How-To: Taking a Self-Portrait

Very much like taking an outfit snap, you have a lot of options in shooting a self-portrait. I'm going to focus on one particular style, as shown above.

For this particular How-to, you will need the following:

1. Your camera
2. A tripod or stable surface on which to rest your camera
3. A stand in (to focus on) or a remote release

Let's begin!

How-To: Photographing Items for Sale

Sad though it can be to part with a piece of your wardrobe, there comes a time in every lolita's life where she wants to sell something. Whether it's a JSK that didn't fit quite right, or a piece of jewelry from a lucky pack that doesn't suit her style, every lolita will eventually have to put something on the block.

The EGL Community Sales are generally the best bet for selling lolita-related items. Your customer base is largely educated in the style, and will know the value of the items you have for sale. However, selling items on Etsy and eBay is not unheard of.

No matter where you sell your items, however, having accurate, clear photos of them is a major part of selling quickly.

How-To: Basic Outfit Snap in Five Steps

Photography has the capacity to provide images of man and his environment that are both works of art and moments in history.

- Cornell Capa

The idea behind an outfit snap is to create a visual record. Some wear lolita on a daily basis and use outfit snaps to record their evolution in the style. Some lolitas only dress up for special events, and use their outfit snap to remember the day, even if other photos weren't taken. Yet other lolitas use it as a way to show off their newest purchases. The idea behind an outfit snap is to show the overall look of your coordinate, as well as the details that make it unique.

It really is a very simple, straight-forward type of photography.

Something I've noticed, however, is that many lolitas' photos are out of focus, blurry all over, or have messy floors behind them. So how can you take a clear outfit shots? By paying attention to the details!

I'm going to show you in just five simple steps!