Before the Self-Portrait, Start Here
Why expectations shape how we see ourselves in photos
Before you ever step in front of the camera, there’s a quieter moment that matters more than lighting, posing, or technique. It’s the moment where you ask yourself: What am I expecting to see and WHY? For many photographers, self-portraiture isn’t uncomfortable because of the camera. It’s uncomfortable because of the expectations we bring with us.
Why Self-Portraits Feel Harder Than They Should
Disappointment often isn’t about failure, it’s about the gap between expectation and reality. When we approach self-portraits carrying unexamined beliefs about how our bodies should look, how emotions should show up, or what makes an image “good,” the camera can feel confrontational instead of curious.
Many of us were never shown bodies like ours expressing confidence, softness, grief, joy, or power. So when we see ourselves doing those things — especially in photographs — it can feel wrong, awkward, or embarrassing. Not because it is wrong. But because it’s unfamiliar. Self-portraiture asks us to stay anyway.
Questions to Ask Before You Take the Photo
Instead of starting with a pose or an outfit, start with curiosity. Use these questions as a grounding exercise before you photograph yourself or while reviewing your images.
About Your Body
What do I expect my body to look like in this pose?
Where did that expectation come from?
How do I feel when my body doesn’t meet it?
At what point do I believe my body becomes worthy of being photographed?
About Emotion
How do I expect this emotion to look on my body?
Which emotions feel uncomfortable or “performative” for me to see?
What emotions do I rarely see bodies like mine expressing?
About Photography
What makes a photo “good” in my mind?
Do I value technical perfection more than emotional truth?
How do I feel when an image is imperfect but honest?
There are no right answers here. Only information.
Your Images Are Information, Not a Verdict
One of the most important shifts in self-portrait work is this: Your images are not proof of failure or success. They’re data. They show you how you hold emotion, where discomfort lives, and what stories surface when expectations aren’t met. When we stop asking images to validate our worth, they become something else entirely: a conversation instead of a judgment.
A Course That Starts With Compassion
Love Thy Self(ie): A Self-Portrait Course on Body Image & Emotional Storytelling with Teri Hofford is designed for photographers who want to explore self-portraiture without pressure, performance, or perfection.
Inside the course, Teri guides you through both the emotional and technical sides of self-portrait work, including:
examining body image with honesty and care
using self-portraits as emotional data
lighting, composition, and editing for feeling, not flawlessness
three approaches to self-portraiture: traditional, hybrid, and collage
This course isn’t about learning how to like every photo of yourself. It’s about learning how to stay present with yourself when you don’t.
Why This Work Comes First
Self-portraiture isn’t about fixing your body or forcing confidence. It’s about allowing yourself to be seen, as you are, right now. Before new techniques. Before better images. This is the work that changes how you show up for everything else.
Love Thy Self(ie) is available inside Unraveled Academy, alongside hundreds of courses on photography, editing, and creative growth.
If self-portrait work has ever felt tender, confronting, or out of reach, this is a gentle place to begin. Join us.
