One sure fire way, as proven by many, to promote yourself as a purveyor of clichés is the ‘I’m a photographer selfie’.
You know it, of course you do. you’ve seen it a thousand times. The profile/website picture of the lone ‘photographer’ in a mirror (occasionally they are images taken by someone else of them taking pictures – if they have a friend).
Here’s one I prepared earlier…
If you must do it, be sure you follow this formula to create the perfect cliché.
- Wait until there is only you in the room or risk looking slightly more stupid than you do using the photograph as your profile picture on social networks.
- Ensure that the picture contains an indication of your brand loyalty. Usually Canon or Nikon (a photographic rivalry the equivalent of supporting the Portsmouth or Southampton football teams). Other brands are available, but whatever you do, to look like a real professional, use nothing smaller than a DSLR.
- Make sure one eye and half your mouth are showing and display either a smile or pensive thoughtful concentration (unfortunately being ‘left-eyed’ for medical reasons I was unable to demonstrate in this example).
- If you are lucky enough to have a friend. Get them to photograph you photographing them instead but do make sure you still comply with points two and three.
Whilst I’m poking fun of hundreds of thousands of photographers, there is a serious point here. Whether you’re trying to sell your services or just impress your friends and peers, surely you must be capable of applying a little creativity to the process of a selfie?
Give it some thought, and maybe use the self timer at least! It doesn’t take much more time and effort to produce something far more creative and original like this ‘selfie’ by an old friend of mine, Penny Fox.
Do you really want the first photograph people see when visiting your profile, page or website to be a total cliché?
Edit since publication: RIP Penny Fox – 16th November 2020, the world has lost a talented soul.
