Hey guys! Today I am sharing some images from this spring. I took a little time to work as a Chicago self portrait artist, photographing myself and my kiddos enjoying one of our favorite things: our little outdoor swing. My son suggested the swing, and since then, I’ve added a rebozo swing as well.
What I wanted to achieve in these images was intentional movement. Fluidity doesn’t always come naturally in self-portraits because you are busy setting up the shot. Sometimes, anticipating the movement makes it feel forced. I knew I had to encourage the fun to keep us from looking stiff. If you’ve seen my recent Oak Park birth photography post, you know how much I value documenting raw, unposed energy.
Capturing Movement as a Chicago Self Portrait Artist
If you want more movement and fluidity in your own images, here are my top three tips:
- Pick an easy and fun activity. Jump in there with the kids! If you use a timer like I do, you only have 10 seconds to set up the shot. While a remote might be easier, I always seem to lose them. Try doing the movement once or twice before you press the shutter to get into the flow. This creates a much more documentary lifestyle feel.
- Say no to a shallow depth of field. Focus is much easier to maintain with movement at f/5.6 or even f/11. Seriously, try it! This allows you to capture yourself and your environment completely without losing sharpness. As a Chicago self portrait artist, I find that the environment tells just as much of the story as the subject.
- Let go of perfection. This is my number one tip. When you are learning, your “failures” are actually your best teachers. If your mistakes push you to create more, it means being in your photographs is truly important to you. Don’t worry about every hair being in place; focus on the feeling.
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