-21 days: Why self-portraits?

"I paint self-portraits because I am so often alone, because I am the person I know best." -Frida Kahlo, painter.

Why take self-portraits?

Learn to put your best face forward. Many people hate being in front of the camera, I know several that made the specific choice to be behind the camera so they could avoid being in front of the lens. When you take a self-portrait everyday for a year, you will learn your angles, you learn how to position yourself in front of a camera, and you usually pick up some editing techniques along the way to minimize your flaws.

My skin is an issue for me. I have learned many techniques for how to edit the photo to make my skin look nice. Sometimes I don't care, but other times it is a detail I feel needs to be addressed with Photoshop ;)

You are your most convenient model. You are never without a model if you are willing to do self-portraits! Asking someone to pose for you can be a challenge, especially if you don't feel like leaving the house, and models can sometimes be unreliable. Your model won't ever show up to a photoshoot late if it is yourself ;) 

Explore and share your interests. You have complete control over your self-portrait, it is the perfect opportunity to analyze what your favorite things are and then share them! During my second 365 I did "Oz-month" for the month of May. I now have 31 days of Oz-themed photos because the books by L. Frank Baum have been very influential in my life. While planning that month I got to dig deeper into the books and learn even more about them.

Dressed up as Ozma of Oz during my second project.

See progress in yourself. A year can make a big difference in your appearance. By doing a portrait a day you will be creating a time capsule of yourself for that year. Because of my first 365 I have my entire 20th year of life to look back on. I know what I wore every day that year! With my second 365 I have most of my 24th year on record as well. The is going to be a tiny bit silly, but I can look back on my hair growth progess through my 365s, which is important to me! It may be something else for you, maybe weight loss or growing a beard, whatever it is, you can look back on it and see the changes.

During my first 365 project, I cut off over a foot of hair. I regret it now, but have the photos of the big cut to remind myself not to do it again.

Become humble. Some people might think that taking a self-portrait of yourself every day for a year is vain, but I would challenge anyone who said that to try it out! I have never been so humbled in my looks and in my photography skills as when I was doing my first 365. I felt ugly on many days and that I was foolish to ever think I was "good" at photography. Looking at your own face with all of its flaws blown up on a computer screen makes you the opposite of vain. You become aware of your flaws and will hopefully develop a realistic attitude about them. I eventually got tired of editing my bad skin during my 365 and now I am much more accepting of the skin I live in. It was a humbling process, not one that made me love my looks more.

-28 days: Why 365 days

Why do a year long photography project?

Several reasons!


Develop your photography skills. Any sort of skill takes time and dedication to develop. Committing to a 365 day project is hard work, but by exercising your photography skills every day you will be virtually guaranteed to see a difference at the end of the year. The time you invest in being creative and thoughtful will reward you with a keen eye and better pictures.

Photos from the beginning and the end of my first 365 project. Definitely a difference in creativity, composition, and technique.
Practice self-discipline and commitment. When was the last time you began and finished such a big project that was just for yourself? You may have others keeping you accountable for your 365, but when it comes down to it, the only person you let down if you fail is yourself. You can take a huge amount of pride in yourself for being disciplined enough to persist in this endeavor.


Record your life. Doing a photo project for a whole year is basically like keeping a visual diary. You will be able to look back at your year and see the challenges that you faced and how you overcame them. Also, your 365 may have been something you started for yourself, but 10 years down the line, it may be a collection of photos your children will enjoy looking through to see what their parent's life was like in 2014.

I was sick on New Year's Eve of my second 365. I probably wouldn't remember that if I hadn't taken a photo and written it down.
Learn more about yourself. During my first 365 I first realized that I was almost a hermit when I wasn't in classes. I had to make a big effort to get outside and step outside my comfort zone. I knew that I was a homebody, but didn't realize how much of one I was until my photos revealed it to me!

-31 days: 365 project #3

Hello! I'm Xenia, most reading this probably know me already, but I wanted to do an introduction post for those that don't. I'm 25, currently living in Anchorage, Alaska, married to an Army soldier, and this will be my third 365 self-portrait project. By the time I *start* the project on January 01st, 2014, I will have finished my Bachelor's degree in Art, emphasis in photography.

I got my first digital camera for Christmas 2003--when I was fifteen--and started taking self-portraits right away. I had NO idea what I was doing, but I liked learning and enjoyed the bonding that occurred by sharing pictures with my online friends. It was a 1.3 megapixel camera with no viewing screen, but it had a self-timer, so I began experimenting. I did have friends who occasionally modeled for me, but I was somewhat embarrassed to ask to take pictures of them, so I stuck with self-portraits.

My first 365 project began on my 20th birthday (September 20, 2008), I wanted to capture my "golden" year (when you turn the age of the day of the month you were born it is known as your "golden birthday") in photo form. I began the year with a picture of myself with my parents, because without them I wouldn't be who I am.

My second 365 began on the day my husband deployed for the 3rd time (November 28, 2011). It was my first winter in Alaska (and my first time living by myself), I didn't have many friends, and I knew I was going to need motivation to get dressed every day to prevent myself from slipping into a depression, so I resolved to keep myself accountable to my internet friends.

Now that I'm on my third 365 project, I sort of feel like a ~pro at this sort of thing, so I wanted to create this blog to encourage others to begin and finish their own 365s. I have seen many people begin these projects, but lose steam and quit part way through. 365s are a BIG commitment, but I feel like I have learned SO much through them (both about photography and about myself) that I recommend them to everyone.

I'm looking forward to this challenge and I am hoping that those reading this will be inspired to begin their own projects! Leave a comment if you are planning to do a 365 this January (or any time soon, really), or if you have any questions. Looking forward to hearing from you!

-Xenia

P.S. Happy Hanukkah!