Mollie

theres a million ways to achieve this… heres a few.

put the camera on a tripod, and use the self timer. preset the scene, and walk into it. remember, flash flattens and doesnt flatter! use a window. if its really bright , soften the light with net curtains or blinds.

shoot into a mirror… if you use flash, remember to place the camera at an angle to the mirror, or youll get bounceback… and undrexposure (black pics)

and im sure you have a friends, get one of them to press the button.. and if you have no friends, train the dog, or buy a remote shutter trigger.

its never easy to do self portraits… but, you can always photoshop yourself in to wherever you like.

Macie

Learn about your camera !!!!

Read your manual !!!! Read it several times, and practice in between.

Attend a class, read some books, read/watch online tutorials.

The major camera manufacturers (like Canon, Nikon, Olympus etc) all have very useful sections on their website for learning about photography.

Understanding at least the basic principles of photography (as well as being familiar with your camera) will enable you to make the most of your gear, and will make a HUGE difference to your images.