Natural lighting is generally better than artificial lighting, which can distort your skin tone and require a longer shutter speed. Still, you can pull off a great selfie if it’s dark out and all you’ve got is artificial lighting. It just may take a few extra attempts. [3] X Research source If it is dark out, artificial lighting is your only option and that’s okay. Just try to position yourself so there’s some light illuminating your face from the side. If you’re in a restaurant or at school, just work with what you’ve got. You can still take a great selfie even if your lighting conditions aren’t ideal.
The one exception here is the white T-shirt. A crisp, clean, white T-shirt is a great option if you’re just trying to play it cool. A patterned shirt or solid-colored polo is always a safe bet if you aren’t sure what to wear. If you’re taking a selfie to showcase that snazzy black suit or dark Halloween costume, don’t worry about adding any color.
Take one last glance at your clothes. This is a good opportunity to catch any old mustard stains before you start snapping photos. If you’re at home and your facial hair could use some cleaning up, take a few minutes to shave before you take the photo.
While it may work if you’re at a fancy restaurant or something, try to avoid the notorious bathroom selfie. It just isn’t going to send a cool message if there’s a shower curtain or toilet in the background. It’s totally okay if it isn’t obviously a bathroom, though. It may be a good idea to throw your free hand in your pocket so you don’t look like you’re standing there bored in front of the mirror. [7] X Research source
If your hair is styled, turn to the side that your hair is parted to give yourself the best look. If you’re sitting down and you can’t get up because you’re at an event or something, scoot to the front of your seat and straighten your spine as best as you can.
Jutting your chin forward a little bit may help with this as well. Just make sure you don’t move your head so far forward that it looks unnatural.
The trick here is to not go overboard with the angle of the camera. If you’re holding it way over your head, the selfie may look a little odd. The reverse is also true. If you hold the camera down around your waist, you aren’t going to capture a flattering shot. Experiment with different angles to create different moods in the photo. Remember, there’s no right or wrong—it’s all a matter of preference. [12] X Expert Source Vlad HorolProfessional Photographer Expert Interview. 7 April 2020.
An exposed brick wall or fancy piece of art can make a classy backdrop for a good selfie. Lying in bed for your selfie is a good option if you’re flirting with someone or taking a super laid-back shot, but it often isn’t the best place for a selfie if you want a flattering angle.
It may help to lean back a little and hold the phone at a slight angle to make your selfie a little more dynamic while you’re doing this.
Don’t turn your head too much if you’re looking away. You don’t want to take a selfie of your cheek!
Staring into the camera makes the viewer feel like you’re looking directly at them. A lot of men are shy when it comes to selfies, so this is a great way to demonstrate your independence and confidence.
As far as your facial expression goes, you don’t have to smile or raise an eyebrow if you don’t want to. Just make sure you do something to show a little personality and emotion. If you just stare with a blank face, it’s going to look pretty bland and uninteresting. [18] X Research source Unless you’re doing something ironic, stay away from the “duck-face” look where you purse your lips together. [19] X Research source
Don’t overdo it with the squinting and furrowed brows. You don’t want to look melodramatic or like you’re trying to keep the sun out of your eyes.
Additional options include some playful finger guns, the “power to the people” fist, or the classic punk rock pinky and index finger sign.
You may think you look dumb, or silly, but it really takes a lot of guts to take an intentionally goofy photo. You’re only going to come off as confident and comfortable with who you are.
If you find it awkward to press the shutter button while holding the phone, go into your settings and remap the shutter button to a volume button. This will make it much easier to take the shot.
Don’t be too self-critical. People are often surprised when they review their selfies because it doesn’t look “right,” but it’s easy to be too hard on yourself.
When it comes to the filters, don’t overdo it. It’s better to use a subtle filter that’s barely noticeable than to oversaturate your image with too much texture. It’s totally okay to upload a selfie without adjusting or editing if you’re happy with the way it looks. Snapseed, VSCO, Facetune, Pixlr, and AirBrush are popular photo-editing apps you can download.
