and they go a lot more in depth.
Or if you’re brand new to photography and want to know all the basics, this Photography Basics For Beginners Guide is a perfect way to start. It’s step-by-step and easily cuts out all of the overwhelm, which will help you get you started and on the road to shooting the perfect self portrait.
