How to take self-portraits?

I was checking out the self-portraits thread and most of them are really AWESOME!. I tried to take it myself but most of them are OOF. How did you all do it? Please do share so newbies like me can learn.

Thank you!

Do you have a link to the thread?

I'm planning on doing self portraits in a day or two. I'll have my camera on a tripod, manual focused to where i'll be standing. I'll have a remote shutter cable, or maybe i'll use the timer. I'll have my lights triggered using radio slaves. That's as much planning as I think I need to do.

Just hold it in front of you with both hands. Hit the * button until you hear the sound. Shift around (hold the weight into the right hand) so that your index finger can click the shutter and then click. Note: only tried with the 18-55mm II. Your results may vary.

I was using softboxes. I had my main light in a 24x36 softbox set up with a vertical orientation. The top of the box was a little higher than my head so the logo was at head level. I set it on my mark so the side of the box with the logo would be on the same plane as my face. I focused on that, move the box back in position and took my mark. It worked pretty will.

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Using a box or other object to take your place and a fairly high f stop will give you the best chance of success. Focus on the box then turn off AF, take your place and shoot.

tim wrote in post #6082867
Do you have a link to the thread?

https://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthre​ad.php?t=365338

Nordly, that's a nice picture but you look Sad!

Thank you for all your suggestions! I will try that soon and post the pictures here.

I had a quick play today, I have a quick self portrait in my avatar, i'll do a big version once I refine the technique. I just had two AB800 strobes, one on side of me, behind me pointing down, on minimum power. Camera ISO100 F6.3. For a while I had a 580EX as well to bring out my head, but I took it off after a while. It was kinda fun and i'll keep playing around when I get time

Some good tips I've heard (but never bothered to implement) are 1) putting something where you plan to be located, camera on a tripod, focus on the object, set the lens to MF (unless you use the * to focus), move into position and shoot (timered or triggered). 2) When there's no/little ambient present, use a small flash light or laser pointer, holding it on the same plane as your eyes (or wherever you want the focus to be), use the auto-AF-point select mode (never use it, don't know the name of it), and use a trigger to lock focus. It should lock focus on the light (you may need to move the light around a little to find an AF point). Click.

The second method should allow you to use larger aperture for less DOF. Of course you can also shoot at smaller apertures w/ more DOF and just get close.

I hate the process of taking a s/p, but love/envy some of the results I've seen.

wirelss remote on ebay for $25 - half press to focus, full press to click.

elader wrote in post #6096066
wirelss remote on ebay for $25 - half press to focus, full press to click.

Is that the case even if you have CFn. 4 set to put the AF on the * button?

waterj2 wrote in post #6096800
Is that the case even if you have CFn. 4 set to put the AF on the * button?

hmmn, er... NO. It has to be half press on the shutter.

waterj2 wrote in post #6096800
Is that the case even if you have CFn. 4 set to put the AF on the * button?

No.
You have to set C.Fn 4 back to default 0 if you want auto focus with the remote..

Would a wireless remote work with my camera..Its a Canon A720 is

can you recomend a good setting..I usually use Auto mode & use the self timer (3 pics) so i have 3 chances to pose..i am NEVER happy with the results.