HOW TO TAKE A GREAT SELF PORTRAIT Part II – The Why

What I like about photographs is that they capture a moment that’s gone forever, impossible to reproduce.”
― Karl Lagerfeld

Some time ago, I wrote part I of a blog post on How To Take a Great Self Portrait which was well received but some wise guys (there’s always at least one isn’t there?) gave me smart aleck comments like, “yeah, yeah that’s nice but why on earth would I bother doing a self portrait?”

Why? Because there will be times when you don’t have someone else to record a memory for you at the very moment that you need them to.

Something I bitterly regret, is having not taken any portraits with my little cat Patchouli.  Sure I have loads of beautiful images of her on her own but none with us together. I kept meaning to do it, I’m a photographer for Pete’s sake but I let other things get in the way.  I kept making the excuse to myself that I was holding out until I’d bought a remote shutter release thinking it would make it easier to take the portrait of us both but I procrastinated way too long even though the warning signs were showing…

Before I knew it she was dying and we had to let her return to spirit.  I was out of time.

I’m determined not to allow that to happen with Paddington and Ruby, Paddington is easy to photograph so I’ve tackled him first, it’s more of a challenge trying to get Ruby to sit still and relax but I’m working on it.

To all the Moms ( Dads, Grandparents, Aunts and Uncles) behind the lens taking the photographs, one day when your children are grown and browsing through family photo albums, do you want them to wonder why their Mom was never in any of the images?

Now I’m not talking about the usual stiffly posed birthday and Christmas photos, I’m talking about those special everyday moments, the tiny hands grasping Mom’s hair while the infant is nursing at the breast or bottle, the nightly ritual of Mom reading a favourite bedtime story, having a group cuddle with the family, Mom pushing a swing during play time, building lego castles on the bedroom floor or baking a cake together – flour everywhere.

Those are the times you want your kids to remember, when they were too young to know how very much they were loved and wanted.

For the most part Paddy-poops is very patient and comfortable in front of the lens but when he’s had enough, he lets me know it in no uncertain terms by barking at me until I stop photographing!

I began with photography only a few years ago and sadly, as a result, I don’t have many photos of my son Remo and myself together, certainly none where we were doing everyday things that depict how much he was cuddled and cherished when he was little.

Life can be hard and cruel sometimes, to some more than others but knowing that we were, and are still loved, can be a great comfort.  Beautiful photographic memories can help with that.

Tempus Fugit, peeps! Break out the cameras, create some gorgeous images of you with your loved ones during those special moments, before it’s too late.

Want to get out of auto and learn how to photograph in manual mode with your DSLR? No problem, simply click on the big blue tab below to find out about my fully mentored online course and in 5 weeks I’ll teach you how.  Intake for the next class is starting soon!

As always, remember to like, share and comment below.

Love you guys,