Focussing for self portraits

[peachy]

As I attempted to work on a self portrait yesterday, I realized that I can't actually press the shutter button while posing for a picture (duh!), and so getting the camera to focus clearly on me is tricky. I've thought about putting some object where I'm going to be sitting and using it to focus on before sitting down, but that doesn't seem like it would be very precise. Having just spent all my $ on my new DSLR, I don't want to buy a remote yet (although I don't think they're very expensive...?). Any suggestions on how to make the focus more manageable would be appreciated!

[ELAY]

Hey peachy --

Somebody had the same question/issue recently -- some good answers here (and even though the title refers to a Nikon D40, the advice is universal).

EL

(EDIT: Sorry -- bad link. Try now.)

[inkista]

Stopping down (making the aperture smaller/using a higher f-number) would get you a greater depth of field so that you can be "in the ballpark" more easily. And the autofocus can be surprisingly accurate a lot of the time.

And I've used an object in my stead for self-portrait composition/focusing. I think it's also why Hollywood pays for stand-ins on movie sets. Go ahead and try it!

[Saralonde]

Before I had my remote, I used a "stand in" and the self-timer. Wireless remotes aren't too expensive and really make a difference

[GEli]

The stand in is a good cheap option. Use a smaller aperture and place the stand-in ever so slightly in front of where you're going to be for the photo - your DOF starts where you focus and goes back from there, and your eyes are slightly recessed in your skull anyways.

If you have a little money, a cable release or remote control would make things much easier - but then, that money could be going towards new glass.