Forget the Duck lips, and while we’re at it, forget everything you’ve heard before concerning how to take a great selfie! Here are some tips to really help you take the best selfie, and show off just how damn good you look.
1. Self-Timer
What? You mean I don’t have to hold my smartphone at arm’s length and snap a photo of myself I can’t really see. Of course not. That’s sooooo 2009. Give yourself a couple of seconds to get your arm out of the way (because that arm closeup is not flattering). Whether you’re using your iPhone (or Android or whatever) or a point and shoot or a DSLR, make use of that built-in timer to take a great selfie.
2. Mini-Tripod
How many times have you dropped your phone from trying to balance it on the closest object you could find? These tripods are like $15 on amazon and one of the best things you can own, especially if you like to do facetime sexy time. Always holding your phone is so passé. You want to be able to get that full-body selfie and if a sexy prop is in order than that requires both hands, so a mini-tripod is must! Plus, using a tripod will make sure the shot is in focus. Let’s face it, blurry photos are the worst. You’re sexy, you deserve to be in sharp focus. All of you.
3. Lighting
It’s simple really, the better-lit you are the better you will look. You can’t show off if people can’t see you! I am no advocate of lazy selfies, put some time into it, I promise it will pay off. Finding good light really isn’t really that difficult. My favorite flattering light is window light. It kisses and wraps around your skin in all the right ways, bringing depth, allure, and a romantic mood that will most definitely impress your lucky receiver. I know you have one, a window with nice light and an important key here is to make sure it’s soft light, meaning no direct light on you. experiment with standing behind the light, before the window starts, under the window, play, play, play.
You can also use a nifty lamp to light your face or just parts of your body. These make for great moody shots, and a great slimming trick.
It should go without saying that bathroom lighting is not always good lighting and stay far away from florescent light bulbs. Which brings me to my next point.
4. Background
We’re in 2020 and your phone has a reversible camera, which means there is no reason to take a selfie in front of your bathroom mirror. We’ve all seen the girls standing in the bathroom at the club, faces all contorted…the results are disturbing.
You’re too classy for that nonsense.
Choose a pretty background, a simple background, a bookshelf or a field or some art, anything interesting that will look good without taking the focus off you. If you are in your bedroom and there is a bunch of shit in the background, get rid of it. Messy backgrounds are a no no! Because face it, you can tell a lot about a person who pays attention to the little details. You are the focus of this beautiful picture. Use the bathroom to put on makeup and make yourself look your best, but get out of there when it’s selfie time.
5. Use Filters
You can be fancy and use Photoshop, but there are TONS of apps for all smartphones that lets you play with filters, contrast, selective blurring, etc. where you can make a photo look super cute, to match you of course. This whole process is supposed to be fun, and filters give your photos that spur of the moment “artistic flair” we all strive for…kind of like the “bed head” effect we spent half an hour perfecting, just so we could say “we just woke up that way.” Right?
If these tips have helped you take better selfies, send me your results! Or, comment below with tips of your own (or horror stories), I would love to hear from you.
