The Healing Power of Self Portraits 

I'm a below knee amputee, and have been for almost 3 years now, and only recently had a photo taken of myself (full body, showing the leg) that I really liked. It was taken by someone I was comfortable around (and I'd just gotten a new running blade a few days before), but I think it was the first photo where I was comfortable when it was being taken. The location was great (out filming in the Mohave), it was golden hour, and I was doing what I've always wanted to do, with people I enjoyed working with. I often get told the leg looks cool, but it was really nice to be able to see it from outside my own view.

This was moving. Both in a sense of soul and a call to action. My turn.

When I think of my beloved wife, it's the portrait photo I took of her a year before she passed. I wonder what picture my children will remember me by. Thanks for the thoughts, Sean.

I’ve got several physical conditions and I just today started taking self-portraits that highlight that part of my life that I’m so used to hiding. It doesn’t feel like me, but at the same time.. it’s the most ‘me’ I’ve ever seen.

*"The story of their life is written on their body."* Sean Tucker

Damn Sean, you are without doubt an unbelievable asset to the photographic community. Thank you for all your amazing work.

Geeze man. How do you make a hotel room look so cinematic?? Thanks for your work Sean.

Sean... This is raw and beautiful.. I cry watching this because I feel every words you say... I will try to take my own pic.. Thank you!

There was a period in my life when I'd take self portraits whenever I'm having intense depressive episode. It's really therapeutic and made the outcome, even the process, made me embrace myself even more. Seeing the photos when I'm in tears or afraid or in agony was reaffirming. It reaffirmed that despite my mental illness, I'm still alive. Gives me hope, really. Thank you for this video.

This made me cry. Thanks for being vulnerable and honest. It really isn’t easy on the internet.

Wonderful video. I started taking self portraits to deal with depression. Honestly I did not give too much thought about it, I just started to take pictures of myself. Pictures that I like. It has been a very strong tool.

Sean, I am a firm believer that there are no ugly faces or bodies. Hands, face, body: they are all a record of a life lived, unique to that person. Like many of your videos, this one which contains photographic wisdom, is also a lesson about life.

As I mentioned in my 'What held me back' video, I was not sure, if I'm pretty enough to start a beauty channel. Once I overcome my fear, and got started, I realised, that I don't look that bad actually. I somehow even like, how I look, when I'm talking (normally you never talk to mirror). By the way, I really love those portraits of you... 😊

"We conspire with mirrors to keep ourselves blind from who we really are." This was a remarkably & admirably open, honest, and thoughtful lesson. Someone once told me to try to take pictures 'about something' rather than 'of something'. This has given me a lot to think about. Thanks, as always, and hope you're doing well.

2 mins in an I can relate so hard it almost hurts. I'm 2.04m at 75-80kg. Struggling with my shape a lot of times especially every time I was photographed. Making a video about this is brave, courageous and will help a lot of people very much! Thank you.

Really agree with the point to look at myself in 3rd person's point of view. I applied it to one situation, when I was supposed to get an operation next day. When I tried to think, there's a person, who will get operation tomorrow, it sounded much less dramatic, and I could comfort myself a bit.

I ended up writing my feelings on paper when I went through that. Also burned it all, as a cleanse to say goodbye to those feelings and make a clean slate.

It is no accident that I came across this video tonight. I recently decided it was time to be my own muse. To put myself in front of my own lens, to begin creating some of the things I’ve imagined for so long. I am learning about light, setting up, and will begin soon. This, is part of my healing, my recovery, from CPTSD. To see, and believe in myself differently. This was beautiful. It brought tears. It’s a soul journey. At 46, it is time. Thank you. Thank you. 🙏🏼🤍

This video was on my recommended videos and the first I have watched on your channel. This is what I needed! I’m 46 years old and I still hate looking at myself in the mirror, let alone being on the other side of the camera. Your words are absolutely moving and really triggered something inside me. To be vulnerable in front of the camera is a pretty scary thought for me. This is something I will try with a more creative approach, if I can get the nerve up to actually do it. Thank you so much for making this video! 👏🏻

Gives shooting in RAW a whole new meaning.

I really hope you're okay now, remember Sean, you are and would be in my morning prayers, always

Self love must be a priority!

Every time i watch a new video from you its a new lesson that i didn’t expect. Thanks so much Sean, thanks for being brave to share your message !

The only channel I watch in fullscreen

I clicked the first that I thought would help me make a photo of myself to look as good as possible…now I’m considering just accepting the things I can’t change about myself. Wow I wasn’t expecting that; thank you for the awesome message.

Wow. Few months ago I told my friend that I realized getting photographed helps me accept myself even though I don't like the photos at first. She hasn't thought I made sense. Seeing this video now, hearing your thoughts on the topic, makes my heart warm. Thank you. Perfectly said. Beautiful portraits. 🖤

Wow. I wanted to get better at photography as an amateur and found your channel. Your content i must say holds my attention because of your honesty and the deep and profound insights on life you have. Please don't stop putting out such great content.

This sounds incredible. I cannot stand to look at myself in the mirror. I was annorexic for years so I think I probably have quite a distorted self view. So I've decided to try this everyday. just for me. I'll see what happens. Thank you!

Once again you have expanded the territory of what it means to be a photographer. The power of vulnerability in exploring self makes every photographer stop and consider what they’re doing with their camera. Again so well done.

Entring in Sean Tucker video, automatically punching Like button ❤️

This really hits home mate. Much respect.

Sean talks for 12 minutes and it feels like I've been listening him for an hour. So much information, and such deep thoughts on such a short video. Absolutely amazing.

Perfect timing for me. Great video as always! And great pics btw!

Love your videos Sean, there's so much to learn from them every time. Thank you!

love watching your videos. a nice break between studying. KEEP GOING!

Thank you for making this video Sean!

Im always fascinated by how many of us judge ourself in ways that others are not. Sadly it takes so many of us too long to realize we all have our special gifts uniquely our own and we are so afraid to fly. Videos like this give us the courage to try.

Thanks so much for sharing, Sean. Amazing video, eye opener!

Love it! You’re so smart. Great message.

Pure class here. Thank you Mr T. Some very cool images as well, a fresh breath from most self portraits you see.

Thank you Sean always here for you mate, onward and upwards.

Thanks Sean! This is beautiful

I have no words..... Love it

Once again, amazing teachings. Thank you Mr TUCKER.

Self portraits are basically all I do. Everything from simple minimal images, to conceptual or composites. It has helped me accept myself, express myself and more recently heal and cope from c-ptsd. I was in a abusive relationship that left a lot of mental emotional issues. Confusion, anxiety, all around heaviness I felt weighing on me. I started a series and Instagram account to explore, express and heal from all of it and its been amazing for me.

this is important stuff right here. healing power indeed

Wonderful, beautiful, moving, thought-provoking video Sean!

Thank you for this, Sean, you really touched a nerve here, we all love you the way you are and we can only hope to love ourselves just as much, but this brings me a little closer.

Thank you Sean, This video is almost therapeutic!

Sean, your videos are Masterclass!

Amazing. You have such a way with words!!

You talk so well Sean, thank you! I'm hooked

I cannot like this enough. Thank you.

Beautiful vid, inspiring and truthful. Can't wait to start

Absolutely beautiful. Thank you so much Sean

Thank you! That’s incredibly inspirational. Finding such a treasure in the midsts of lots of shallow content here on RU-vid is a wonderful thing!

Thanks Sean. You help me love myself even more

Great work Sean. Some of your best that I've seen of yours!

You are an amazing person. I took last week my first portraits and I felt something similar. One of them is in my profile picture. Thank you!

Amazingly helpful Sean. Thank you!

Thank you for sharing these personal moments. You give encouragement to others - to me - to look more deeply, to seek awareness.

Wow. Just... wow. Thanks for this Sean.

This was beyond moving and inspirational. Quite possibly the best video I have ever seen on RU-vid. Wow! This was AMAZING.

Thank you for being Sean.

Only been a subscriber for a little more than a month now. I really love the introspection you bring to your channel. It makes me self reflect as well

I feel like this video came out just at the right time in my life. Thank you very much Sean, I admire you

You are such a gift to photographers Sean. Thank you for your continued wisdom.

Thank you Sean. I hope everything goes well with whatever you're going through right now.

I first took my self potraits yesterday and watching this makes me even more encouraged to take more...Thank you!

I absolutely love this! 😊 thank you

As always Sean, your video is inspiring and gives a lot to reflect on. Thank you.

Powerful stuff Sean. Thanks for sharing.

Thank you, Sean. Your videos are absolutely amazing, always.

You really have a talent to spark meaningfull thoughts and conversations. Thank you for sharing your perspective.

Thought-provoking and challenging. Thank you Sean.

Inspiring, uplifting and so much more. Thank you Sean.

This spoke to me. I am going through some stuff myself and I am now just beginning to really open up and be vulnerable about it. It is good to hear another perspective on vulnerability.

Thank you for all your amazing video. Awesome.

Thank you! Stay strong.

Such a nice way to make us feel comfortable on our own skin. Thank you so much.

I love THIS! You inspire me to do my best work!

Thank you for sharing this. I love the idea of getting a new perspective on yourself! Looking forward to trying the self portrait experiment. Being hard on ourselves is so exhausting - I love the idea of celebrating who we are as individuals and what we have been through. Excellent vid as always. 🙏 💙 thank you.

The way I think of self-portraits is that I treat myself the way I treat the folks whose portraits I take: I respect them, want to make them look good, but not necessarily pretty or beautiful. I photograph people because I find something in them I want to capture, and when the moment of taking their picture and the photo itself work, when I joyfully enjoy the process and the result, I fall in love with the part of them I captured, the part of them they shared with me. I started taking self-portraits soon after I became "serious" about photography, but until I started treating myself the same respect and kindness I treat the people I photograph, I did not enjoy taking my own picture and hatin how the self-portraits turned out. Then, 6 tears ago, I snapped a photo of myself in front of a poster of the Muppets in a friend's bathroom (I just held my D50 at arms length), and seeing my grumpy old face with my slightly double-chin blend in so well with the other comical characters, I fell in love with what I captured of myself. Now, in my self-portraits, I show my age, the wrinkles and such, and sometimes bring in some humor, but I love the way those photos, and the part of me they captured, look. Now I can make art I love with my bald head, wrinkled face, and bad attitude. Who knew? Thank you for inspiring me to think this through.

This was so beautiful. Thank you sir

Happy Easter, Sean! Thanks for an incredibly insightful and truly helpful video. Your vulnerability invites each of us to be more gentle with ourselves... and hopefully with others... and uses self portraiture as a means for transformation and acceptance. My deepest thanks.

Sean, your work is always fascinating. This video is definitely eye opening. The subject of self image is beautifully portrayed using your mastery on capturing the game of light and shadows. Thank you very much

Brilliant piece Sean 🙏🙏

This was brilliant! Sean is a philosopher exploring the ideas of self, others, and the world, through a camera lens.

So inspired, My Turn...thanks Sean!

Absolutely love the sensitivity with which you touch your subjects Sean. So inspirational. Thank you so much for setting the stage to go forth, explore and experiment.

Sean, I have to tell you this video has opened my eyes in so many ways. I am a preacher and the way you expressed about not seeing yourself for who you are came to me as a perfect sermon. Mainly about me feeling inadequate growing up. I also learned a lot about portraits and self portraits. I really appreciate you for this.

This video is pure healing!

Thank you lots for putting into such beautiful words the importance of this art. I like to say that I'm recovering from self hate one self portrait at a time and I'm convinced everyone should try it!

Everytime I see a new video of yours it is a happy time of my week.

I can't describe exactly how opportune a time it was for you to put out this video for myself. Just real talk as always from you. Thank you for being vulnerable in such a public forum and thank you for letting us all feel that its ok to be. Now, ... I have some photos to take.

Thank you, Sean!

Thanks Sean. Through self-portraits, I forgive myself the very first time for obsession with my flaws.

You are the only one that i first hit the like button and then i am watching the video. Thanks for your great videos, every time

Your videos always come at the perfect time in my life, thank you

Love this. If there’s a video that I would want to share with everyone I know it’s this one. Thank you for being so open Sean