Are you your own model?

[Anthropologeek]

Taking pictures it's hard, just plain hard...but taking pictures of your own, say your hand, it's a lot harder! I was laughing out loud the other day as I contorted myself into a very weird position so I could take some shots of a ring on my hand. Is this just me or does this happen to someone else???

I would appreciate any tips that you would like to share and any equipment useful for this purpose.

Happy Monday everyone!!!
Aracely

[HullStreetStudio]

Ha been there! Get a camera remote! They're only like ten bucks and definitely a life saver (or at the very least you won't hurt yourself contorting)

[Former_Member]

Thank you for sharing, Aracely :) I smiled when I read your post, because I have problems with my own models, too. They are my cats, in my case! Some days they are patient and sit still for hours while I put cat toys around them... but other days they want NOTHING to do with helping me, no matter how much I bribe them with treats or a new toy of their own.

Good luck to you for getting the perfect shot!

[Anthropologeek]

That is hilarious Kelly! They can be a diva/o from what I hear...lol!

[Orchiada]

LOL, yeah I am my own model. However, I have not done any pics with my jewelry on me in my recent listings. My hubby would take the pics, but it is funny he laughs while I try to look like a model, I mean like a real model. I tell him if I am modeling this jewelry and posting it for everyone to see I can not be looking any kinda way. LOL

[Former_Member]

I find my models on this team:

https://www.etsy.com/teams/10745/boutique-models-photographers-for-etsy

[Former_Member]

We are our own models but we are a team so it makes it easier. I suggest getting a friend to help take pics if you're on a budget like we are:)

[harmonyandsage]

I am my own model. It can be challenging at times. I try and get my sister to model as much as she can.

[Winterwomandesigns]

Aracely, your pictures of you hand are quite nice! You have nice hands - mine are all rough from working on bicycles, so I'd never photograph my hands. I do use my wrists tho, but I keep my fingers out of the shot.
I get my husband to model my men's bracelets. Normally he is very accommodating & happy to help, but once he was watching a football game and he didn't want to leave the den, so I took the bracelet, the camera and the white cloth into the den, opened all the blinds for light, put the white cloth on the arm of the couch, put the bracelet on his wrist, took a few shots, re-positioned his hand, took a few more shots all while he was watching the game. The shots came out pretty good!

[Former_Member]

Ha ha! I am my own model, too and have had many of those experiences. You'll never see both my hands in my shots, because the other one's always holding the camera. :) It works for me, though.
And, It looks like it's working for you, Aracely-- I like your photos! As long as you're not injuring yourself in your contortions, I'd say you're doing well. :)
But, if you don't want to contort, you could always use a tripod (or just prop your camera up on something), in conjunction with the camera's self timer. The remotes sound really handy, but I haven't gone there because it's not within my budget...
Good luck. :)

[vintagebydd]

i am my own model. to be honest, it is the easiest to go thru a ton of shots than waiting on other people. even if you feel stupid.

I can imagine hand modelling is a little different... perhaps buy a mannequin?

[Anthropologeek]

Lol on the hurting yourself Erica!!! I think part if my problem is that I use my iPhone for my photos...yikes, am I bad or what??? I bet I am going to get yelled at, but the only camera I want it's about $500 and I am not about to spend that kind of money on a camera. I have children to feed!

[Anthropologeek]

Thanks Jean! Hey whatever we have to do right? I can imagine me doing that with my husband, but he would be in bed... ;)

[Former_Member]

No.
I'm not pretty.
I'm not thin.
And I can't make my body do that "Contortionist" thing....where skinny peeps stand like they have something wrong with their spine.

In other peeps listings I can't get past the actual person in the image....what is it, what are you selling, why is that girl standing like that, why are those nylons torn?

[NatashasDesignz]

Lol, had to laugh when I read your status, I too have the same problem.

I have a camera that i place on a Tripod then have to twist to an awkward angle then press the clicker on the camera

I've full sympathy for you as Photo Taking is not easy at all x

[NatashasDesignz]

Lol Crudeco you have just mentioned me in your comment, lol

[BZFingers]

Yes, I am modeling for all BZ Fingers gloves.
And very much agree with Natasha :) Tripod is a saver for me + 10 sec self-timer.
I take as many shots as I want and choose the best. Often I have to "hug" my camera to get all those gloves-hearts pictures and stand in an awkward position. Very happy no one sees me at those moments they would die laughing :D
For maternity clothes I use my friends.
<3 Thanks God I have some mommies with kids around.
For

[beatroad]

GIRL... if you only knew.

Yes, I model with my own hand. All I can say is thank goodness people can't see the weird positions I have to get into sometimes to model and photograph at the same time.

[Former_Member]

That's so funny! Nobody would buy anything off me if I had to do my own modelling.

Luckily for me though I have 2 beautiful teenage daughters who are happy to do it for me. (Oh, as long as they have just done their hair, out of their PJ's or school uniform, just done their nails etc etc!!) :)

[EmeraldWellspring]

yep, i model my own stuff. usually my boyfriend photographs me, but recently we got a new camera with a timer on it and a tripod so i can do it myself if i have to. still not always easy to do by myself even with the tripod cause it's hard to tell exactly how to position the camera when i'm not standing in front of it. definitely helps, though.

well done on your photographs. :)
cheers!

[SalemStyle]

I am my own model! It took a very long time to get it down right. I still think a lot of my pictures come out bizarre. I hold the camera way way out and move it only slightly every time I take a picture. I think I take about 50 pictures for each item. It's nice because like I don't have to worry about anyone elses schedule but my own haha, but it's a little challenging.

I do have a few friends who have agreed to be my models. I am looking forward to seeing how that goes.

[SwooshbyScrollwork]

I'm surprised that so far only one commenter has said anything about using the 10-second timer on the camera. I use my point-and-shoot, and the countdown beeps remind me of when I used to work at Burger King and the French fries were due for lifting out of the boiling oil. Not the most serene way to work, but you wouldn't know it from the pictures. My pretend model self looks carefree, haha! I must be a frustrated actress (no, not really.)

[Former_Member]

I seem to have a lot of luck getting people to model for me nowadays, I'm really grateful because I totally remember those days of extreme contortions hahaha. Quite often my boyfriend will model for me and then he'll take pictures of me wearing the things I've made as well so I don't have to do it by myself, and my mum seems to enjoy modelling for me too.

[TreeCraftDiary]

Me too! I am my own finger and hand model! But I never took photo with me wearing necklaces coz I just can't take it myself :)
You are not alone :D

[Former_Member]

Haha definitely have contorted myself in some of my pics but I try to use one of my friends or my boyfriend and have them take my pic for me. Just sometimes I want to get an item posted before anyone is free to help me so I take it upon myself to take my own pics, I also use a tripod and timer to take pics of the scarves and hats.