5 Questions to Ask Yourself Before Making Your First Self-Portrait

Self-portraiture isn't just about capturing how you look, it's about revealing how you feel. Whether you're picking up a camera, a brush, or just staring at a blank canvas, creating a self-portrait can be a deeply emotional and transformative experience. But before you begin, here are 5 powerful questions to ask yourself that can shape your process, intention, and final outcome.

1. What am I really trying to express?

Ask yourself: Is it sadness, rage, power, vulnerability, confusion… or something unnamed? Your self-portrait should feel like a mirror, not just of your face, but of your internal state. Pinpointing the emotion helps you choose everything from the pose and lighting to the texture and medium. It doesn’t have to be obvious or literal. It just has to feel real to you.

2. What part of myself am I afraid to show?

The most compelling self-portraits often come from the rawest parts of ourselves, the places we usually hide. Is it your insecurity, your anger, your softness, or your darkness? Your self-portrait can be the safe space to explore that part without judgment. In fact, that tension between what we hide and what we reveal often becomes the emotional pull of the artwork.

3. Do I want to be seen… or understood?

There's a difference between wanting to be seen and wanting to be understood. Some portraits scream, “Look at me!” Others whisper, “Can you feel what I feel?” Deciding your intention will change your approach, whether you create something dramatic and performative, or subtle and deeply intimate.

4. What visual metaphors speak for me?

Self-portraits don’t need to be literal. Symbols, textures, lighting, shadows, and objects can often say more than facial expression ever could. A cracked surface, a blindfold, a swarm of hands, an oversized garment, a veil of smoke, what metaphor represents your inner world?

5. Am I willing to let go of perfection?

Your first self-portrait might feel awkward. You may hate your face in it, or second-guess every decision. That’s okay. The goal isn’t perfection, it’s honesty. Allow the process to feel a bit uncomfortable. Let the image evolve. Sometimes, what looks “wrong” at first glance ends up being the most authentic part of the piece.

Final Thoughts

Making a self-portrait is like writing a diary entry with your body and your tools. It’s vulnerable, raw, and sometimes even healing. Ask yourself these questions before you begin,

and then, let your intuition take over.