ADORN Self-Portraits
We invite you to participate in the ADORN Portrait Project by submitting your own self portrait and caption to be featured on Instagram at @adornphotoproject. For more information about participating, or to submit a portrait please email Anastasia Panagakos at panagaa@crc.losrios.edu or message through Instagram at @adornphotoproject.
How do you adorn yourself through clothing, accessories, tattoos, hairstyles, or symbolic objects?
Jill
My name is Jill and I’m wearing my favorite pink Duluth Trading Company overalls. I wear them every time I work at my flower garden where my team and I grow flowers for my nonprofit. My overalls are very nostalgic for me. I come from a long line of farmers from the Central Valley. I grew up surrounded by crops and farmers; running around catching tadpoles and always having dirt under my fingernails. After high school I moved away to college and never moved back home. The profession I chose meant I was not a farmer, like many of my cousins. Over the next few decades of my life, I think my soul ached to be in the dirt again. My overalls are made with the perfect stretch, copious pockets perfectly made for “farmer knickknacks, like my handy pocket knife, my spade, some chapstick and extra drip tape patching parts. I feel like I put on a piece of my old self when I slip on my dirty, rosy pink overalls along with my Blundstone boots and Hemlock hat! @adornphotoproject @togetherwehealcommunity @cliffsgarden
Tips for Creating a Strong, Thoughtful Image and Caption
Creating Your Image
- Lighting Is Everything!
- Use natural light if possible
- Stand facing a window or go outside in “open” shade
- Open shade is a spot that’s shaded but still bright like the shadow of a building
- If you are squinting from the light, it’s too bright
- Avoid harsh midday sun or overhead lights
Think About Framing
- Use a portrait (vertical) orientation
- Think about a pose that might best show off your adornment
- Frame yourself either from the chest up or give it a try getting your whole body in the image
- Leave a little space around you in the frame
Show Your Adornment
- What do you wear or carry that says something about who you are?
- Include jewelry, clothing, tattoos, or heirlooms
Background Matters
- Choose a simple background like a blank wall or natural setting
- Avoid clutter around you or distracting text from things like signs
Expression and Posture
- Have fun and be yourself!
- Face the camera or turn slightly to one side
Enlist Some Help
- Ask a friend to take your picture or use your phone's timer
- Take several shots and pick one that feels most like you
Creating Your Caption
- Introduce yourself and what you are wearing (My name is …. And I am wearing…)
- Describe what you are wearing (I am wearing a….)
- Explain why this outfit or article of clothing, piece of jewelry, etc is special to you (I chose this outfit, etc… because it)
- Be sure to read your caption slowly and enunciate words clearly. If you are using terms or words in other languages, be sure to explain what the word means.
- Captions should be between 150-300 words (although please don’t feel constrained by this word count if you have more to say!)
Bonus Points!
- Create a short video (one to two minutes) describing the clothing and why you chose it. We will use this as a reel on Instagram.