Photographer Spotlight

Creative Challenge: Self Portrait

July 15, 2020

This week I challenged you to share yourself with us! I figured this challenge would be a great way for our community to connect and see the faces behind all the beautiful art that you share 💖

I hope you too can find inspiration and motivation in this challenge to pursue your own creative endeavours!

Join the groups to get involved with this week’s creative challenge!
Fairytales and Fantasy & The Color Lab Collective.

Alessandra Casiraghi
I do a lot of self portraits but this one is something special.
I’m a professional photographer from a long time, when I was a student i loved to create fantasy and creative concepts for my photoshoots, but when I started to work for companies and studios i completely lost my passion.
This self portrait was the first artistic one after years of commercial stuff. This photo helped me to understand that I needed to bring back art and passion in my photography.

by Angie McGee
‘The Tomb Raider’
Self portraits are so challenging…but extremely fun! I love having the creative freedom of working by myself 😊

Annika Hanny Hansmann
These are my selfportraits! They are all so different to my normal work! I create these for trying out ideas or go wild with makeup! I put a before and after in it as well!
I hope you like it!

Annika Hanny Hansmann
These are my selfportraits! They are all so different to my normal work! I create these for trying out ideas or go wild with makeup! I put a before and after in it as well!
I hope you like it!

Avery Holland
Hey Guys, Here are a few of my first ever self portraits I shot during lockdown. Hope you like them 😊

Avery Holland
Hey Guys, Here are a few of my first ever self portraits I shot during lockdown. Hope you like them 😊

Candice Vice
I’ve always wanted to step into fantasy photography, and I figured I’s start with myself.
This is my rendition of a Peacock Queen.

Carrie Lewis
Self portrait challenge. Inspo is my belief that you can have your head in the clouds and reach for what you dream of, even if you fall. Old work, but I hope you enjoy it!
Dress is a wedding dress dyed blue. Shot this in my driveway and composited it.

Diana Teodorescu
This is the firs time posting here. I would love to create beautiful fairytale images but for now here’s my entry for this challenge of self portrait.

Diana Teodorescu
This is the firs time posting here. I would love to create beautiful fairytale images but for now here’s my entry for this challenge of self portrait.

Dominika Klimczak
Spirit Animal

Emily Flip
During our 2 months lockdown in Singapore, II did 3 self portraits to pass time and this is one of them! I collected fallen branches in the field below my house and painted them gold in the afternoon, then proceeded to create this self portrait in the evening 💖
I was inspired by Davinci’s Mona Lisa and wanted to recreate it in my own style!
This was also shot in my mini piano room! It was challenging but fun nonetheless!

Eva Blanchard Arce
I am not my favorite subject to photograph but like Frida Kahlo said “I paint myself because I am what I know best”

Eva Duve Creel‎
Any photo of me is most likely a self-portrait. This one I had a camera on timelapse and a leaf blower to keep my son interested.

Gaïa May-Ly
I make so much self-portrait, it’s quite difficult to choose only one picture… But this one was symbolic for me. We can tell so much things by self-portrait, it’s my way to talk instead of using words.

Gizzy Lovett
I‘m by no means a pro and mostly take them when I experiment with make-up but it‘s always fun to create a self portrait. 😊

Ivana Karina Figueroa
I posted this here before, but I think it’s my latest and new favorite self portrait of mine, so thought it fit in this week’s challenge. Fantasy is one of my favorite themes, and I love creating different characters from the same person.
Color toned with Orange Dahlia and Midsummer’s Dream for a smooth mixture of cold and warm tones.

Jana Freya
I am not sure if I fit the general aesthetic going on in this group with this, but I wanted to share it for a personal reason.
Earlier this year the great artist Qinni passed away. She was one of my all time favorite artists on and off because I had a time where I was a bit away from media and artists. When I came back, and read that she was gone, it was terrible. Many artists, cosplayer, painters, 3D-people, Models gathered together and posted tributes to/for her. She wanted to finish one of her pieces so badly, that she planned on re-drawing. It was called “Breath of life”.
Her style was heavily influenced by stars / the galaxy / universe and fish.I recreated her “Starred Freckles” piece.
She planned on publishing an art book, which she never were able to do. So one person from the community made a instagram profile dedicated to her and collected artworks from people all over the world, to be published in a book dedicated to her. As far as I know the earnings will go to her family members.
My piece was chosen to be published in there. That’s why it has a sentimental value.

Jonny Edward
The vast majority of these were created during the extended period of lockdown in my state–Colorado–here in the US.
That whole experience forced me to retreat and go inward, to reconnect with myself as an artist and individual. It wasn’t comfortable, but it was needed, and I did my best to make the most of that time and opportunity.
Ultimately, delving into self-portraiture spurned a powerful period of transformation that I am still moving through.

Jonny Edward
The vast majority of these were created during the extended period of lockdown in my state–Colorado–here in the US.
That whole experience forced me to retreat and go inward, to reconnect with myself as an artist and individual. It wasn’t comfortable, but it was needed, and I did my best to make the most of that time and opportunity.
Ultimately, delving into self-portraiture spurned a powerful period of transformation that I am still moving through.

Kendra Anderson
I got this wig and crown combo on Amazon, with no specific plan for them, so I decided to put them on for my 33rd birthday this year and do a photo-shoot 💜💜💜 (The parasol is from my wedding 6 years ago. I have no idea where I got it.)
I used the color replace tool to turn the bushes purple, made my other fun adjustments and then applied the lovely Inca Gold action from The Color Lab.
The black Iris was only used in the one image, but it was actually the jumping off point for this shoot. They grow in my garden and I just love the frilly petals with the deep purple color.

Kendra Anderson
I got this wig and crown combo on Amazon, with no specific plan for them, so I decided to put them on for my 33rd birthday this year and do a photo-shoot 💜💜💜 (The parasol is from my wedding 6 years ago. I have no idea where I got it.)
I used the color replace tool to turn the bushes purple, made my other fun adjustments and then applied the lovely Inca Gold action from The Color Lab.
The black Iris was only used in the one image, but it was actually the jumping off point for this shoot. They grow in my garden and I just love the frilly petals with the deep purple color.

Kervz Roek Encarnación
I planned to do a new photo but time has been an issue.
I painted the blood cause I couldnt find any stock photo that could work.
Im just living in a moment in my life where everything seem strange and twisted.

Kika Van Aken
I do a lot of self portraits because I love shapeshifting, so it was hard to choose just one (can I upload more? haha) but this is my most recent one 😊😇
The eyes are all makeup illusion! 👁️
“Be not afraid”
MUA/Model/Photography – Kika von Macabre
Head- & chestpiece – Hysteria Machine

Kitty S Mortensen
This is one of my favorite series I’ve made as self portraits. It was very hard to choose just one of the images.
Makeup and hair is done by amazing Zainab Al Saadi
Chestpiece/modelling and photography is done by me.

Leigh Schneider
New work on mental health/depression.
First shoot in my own little home studio.

Linda Friesen
I am a couturier from The Netherlands. I specialize mainly in custom tailored couture wedding dresses, evening gowns, day wear and the occasional costume.
All of my work is inspired by the fantasy and fairytale genre.
I started sewing costumes for myself when I was about 14 in 2000. The same year I went to my first fantasy fair. In 2007 while studying fashion design I started my first little label Mirror Clothing creating gothic and lolita dresses. In 2009 I graduated and I started my couture label as well, creating more artistic collections. Some years later Mirror became 4 ‘O Clock, a rather well known indie lolita label. And in 2015 I merged 4 ‘O Clock and Linda Friesen together under “Linda Friesen”. My lolita label had grown up and my artistic designs became more wearable couture gowns. And now 5 years later I find myself creating wedding and evening gowns for clients around the world.
I have little time to create new collections now, but I do try to create a dress every now and then to add to my own collection. One of them being The Dark Angel dress I am wearing in this photo. I think this design really sums up my style aesthetic and love for the (dark) fairytale look. I always aim to create a story with my designs. But I always make sure the design will not overpower the wearer.
My boyfriend created the photo and helped me edit it. Everything else was done by me.

Lucia Giri
I am Slovakian living in India. And it is not always the most easiest thing. In this series titled Within My Indian World I portrayed what India gave me and what it took from me.

Lucia Giri
I am Slovakian living in India. And it is not always the most easiest thing. In this series titled Within My Indian World I portrayed what India gave me and what it took from me.

Marije Dijkema
I loooove creating self portraits, it really feels like ‘me-time’.

Meghan MacAskill
During quarantine I took my first EVER self portraits.

Meghan MacAskill
During quarantine I took my first EVER self portraits.

Molly Baber
I’m not usually one for selfies but here I am. I shot this a couple of years ago but edited recently! I wish my ears were naturally shaped like this.

Nevski Ivanov
Everyone knows the famous painting, this time my wife and I decided to make a Bulgarian version. This is a restaurant that we used for decor so it was delicious тоо ..

Patrycja Marciniak
I think I already posted one of these a few months back, but here they are as my entry for #bellakotakchallenge. Which one do you like better? I had a hard time deciding! 🦋
I shot these during the lockdown at the beginning of the pandemic. I suffer from depression that gets worse during autumn-winter season, so I’m always longing for spring. However this year, due to lockdown, I couldn’t enjoy spring – my tiny apartament doesn’t even have a decent balcony, so I was stuck between four walls. These photos are supposed to express my longing for being outside and experiencing the season that I’ve been waiting so long for.
Photo and model: Patrycja Marciniak Photography (with the assistance of my boyfriend, it was a challenge to do anything with fake butterflies glued to my eyelids!)

Patrycja Marciniak
I think I already posted one of these a few months back, but here they are as my entry for #bellakotakchallenge. Which one do you like better? I had a hard time deciding! 🦋
I shot these during the lockdown at the beginning of the pandemic. I suffer from depression that gets worse during autumn-winter season, so I’m always longing for spring. However this year, due to lockdown, I couldn’t enjoy spring – my tiny apartament doesn’t even have a decent balcony, so I was stuck between four walls. These photos are supposed to express my longing for being outside and experiencing the season that I’ve been waiting so long for.
Photo and model: Patrycja Marciniak Photography (with the assistance of my boyfriend, it was a challenge to do anything with fake butterflies glued to my eyelids!)

Renee Robyn
Tried another self portrait… Got a new nightgown and couldn’t wait to find a model to test it out.

Roderique Arisiaman
This self-portrait has been sitting on my drive for a while now and I never got round to posting it. But here it is, when I still had an epic beard and moustache. This photo was taken by the talented Yvette Leur during a shoot day we had with Lieke Anna Haertjens. It doesn’t show here but I was wearing an amazing dress that looked so great on me and it felt amazing to wear it. We had such a great day, even though the sun and wind got in the way of the intended concept.
Photo and Styling: Yvette Antoinette
Edit: Dracorubio
Dress: @shopofcolours Amersfoort

Sabrina Macabre
Here’s one from last year, probably the most complicated since I was blindfolded 🦋

Sara Erdjka
So the challenge is self-portrait and for me it’s quite hard : i love feminity and softness… and i’m the opposite.
I have done this self portrait during the last month to illustrate the sentence of a friend : don’t be a princess, be a legend
The armor and sword are my fencing costume.

Sissela Ørnholt Johansson
I did a small self-portrait session back in April when I was feeling locked and contained in my work from the pandemic.

Sissela Ørnholt Johansson
I did a small self-portrait session back in April when I was feeling locked and contained in my work from the pandemic.

Stacy Zacharias
I’ve been in a dry spell creatively. I told a friend I should do one of Bella’s challenges so he gave me a deadline, which I’m so grateful for! I shot this image weeks ago and the flowers a few weeks before that. I finally sat down today to put them together with a little Celestial Dreams and Another Realm actions from the Color Lab for toning.
🖤
“Never in my life
had I felt myself so near
that porous line
where my own body was done with
and the roots and the stems and the flowers began.”
-excerpt from Mary Oliver’s poem “White Flowers”
🖤

Syd Indman
“Mobius”
My favorite self-portrait, done as a lighting study. Cloned the hairband I was wearing to make the headpiece and used a displacement map and blend modes to overlay the pattern :). One of the images that feels like it expresses *me.*

Tanja Stieg
I took these self portraits some years ago. The only staged self portraits I ever made.
I’m not a photographer, I just had this stunning apartment in Paris, my normal camera, available light and some clothes out of my suitcase.
No professional shots, especially in terms of technique, but I still hope you like them.

Tatiana Kalyuzhina-Kononenko
Self Portrait 🧚‍♀️

Tatiana Pimentel
Hello everyone! Just taking the time to finally introduce myself. My name is Tatiana and I am a Fantasy Photography Model! I do alot of fun and amazing shoots with Joy Marshall from @thewitchinghourphotography. I’ve been really enjoying seeing everyones post on this page. Everything looks amazing! I hope you all have a lovely and safe day! Sending virtual social distance hugs! 💜🔮🧚🏽‍♀️

Tina Tran Nguyen
This is part of my attempt for a future project with some friends with the theme of Tarot cards. I was assigned XI – Justice. I constructed the “dress” myself and had my sister helped taking the photo. For toning, I used Regal and Once Upon a Time along with some ICP! 😄

Ulrike Burrmann
I started self portraits in 2014 and it’s how I came to photography. First I just wanted to capture my makeup looks, but over the time they became more meaningful to me.

Ulrike Burrmann
I started self portraits in 2014 and it’s how I came to photography. First I just wanted to capture my makeup looks, but over the time they became more meaningful to me.

Vanessa Cedeno
I used a combination of Iris, Moonstruck and Strange Magic from The Color Lab to create this challenging image.

Vanessa Skotnitsky
Self portraits is mainly what I do, so hard to pick only one!

Veronica Pizzimento

Whitney Kelly
I’ve always enjoyed doing self-portraits, because it’s how I started my career and it continues to be a therapeutic outlet that I can do without anxiety. Here’s my #bellakotakchallenge for self-portraits, both from this year.

Yinsey Wang
Sometimes I get that nervousness before posting something when I’ve tried something new (eek!)… and I am definitely getting it right now! I thought to try the amazing Kate Woodman’s Celestial Skies collection and that’s what I did, using the method of putting the backdrop as a top layer. Colour toned with Nostalgia, Moonstruck and Sense and Sensuality.
I returned to this previous self portrait and used it to practice! So here we go… not very experienced with digital backdrops and a little uncertain about how successful I have been, but thought to be brave and include in the roster for this week’s #bellakotakchallenge on #selfportraits!

Thank you everyone for your submissions!

To join this week’s challenge and for a chance to get featured yourself –
join the groups, read the rules, and share away 🙂

The Color Lab Collective
Fairytales and Fantasy

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