Self-Portrait Planning
For this one checkpoint, create both the planning and then take your photo to complete the two parts of the one checkpoint
Planning
Overview
A photo of yourself is important because it is something that represents you in a visual representation of you online. Photographing and creating your profile photo is important.
Clothing
Dress in clothes and accessories that matches your style and represents you...but make sure there is an element of professionalism.
Environment
Choosing your background is very important to the photo; you want to choose a setting that symbolizes you. The most important is that it is contrasting color to yourself to make you stand out. You may find a good background color or texture (e.g. brick wall) outside that you may want to pose against.
Pose
Be creative in your pose; it should represent you. If you are a funny guy, that should be seen in your pose or facial expressions. If you are a deep thinker, show that. Try some photos looking at the camera but usually it is better not to look at the camera so try some of those poses.
Lighting
Having the right lighting for your photo is crucial. Avoid using a flash unless it is a bright day and you are only using it a secondary light source. Be creative in how you use natural light from the sun.
Size
Your profile and portrait photos will later be cropped to be a square so keep your composition in mind when taking your photos.
Examples
Read the tips and follow these guidelines when you later take your photos.
The Bad
View the examples & slide tips on portraits. Send an email to posterous and in the body of the email, describe your idea for your profile photo. Be sure to describe your clothing, environment, pose, lighting, etc (shown below). Be specific. Photo #1 is your first idea and Photo #2 is your backup idea. You have to photography at least one of the two.
Also include a couple photo pose ideas that you found on the Internet by ctrl + clicking on the photo and choosing copy photo link/location and pasting it into your Posterous.
Example
Read this additional information to learn more about how to take photos.
There are two types of photos, profile and portrait. Profile photos are used as an image representation of you on various online web applications. The focus of the photo is your head so others can easily recognize who you are. The focus for the portrait photo is more creativity, background, and composition. To take these photos, either use self-timer or ask someone to take the photo for you but you need to set up the photo and tell them how to take it.
Photograph your profile photo using the photo concepts learned and use your plan (see above) from a previous photo checkpoint if still relevant. For this profile photo, your face should fill the screen at about 40-70% of the whole photo since profile photo icons are small on the web and should be easily distinguishable. Post at least four variations of two totally different profile photos to a new album in your Picasa named "Profile" and email the link and embed code to your posterous. Upload the large original photo files to posterous as well.
Email the link of the album to at least two people and ask them to help you choose the best photos by making comments beneath your top photos in you Picasa album.
I will view your photos online or in class and give you feedback. If you are an online summer class, email me your Picasa photo album. After I give you approval on the quality photos, upload that photo to MF Picasa under profile photo. If there are no potential photos you may have to take new ones.