Selfie photos are becoming a popular way to share your thoughts, feelings and experiences with friends and family. Whether on Facebook, Snapchat, Instagram, or other social networking platforms, a selfie photo helps you connect and interact with people when you otherwise cannot be together. With a little practice, even a selfie photo master can take better shots.
1. Look Yourself Over
Prior to the shot, make sure you have everything in place. There is nothing worse than taking a photo of yourself, only to realize that you had food in your teeth after you share it with friends on Twitter. Prior to taking a photograph, check yourself in the mirror for appropriate clothing, hair, and makeup, if applicable. Also ensure that there is nothing present behind you that might ruin your background image, such as tree limbs providing you with a set of unintentional antlers.
2. Watch Your Mouth
Talking during a self photograph is usually a bad idea. It often results in strange expressions on your face, some of which appear intoxicated or sleeping. Fight the urge to talk during your shot and instead maintain a confident smile. Smile with an open mouth to expose your teeth or give a close-mouthed smile, whichever makes you feel more confident and attractive. Self photography sessions during activities like eating or chewing gum should be avoided for the same reason.
3. Focus Your Gaze
During your shot, you should always strive to look at the camera itself. When your camera allows you to see your own image and you stare at it, your eyes appear out of focus. Like talking, staring at your reflection is distracting and often results in strange looking photographs. Exceptions can be made, such as during a pensive shot or a serious, black and white photo during which you look away from the camera. Even with these exceptions, photographers should avoid looking at themselves in order to obtain the best quality pictures possible.
4. Remove Your Phone Cover
Although phone covers are helpful in preserving the life of a phone and preventing their functionally, they are not very helpful in taking photos. On the contrary, many phone covers ruin the clarity of an otherwise perfect photograph. Even though the cover has a hole to reveal the camera, the lens can catch part of the cover in a ricochet-like movement, resulting in a fuzzier, even darker picture. Remove the cover prior to taking photos for the best possible results.
5. Use an App
Several apps are available that are intended to specifically improve the quality of self photographs. Facetune, for example, helps to smooth out wrinkles and fine lines in photographs. The application can also whiten teeth and remove red eye from pictures. Another application, CamMe, helps users take photos without having to hold the phone upright. Instead, the phone uses the application to sense user movement. When users wish to brighten their skin tone or change their facial features entirely, they can also use the application Pixtr.
An old modeling tip is also helpful when taking photographs of yourself. Hold the phone above and away from you to make you appear slimmer. This angle can even erase a double chin in a photo. Above all, hold your camera steady and always show your confidence to make your pictures as perfect as possible.
Image Source: Flickr/Creative Commons/Edo Dijkgraaf
