How to take progress photos by yourself
You don’t need a friend or a tripod. A shelf, the self-timer and one strip of tape on the floor will do.
Short answer
Prop your phone at chest height on a shelf or stand 2–3 m away, mark your foot position with tape, use a 10-second self-timer (or burst mode), and line up with your previous photo before you step back.
What you need
- Something to hold the phone: a cheap phone tripod, a bookshelf, books on a chair, or a phone propped against a water bottle.
- Tape or a sticky note for the floor.
- The self-timer (both iPhone and Android cameras have one; ProgressLens works with any stand).
Step by step
- Put the phone at chest height, level, 2–3 m from where you’ll stand.
- Mark the floor where your feet go, and where the stand goes.
- Open the camera in ProgressLens, choose the pose, and check the ghost overlay of your last photo lines up with your marks.
- Set a 10-second timer or use a Bluetooth remote, step to the marks, relax, and let it fire.
- Repeat for side and back.
Tricks that help
- On iPhone, use the Camera app’s timer with burst so you get several frames to pick from, then import the best into ProgressLens with its date.
- A smartwatch can trigger the camera remotely.
- Keep the stand in place if you can. The less you set up, the more consistent it is.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Can I use the front camera?
You can, but the rear camera is sharper and lets you use the main lens. With a timer, the rear camera is easy to use alone.
How do I take back photos alone?
Same setup, turn around, and use the timer. See back progress photos.