How Do I Take Passport Photos and Self Portraits

Some people may think that turning the camera toward yourself is the height of narcissism, but sometimes you need a shot and no one is around to take it for you. Headshots for passport photos and resumes are typical scenarios for the emergency self-portrait. Start with the basics: make sure your hair is combed, your collar is down, your shirt is clean, and your teeth are free of spinach (and lipstick!).

Then find a location with a pleasing, uncluttered background. Put the camera on a tripod, and set it to focus on the area where you'll be standing or sitting. Activate the self-timer.

If the room is too dim for an existing-light portrait, try using "slow-snychro" flash. This type of flash provides enough illumination for a good portrait, but slows down the shutter enough to record the ambient light in the room.

Now position yourself where you focused the camera, and look directly into the lens. Don't forget to smile, or at least not to grimace. (Remember, you want governments to let you in to their country.)

Take several shots, trying different poses until you hit on a few you like. If you have a remote release for your camera, you can save yourself lots of running back and forth from the tripod to the modeling position

Self-portraits are perfect for experimenting with different "looks," which you might feel more self-conscious about when someone else is behind the camera. You can try different expressions and poses and erase the bad ones, and the world will never know the difference.