Course structure
Unit 0.1
If you just wanted a plain self-portraits course, you could have gone somewhere else.
This section will focus on concepts that are absolutely crucial for this practice, such as censorship, expression, identity, fulfillment, self-knowledge, self-criticism, and self-trust.
Note for BTS Content: I've included the relevant part of the BTS content from one shoot within course units, where it makes sense to do so. Additional BTS content can be found in the course section called, "BTS Library" as it's created and uploaded.
We'll go through the process of deciding what to shoot, allocating time for a session, and setting yourself up to make sure you can actually do it.
I want this course to be as accessible as possible, and that means making it easy to go through for everyone, including non-photographers. This unit will provide the basic groundwork for understanding lighting, creating interesting compositions, and various self-portrait set-ups.
Whether this will be your very first self-portrait session, or your 100th, getting into the actual doing of it all can feel stressful or overwhelming, This unit will serve as a guide for you to use during the time you set aside for your self-portrait session, so you can move through it as confidently as possible.
This has been a big area of exploration for me, and I know it's an area where many of us hold back or feel inhibited. This type of expression can really challenge our expression and our comfort zones.
This unit will focus specifically on the different things that can come up with boudoir self-portraits, including more technical elements related to that, like how to capture sensuality (lighting, posing, etc.) based on what that means for you.
This unit is optional, but I encourage you to go through it if you feel strongly about it one way or the other, or if you have even a tiny bit of curiosity around it.
This unit will help you feel less overwhelmed about the practical side of things that need to happen post-shoot, like importing and organizing your photos.
This section also includes a look at how I approach photo editing.
This is where we look back at our self-portraits - at the expression(s) we experimented with - and have a chance to really observe ourselves and reflect on the experience. I will walk you through the whole process!
If you do one self-portrait session and decide, "I'm good, that was enough," that's great. But I personally believe the real value in this work comes from doing it again and again. After all, a practice is something you do consistently.
This unit will help you make incorporate this practice into your life on an ongoing basis and to work through discomfort that may come up as part of your explorations.
The Discord community will always be there for you! You have lifetime access to both the free version and the members-only sections for paid course participants.
My wish is for this community to be a place of support, inspiration, and growth for all involved.
I hope we can all commit to living life uncensored and liberating our full expressions.
If you share any self-portraits or reflections from this course on social media, I'd love for you to use #theunensoredself and tag me @itsmelissaclaire (IG, Twitter, TikTok). I would love to see this community grow and for the message behind The Uncensored Self to reach as many people as possible.
Mostly, I'd love to see YOUR growth and explorations and to see how this course has helped you along the way.
You can move through the course at your own pace. Each subsequent unit will unlock once you hit the "complete" button at the end of your current unit.