Learn Hardcore Korean: jeoneun jikjeop sajineul jjigeoyo.

저는 = 저 (I, humble) + topic particle -는. It means “as for me” and often sets up a general or contrastive statement.
제가 = 저
- subject particle -가, used to answer “who” did something or to emphasize that it was “I.”
Nuance:
- General/contrastive: 저는 직접 사진을 찍어요. (As for me, I take photos myself.)
- Answering “who?” or stressing the doer: 제가 직접 사진을 찍어요. (I’m the one who takes them myself.)

Why is it 저 and not 나?

저 is the polite/humble “I,” used with polite endings like -요 or -습니다.
나 is casual/informal.
Pairs:
- Polite: 저는 찍어요.
- Casual: 나는 찍어.

What exactly does 직접 mean? Is it the same as 혼자(서) or 스스로?

직접: personally; without a middleman/agent. Others may still be around. Ex: 사장님이 직접 요리해요 (The owner personally cooks).
혼자(서): alone; no one else with you. Ex: 혼자 사진을 찍었어요 (I took a photo alone).
스스로: by oneself/unaided, of one’s own accord. Ex: 스스로 해결했어요 (I solved it by myself).
In your sentence, 직접 means you didn’t have someone else take the photo for you.

Can I move 직접 to a different position?

Yes. All are natural:

저는 직접 사진을 찍어요.
저는 사진을 직접 찍어요.
제가 직접 사진을 찍어요. Placing 직접 right before the verb (… 직접 찍어요) is the default. After the object (사진을 직접 찍어요) is also common; the nuance difference is minimal. Don’t say 직접으로 here—직접 itself is the adverb.

Why is it 사진을, not 사진를? And can I drop the object particle?

Object particle: -을 after a consonant, -를 after a vowel. 사진 ends in ㄴ, so 사진을.
In speech, you can often drop it: 사진 찍어요 is fine when context is clear.

What politeness level is 찍어요? What are the alternatives?

찍어요: polite informal (해요체), everyday standard.
Alternatives:
- Formal polite: 찍습니다
- Casual: 찍어
- Plain/dictionary: 찍다
- Honorific request: 찍으세요
- Past: 찍었어요
- Negative: 안 찍어요 / 찍지 않아요

How is 찍어요 formed from 찍다?

Stem: 찍-
Add vowel ending: since the stem vowel isn’t ㅏ/ㅗ, use -어 → 찍어
Add polite 요 → 찍어요 Korean contracts naturally (no “찍어어요”).

How do I say “I will take the photo myself”?

Offering/volunteering: 제가 직접 찍을게요.
Formal commitment: 제가 직접 찍겠습니다.
Neutral future plan: 제가 직접 찍을 거예요.

How do I say “I’m taking a photo right now (myself)”?

지금 직접 사진을 찍고 있어요. Progressive aspect uses -고 있어요.

Can I drop 저는?

Yes. Subjects are often omitted when understood from context:

직접 사진을 찍어요. (I take the photo myself.)

What other nouns commonly go with 찍다?

To take/shoot: 사진/셀카/영상/영화/비디오를 찍다
To stamp: 도장을 찍다
To dip (into sauce): 소스에 찍다
To poke/press lightly: 포크로 콕 찍다 Context decides the meaning.

How do I count photos?

Use the counter 장:

One photo: 사진 한 장 찍었어요.
How many photos?: 사진 몇 장 찍었어요?

How do I say it with a tool, like a phone or camera?

Use -로 for “with/by means of”:

휴대폰으로 직접 사진을 찍어요.
카메라로 직접 사진을 찍었어요.

Any pronunciation tips for the whole sentence?

Approximate: jeo-neun jik-jjeop sa-jin-eul jji-geo-yo

직접: the ㅈ is tense after final ㄱ → sounds like “jik-jjeop.”
찍어요: sounds like “jji-geo-yo.”
저는 often sounds like “전은,” and in fast speech you’ll hear just “전.”

Is 직접으로 ever correct?

Generally no. Use 직접 as the adverb. If you need an adjective meaning “direct,” use 직접적인 (e.g., 직접적인 영향 = direct influence) or noun-modifying 직접 (e.g., 직접 경험 = direct experience).

How can I strongly emphasize that it wasn’t someone else?

제가 직접 사진을 찍었어요. 남한테 부탁한 게 아니에요.
Or use contrastive topic: 다른 사람은 아니고, 저는 직접 찍었어요.