Know your “good side” and take the photo from that side of your face. It’s the side of your face that looks the most balanced and symmetrical. Angling the camera slightly above yourself and taking a snapshot of your face and chest will highlight your cleavage. Since this position is fairly unnatural, odds are, you already know what the camera will focus on when you take a selfie like this. Holding your camera slightly above eye level will make your chin look thinner and more defined. [1] X Expert Source Crystal BearProfessional Photographer Expert Interview. 21 January 2021.
A selfie showing off your new hairstyle, for example, should show your hair from the most flattering angle. On a similar note, a selfie showing off a mustache should show the mustache straight-on, and the same goes for a selfie showing off a new pair of glasses. You could also take a selfie holding a new item you just bought, or even a food item you’re about to eat.
For instance, if you love your eyes, play them up with mascara and complementary eye shadow while keeping your complexion and lips fairly natural. Likewise, if your smile is your most charming feature, keep your cheeks and eyes looking natural while donning a stunningly beautiful lipstick.
You can play around with different smiles, of course. A closed-mouth coy smile can be just as appropriate and just as flattering as a wide, laughing grin. No matter what, a smile is one of the most appreciated and charming expressions you can wear. It can be hard to make sure your expression looks authentic. One way to make it look more real is to try to capture yourself when you’re feeling an emotion. Try taking a selfie while you’re watching a movie that’s making you genuinely laugh, or right after you find out some shocking news.
Take full body shots in a clutter-free space. The photo should focus completely on your figure, not on random objects in the background. You can appear more slender by slightly cocking your hip to the same side you are holding your camera in. Your opposite shoulder should come forward a bit, and your free arm should either dangle to your side or your free hand can rest on your hip. The chest should lean forward naturally, and the legs should be crossed at the ankle. [2] X Research source
If your just-out-of-bed look is more of a nightmare than a dream, however, you can straighten up a little. Even light makeup can give the impression that you are showing your “natural” face, especially if you tend to wear much more makeup than what you put on for your selfie.
Aim the camera straight down. The edge of the frame should land somewhere on your thighs, fairly close to your hips. This angle makes your legs look as long as possible.
The duck face is a combination of puckered lips and wide eyes, originally made famous by Snookie and friends. Do it at your own risk! Taking a selfie and pretending that someone else took it is hard to pull off. There will be some clue in your posture or actions that will give you away and open you up to criticism. If you do it with a slight smile or a wink, people will realize it’s an intentional setup.
Keep the sun or other light source in front of you, a bit above eye level, for the most flattering shot. The light will brighten and soften your features, rather than casting harsh shadows across your face. If it’s off to the side or behind you, your features could appear shadowy or distorted. [3] X Expert Source Crystal BearProfessional Photographer Expert Interview. 21 January 2021. Consider using a thin curtain to diffuse sunlight or a single light source. It makes the light softer and more flattering. It will give the impression of smoother, softer facial lines so that your smile appears more attractive. Natural light renders colors more faithfully than artificial light, but you can use artificial light to fill shadows. If you don’t have the best lighting, most modern digital cameras have some automatic color correction to make up for it. Don’t use your flash if you can help it. It’ll create a forehead glare, distort your appearance and possibly give your selfie the redeye effect.
The exception would be if you want to take a full-body selfie, since it can be hard to capture more than your head and shoulders without using a mirror. Practice using both your right and left hand to take selfies. See which one allows you to get the angles you want.
Nature always makes a great background. In the spring and summer, you can pose in a small wooded area or near a blossoming bush of flowers if you need a quick and easy backdrop. For fall, capture the color of the changing leaves in the background, and in winter, capture the majesty of ice and snow. If nature is not your thing, you could stay indoors and take a selfie in your room. Tidy things up first, though. You could also display something interesting in the background as long as it is not distracting. For instance, if you love to read, then a bookcase or stack of books would be a good backdrop. A movie poster with a lot of different people on it could be distracting, however.
Of course, if a photo-bomber still manages to sneak into your selfie, you can always retake the photo after the intrusion leaves. Just make sure to check the background thoroughly before you upload your newest selfie. Sometimes photo-bombers actually add to the selfie! Don’t discount a picture just because it has your little sister in it. Her goofy face juxtaposed with your serious one could make it that much more interesting a picture. If you do not want to re-take your selfie, you can always remove the photo-bomber using an image manipulation program, or just crop your image using your smartphone’s built-in image editing features.
This is a good way to take a selfie in public if you’re self-conscious about taking a picture of just yourself. The more people in the picture, the better when it comes to sharing! If you have a group of friends instead of just one or two, the picture is likely to get passed around and liked by more people.
The simplest filters are “black and white” and “sepia. " Even if you don’t have an app installed on your phone, you probably have these features. Other popular filters include those that make the photo look vintage, creepy, romantic, or darker. Feel free to test them all out and see which ones go best with your photo.
That said, you should use photo editing sparingly. If you cannot make your edits look completely natural, err on the side of caution and delete the changes rather than posting an obvious fake.
When you upload a selfie, own it! Pretending that you were taking a picture of something else and your face just happened to be there, won’t fool anyone, so be proud to show off your lovely face. Be aware that some people find selfies annoying, and you might draw some negative comments. If your online albums end up full of selfies, you might want to consider diversifying. Be sure to leave the types of comments you want to see on other people’s selfies. The more “likes” and shares you give others, the more you’ll get.
Throwback Thursdays: Every Thursday, people post pictures of themselves from an earlier time. See if you can dig up a selfie from childhood, or simply post one from last week! From Where I Stand: This hashtag was created by people who wanted to share poignant shots from their own perspectives. Take a picture of your feet as you stand in a country you’re visiting for the first time, on the beach, on a cracked city sidewalk or anywhere else you want to share. [6] X Research source Feminist Selfie: This hashtag started trending on Twitter and really took off. It’s about being proud to post your picture even if you aren’t stereotypically gorgeous. Beauty comes in all shapes and sizes. Hair Smile: This one’s all about showing off your hair. If you consider it to be your greatest asset, take a selfie featuring your hair instead of your smile.
Funerals, weddings, and other major occasions are off limits. If you are at an event meant to focus on or celebrate another human being, put down your smart phone and step out of the limelight. Similarly, if you are at a memorial site, keep the phone in your pocket. Don’t take selfies at a memorial or statue, especially if a tragic event took place there once before.
