Self-Portrait Photography: Explore Color and Light
A course by Sofie Sund, Photographer
Learn to take artistic self-portrait photos that evoke a mood with a focus on color and lighting
Self-portrait photography can be a portal to personal discovery. For photographer Sofie Sund, this art form opened up a world of possibilities, helping her connect with her authentic self and express emotions that only images can capture. Inspired by her feelings and experiences, she experiments with different techniques to create meaningful pieces that have led to collaborations with clients like Adobe, Canon, and Sony.
In this online course, learn to shoot and edit artistic self-portraits that reflect your true essence. Explore the use of color, light, and props to create evocative photos with both a camera and a smartphone. Capture expressive images that provide a glimpse into your inner world.
What will you learn in this online course?
17 lessons & 15 downloads
What's included in this course?
Start by getting to know Sofie as she discusses how she ventured out into the world of photography and walks you through some of her most important projects. Spark your creativity by going over the artists who have molded her style.
Discover how to draw inspiration from your feelings and memories, conveying your ideas using the principles of color theory. Explore ways to experiment with lighting in your photos to adjust the mood and atmosphere of your pieces.
Take a look at the equipment and props you need before putting together a mood board to prepare and plan your photos. Sofie then shows you how to arrange your set, revealing some of her go-to tips and tricks.
Time to shoot! Begin by learning to shape the light to create interesting effects in your first image. Then take a second photo experimenting with long exposure and movement. Wrap up by working with natural light to shoot your third and last piece, exploring different techniques with both a camera and a smartphone.
Once your photos are ready, learn to edit them in Snapseed, VSCO, Camera Raw, and Photoshop. Sofie finishes up the course by showing you how to share your work online and in printed media.
- 95% positive reviews (42)
- 2,630 students
- 17 lessons (2h 55m)
- 15 downloads
- Online and at your own pace
- Available on the app
- Audio: English, German, Spanish (Latam), French, Italian, Polish, Portuguese, Turkish
- English · Spanish · Portuguese · German · French · Italian · Polish · Dutch · Turkish · Romanian · Indonesian
- Level: Beginner
- Unlimited access forever
What is this course's project?
Shoot and edit three self-portraits applying different techniques.
Projects by course students
Who is this online course for?
Anyone who wants to create evocative self-portraits that convey a mood.
Requirements and materials
Basic knowledge of photography is recommended.
As for materials, you need a camera, a phone, a tripod, lighting, backdrops, props, color gels, and photo editing software such as Snapseed, VSCO, Camera Raw, and Photoshop.
Reviews
Sofie Sund
A course by Sofie Sund
Sofie Sund is a photographer from Norway. Inspired by her parents’ creative pursuits, she picked up a camera for the first time as a child and instantly fell in love with this art form. After considering architecture as a potential career path, she eventually attended the Norwegian School of Photography for two years, where she found her voice as an artist and began pursuing her passion professionally.
In addition to developing her own personal projects, she works for brands in a variety of categories like product photography, lifestyle, fashion, and interiors. Her distinctive work has led to collaborations with Adobe, Canon, Sony, Studio About, Oleana Knitwear, and Maison Crivelli. She has also published her own book, Mellow, a collection of still-life images inspired by the wonder of everyday moments.
Content
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U1
Introduction
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About Me
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Influences
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U2
Finding Your Inspiration
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Feeling Inspired
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Experimenting with Colors
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Without Light, There Is No Photo
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U3
Preparing for the Photoshoot
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The Equipment
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Brainstorming and the Mood Board
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Setting up the Scene
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U4
The 3 Different Photos
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The First Photo: Shaping the Light
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The Second Photo: Experimenting with Long Exposure
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The Third Photo: Working with Natural Light 1
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The Third Photo: Working with Natural Light 2
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U5
Selecting and Editing
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Selecting and Editing on a Phone 1
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Selecting and Editing on a Phone 2
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Selecting and Editing with Adobe Camera Raw and Photoshop 1
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Selecting and Editing with Adobe Camera Raw and Photoshop 2
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The Final Result and Sharing Your Work
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FP
Final project
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Artistic Use of Colour and Composition in Photography
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What to expect from a Domestika course
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Learn at your own pace
Enjoy learning from home without a set schedule and with an easy-to-follow method. You set your own pace.
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Learn from the best professionals
Learn valuable methods and techniques explained by top experts in the creative sector.
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Meet expert teachers
Each expert teaches what they do best, with clear guidelines, true passion, and professional insight in every lesson.
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Certificates
PlusIf you're a Plus member, get a custom certificate signed by your teacher for every course. Share it on your portfolio, social media, or wherever you like.
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Get front-row seats
Videos of the highest quality, so you don't miss a single detail. With unlimited access, you can watch them as many times as you need to perfect your technique.
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Share knowledge and ideas
Ask questions, request feedback, or offer solutions. Share your learning experience with other students in the community who are as passionate about creativity as you are.
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Connect with a global creative community
The community is home to millions of people from around the world who are curious and passionate about exploring and expressing their creativity.
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Watch professionally produced courses
Domestika curates its teacher roster and produces every course in-house to ensure a high-quality online learning experience.
FAQs
Yes, this course is designed for beginners and covers fundamental concepts, techniques, and creative approaches, so no prior experience is required.
You can use any camera, including a smartphone or a DSLR like the Fujifilm X-T4. Basic props, a tripod, and access to natural or artificial light sources are also helpful, but not mandatory.
You will learn how to create expressive portraits, experiment with color and lighting, use mood boards, edit photos, and develop a personal photo series using both cameras and smartphones.
Yes, the course covers phone photography techniques, including using Pro mode, editing with mobile apps, and making the most of your phone’s camera features.
Absolutely. The course teaches you to use color schemes, natural and artificial lighting, and color grading to convey mood and emotion in your photography.
Yes, you can fully participate and benefit from the course using just a smartphone camera. Techniques are tailored for all levels of equipment.
The course covers self-portraits, studio portraits, street photography, minimalist and surreal compositions, experimenting with shadows, and expressive use of props and backgrounds.
Love her style so much! this course is very useful to me
Thank you for inspiring the idea.
duza dawka inspiracji. polecam!
Bardzo inspirujący kurs, prowadząca ma wiedzę kreatywność i spokojny głos, przewyższyła oczekiwania.
Interesting course, the teacher is great.
However, the lessons with the shootings are way too slow - no need to see all the poses she takes for each shot. I would have cut that part.