How to Take Amazing Selfies
We've all tried to take a fantastic selfie only to find out the end result was dark, unflattering, and frankly, pretty dull. If you want to know how to take amazing selfies, you'll be relieved to know it doesn't just hinge on your makeup and clothes but includes the area around you and other factors in your control.
7 Tips for Amazing Selfies
1. Lighting and Shadows Matter Most
Natural sunlight will give you a nice, healthy glow for your pic, and if you have a chance to catch some rays in the morning, you'll get the best look. Lighting can take anybody's selfie and elevate it to the next level, but if you live in a cloudy location, you might need to find some supplemental lighting or learn to use shadows to your advantage.
Selfie lights work well forilluminating the best features of your face and body, but make sure your phone isn't casting a shadow that appears in the frame. If you're outside, it's also best to face the sun when possible as long as it isn't so bright that it casts harsh light that washes you out.
Whether you're a guy or a girl, lighting is vital for good selfies, and a quick trick is to hold a white piece of paper under your face to help direct more light upwards and accent your best features. This pop of lighting from below also helps to reduce the appearance of a double chin.
2. Use Angles to Your Advantage
If you know a little bit about how to take amazing selfies, you know some of your best looks, but there are a few quick tricks guys and gals can use to help appear more relaxed. If you push your shoulders back, you'll look more at ease, and when you combine this position while extending your head away from your neck, you can create longer, more graceful lines.
These two positioning tricks work when you're lying down or standing, and when you angle your face in relation to your phone, you create a more flattering jawline. Alternatively, try moving your phone around as you pose to see how the angles of your face and body change until you get the look you want.
Looking straight at your phone is one selfie option, but this pose doesn't do much to accentuate your features and can get stale over time unless you mix it up with some filters. Even just tilting your head slightly can create a whole new look and highlight better definition in key areas of your face.
3. Position Your Head and Neck
Most people don't look great when the phone is too low in relation to their face, so hold your phone, so the bottom is level with your eyes, and take a few test shots. From there, you can:
Profile shots also aren't the best option, as these tend to feel flat even when you use a filter and really detract from your natural beauty overall. Look up into the camera slightly, and consider using a selfie stick if you want to get more of the background in your shot.
4. Flash or No Flash?
Sometimes the flash on your phone is your friend, and sometimes it can ruin the whole shot. Both men and women can benefit from some extra lighting, especially if you're trying to highlight the subtler features on your face or body, but take a few test shots to see if you need the flash.
The flash can cause your picture to look washed out, and often the lighting from the flash is far too harsh. Finding better natural lighting or using a selfie light is almost always going to yield better results.
5. Pay Attention to Your Expression and Your Teeth
One of the most significant factors when it comes to how to take amazing selfies is the look on your face, and this applies to everyone. Smile like you mean it, relax your mouth, and try a few shots where you smile less and exhale slightly to create a softer look.
A big genuine smile can help your selfie stand out, but a softer, more serious look can have just as much power. Hold your lips just slightly apart, and exhale a little right before you snap the photo for plump looking lips and a better jawline.
If your teeth will show in the shot, make sure to brush and floss carefully before pictures and check the lighting to ensure your teeth don’t look yellow or overly shadowed. For a better-looking smile, consider teeth whitening treatments to make them appear more white in different types of lighting.
If your teeth have some damage or discoloration, cosmetic dentistry should put you over the top. Many Instagram and TikTok influencers are opting for a Hollywood-style smile makeover to get a beautiful celebrity smile.
6. Get Creative
Pictures with a white background and selfies while you're in your car get played out, so it's worth it to find more exciting backdrops if you want to improve your selfie game. Houseplants, nature, and even the sky are all interesting options, but any surface with a unique texture can make your selfie stand out.
If you choose to use a filter for your selfie, keep the editing to a minimum to prevent your shot from looking overly fake.
7. Take a Lot of Photos in Small Batches
Getting the best selfie means you'll likely need to take a whole lot of photos, but you should take them in small batches so you can test out different angles, poses, lighting, and other tricks. Start with one position, and rotate slowly as you take pictures until you find the best lighting for your pose.
Once you find some good lighting, take at least a half dozen shots or more, and test out different facial expressions until you get the emotion just right. Another trick that can work for anyone is keeping your eyes closed until just before you take the photo. This trick ensures your expression looks fresher, and you'll have less time to react or become self-conscious.
Lastly, don't overthink the process for how to take amazing selfies as you snap a lot of photos. The shots where you're relaxed will always look better than the ones that are too serious or planned out.
Natural sunlight will give you a nice, healthy glow for your pic, and if you have a chance to catch some rays in the morning, you'll get the best look. Lighting can take anybody's selfie and elevate it to the next level, but if you live in a cloudy location, you might need to find some supplemental lighting or learn to use shadows to your advantage.
Selfie lights work well for
Whether you're a guy or a girl, lighting is vital for good selfies, and a quick trick is to hold a white piece of paper under your face to help direct more light upwards and accent your best features. This pop of lighting from below also helps to reduce the appearance of a double chin.
2. Use Angles to Your Advantage
If you know a little bit about how to take amazing selfies, you know some of your best looks, but there are a few quick tricks guys and gals can use to help appear more relaxed. If you push your shoulders back, you'll look more at ease, and when you combine this position while extending your head away from your neck, you can create longer, more graceful lines.
These two positioning tricks work when you're lying down or standing, and when you angle your face in relation to your phone, you create a more flattering jawline. Alternatively, try moving your phone around as you pose to see how the angles of your face and body change until you get the look you want.
Looking straight at your phone is one selfie option, but this pose doesn't do much to accentuate your features and can get stale over time unless you mix it up with some filters. Even just tilting your head slightly can create a whole new look and highlight better definition in key areas of your face.
3. Position Your Head and Neck
Most people don't look great when the phone is too low in relation to their face, so hold your phone, so the bottom is level with your eyes, and take a few test shots. From there, you can:
- Angle your head in multiple directions
- Tilt your jaw towards the camera
- Arch your neck to minimize the appearance of a double chin and create longer, more elegant lines
Profile shots also aren't the best option, as these tend to feel flat even when you use a filter and really detract from your natural beauty overall. Look up into the camera slightly, and consider using a selfie stick if you want to get more of the background in your shot.
4. Flash or No Flash?
Sometimes the flash on your phone is your friend, and sometimes it can ruin the whole shot. Both men and women can benefit from some extra lighting, especially if you're trying to highlight the subtler features on your face or body, but take a few test shots to see if you need the flash.
The flash can cause your picture to look washed out, and often the lighting from the flash is far too harsh. Finding better natural lighting or using a selfie light is almost always going to yield better results.
5. Pay Attention to Your Expression and Your Teeth
One of the most significant factors when it comes to how to take amazing selfies is the look on your face, and this applies to everyone. Smile like you mean it, relax your mouth, and try a few shots where you smile less and exhale slightly to create a softer look.
A big genuine smile can help your selfie stand out, but a softer, more serious look can have just as much power. Hold your lips just slightly apart, and exhale a little right before you snap the photo for plump looking lips and a better jawline.
If your teeth will show in the shot, make sure to brush and floss carefully before pictures and check the lighting to ensure your teeth don’t look yellow or overly shadowed. For a better-looking smile, consider teeth whitening treatments to make them appear more white in different types of lighting.
If your teeth have some damage or discoloration, cosmetic dentistry should put you over the top. Many Instagram and TikTok influencers are opting for a Hollywood-style smile makeover to get a beautiful celebrity smile.
6. Get Creative
Pictures with a white background and selfies while you're in your car get played out, so it's worth it to find more exciting backdrops if you want to improve your selfie game. Houseplants, nature, and even the sky are all interesting options, but any surface with a unique texture can make your selfie stand out.
If you choose to use a filter for your selfie, keep the editing to a minimum to prevent your shot from looking overly fake.
7. Take a Lot of Photos in Small Batches
Getting the best selfie means you'll likely need to take a whole lot of photos, but you should take them in small batches so you can test out different angles, poses, lighting, and other tricks. Start with one position, and rotate slowly as you take pictures until you find the best lighting for your pose.
Once you find some good lighting, take at least a half dozen shots or more, and test out different facial expressions until you get the emotion just right. Another trick that can work for anyone is keeping your eyes closed until just before you take the photo. This trick ensures your expression looks fresher, and you'll have less time to react or become self-conscious.
Lastly, don't overthink the process for how to take amazing selfies as you snap a lot of photos. The shots where you're relaxed will always look better than the ones that are too serious or planned out.
