How to take homemade photos to quick-start your book

If you don't have much experience yet and you still don't have a book, keep on reading to learn how to take some photos by yourself that will be perfect for your Litmind profile and also to present yourself to agencies and recruiters.

Let's first take a look at what kind of photos you should avoid in your profile and in your book:

Never keep this photos in your book:

  • The usual poor quality selfies.
  • Casual "tourist" photos, party photos, holiday pictures, photos of you hanging out with friends and other similar photos.
  • Screenshots look really sloppy, crop them before uploading!
  • Photos where you cannot be clearly seen, or where you appear too small, blurry …
  • Extreme digitally retouched photos, collages, fake magazine covers …
  • Erotic photos or simply bad quality spicy photos.

Here's what you'll need

  • A digital camera is recommended, but you can try using your smartphone if it takes great photos.
  • A tripod or support of some kind. You should be able to place you camera at chest's height steadily.
  • Someplace with a uniform wall texture: No corners, no pictures on the wall, no furniture … we're looking for the most simplistic background you can find. If the wall is white, even better!
  • Choosing the proper clothing is important. You should chose clothes that let your figure be seen: Do not use loose or thick clothes. Try the following:

    If you're a girl:

    • Jeans, shorts or leggings that fit you nicely.
    • A shirt. Better if it has short sleeves.
    • High heels, or barefoot!

    If you're a guy:

    • Jeans that fit you nicely.
    • A t-shirt or a shirt, preferably white and with short sleeves.
    • Any shoes, or barefooted.

Get ready

If you're a girl, don't use makeup, or just a very thin, natural-looking make-up! The best polaroids are those showing an all-natural model, where your real face features can be clearly seen. Don't worry if you don't find yourself as pretty as you would like to, noone's skin is perfect without any makeup. Remember that polaroids are natural above all.

Let your hair loose, just to see how long you have it. If you have really long hair, go for a ponytail in some of the shots so it doesn't cover your face.

Don't use sunglasses. If you use reading glasses, take some photos with them and some others without.

Camera and room setup

  • Setup your camera to the highest quality preset: Maximum resolution and maximum JPG quality. Deactivate any black and white, sepia or beauty modes, we're looking for true-to-life color photos.
  • Setup the camera in automatic mode..
  • Place the camera in such a way that it stays steadily at the same height as your chest.
  • If you can, turn the camera 90 degrees to take portrait photos (tall, vertical photos) instead of landscape (wide, horizontal photos)
  • Open the blinds and the curtains, we want all the light we can get! Be sure to do this with plenty of daylight.
  • If you can't manage to get a really bright room, turn on your camera flash.
  • Learn how the delayed photo shutter of your camera works so you'll have some seconds to pose before each photo.
  • Point the camera straight to an empty wall, and as far as possible. Then use the zoom to make the photos show your entire body.

Take the photos

How to pose? It's actually quite easy, polaroid photos like the ones we want are really natural, so don't even need to struggle for complex poses. First, prepare yourself:

  • Place yourself in close to the wall, but don't lean on it.
  • Try your best to remove anything from the photo that's not you and the wall.
  • Take some test photos until everything looks ok.

Now, go on and take at least the following photos:

Photo 1, facing the camera

  • Point your body to the camera.
  • Don't hold your entire weight on just one leg, use both.
  • Let your arms fall down or put one of them in your pocket. Don't cross your arms.
  • Don't try to force your chest out, simply act relaxed.
  • Point your head to the camera and stare at it.
  • You'll feel like a robot. Perfect, that's the pose!

Photo 2, sideways

  • The same as before, but 90 degrees to the right or to the left. Keep your head also 90 degrees from the camera just like your body.
  • Don't stare at the camera for this one!

Photo 3, three quarters

  • This time go for an intermediate angle of around 45 degrees. Keep your head pointing in the same direction as your body.
  • Just to add a little diversity, try to hold some of your weight with one leg. Cross them, or whatever pose you find comfortable.
  • If you feel more natural, place one of your hands in your hips.

Photo 4, your face

  • Adjust the zoom of the camera so only your head and your shoulders can be seen on the image.
  • Take a photo with you staring at the camera.

These are some common mistakes:

  • With the three first photos, ensure all your body can be seen: From head to toes! If that's not the case, change the zoom in your camera, or move it further away.
  • If the photos look too dark or blurry, turn on all the lights on the room. If it's still dark, turn on the flash of your camera.

Now that you already have your improvised photo studio ready, why not trying some not-so-conventinal photos? Here are some ideas:

  • Take some extra photos trying to look sad, happy or even laughing.
  • If you have long hair, take a photo with a ponytail so your face and neck contour can be seen.
  • Try some medium planes: From hips to head.
  • One photo facing backwards is not a bad idea for a polaroid book.

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