Self Portrait Photoshoot at a Parking Garage in Downtown San Diego
Just a gal and her tripod.
My goal for this year is to take self-portraits at least once a month. For January and February, I shot in the comfort of my own bedroom so for March, I decided to push myself and shoot in a public space. I chose a parking garage downtown because of the views and the minimal amount of people (hopefully). I packed up my tripod, put on my Canadian tuxedo, and got to work.
I drove to the tippy-top of the parking garage and immediately felt creative. I love a space with a lot of lines - the walls, the windows, the bricks, the parking spots, the wires! There was so much to work with and I had the space all to myself… or so I thought dun dun dunnnnn. I had just started shooting when I spotted a security guard across the parking lot. I got nervous and felt a little embarrassed but he came over to me and was so friendly and curious. I told him about my goal and he asked questions about my equipment, my other shoots, what kind of photography I specialize in, etc. He continued to make his rounds and would come back every so often to say hi.
Both of us were surprised at how long I was shooting for! I was at the top of this parking garage for about two and a half hours. When inspiration hits, you gotta ride the wave. I had a blast coming up with creative poses and utilizing the lines all around me. I felt like myself in the outfit I chose; wearing the right thing always makes my self-portrait sessions more enjoyable. Instead of paying too close attention to myself and my body like I do when I am uncomfortable in my clothes, I was able to focus on angles, camera settings, and come up with new poses to try.
These self-portraits are by far my favorites. All the puzzle pieces came together and the results are even better than I imagined. I’m so proud of myself for how far I’ve come on my photography journey. I have improved in large part to getting in front of the camera, stepping out of my comfort zone, and putting myself in my clients’ shoes. Not only have I improved my craft when it comes to composing a shot, but taking self-portraits has given me a lot more confidence when posing people.
I encourage anyone and everyone to start their own self-portrait journey, professional photographer or not. Capture this chapter in your life, celebrate your individuality, get the creative juices flowing, and SLAY. If you have any questions or would like some pointers, I’m just an email away.
