Although we are long past the selfie stick craze to take pictures, selfies still dominate our image galleries. Whether it's a casual outing, a social gathering, a vacation, or a holiday celebration, most people opt for their phone's front camera to capture moments and share them on social media. It's the ultimate solo act, requiring no external assistance.
Even if you have the best camera phone, your selfies will turn out average if you don't follow the basics of selfie photography. This article covers the top tips to help you take your selfie game to the next level.
Face a light source
Your selfies will look dull if you aren't facing the light source. Even the world's best front-facing camera struggles to work its magic without proper lighting. This is true for selfies and regular pictures. Whether you're indoors using a dedicated lamp or basking in the natural sunlight, always position yourself facing the light source for the best results. Direct light accentuates the star of the show, your face. Also, avoid direct shadows over your face. Nothing ruins a perfect selfie like a huge shadow.
It's not easy to avoid shadows on a sunny day. Wear a hat to avoid hard shadows and dark circles under your eyes or chin.
If you use artificial light, such as a selfie light ring, to brighten up the scene, don't place it above your eyes, as it could create dark circles. Also, maintain a distance to the light source or use a light diffuser to prevent overexposed selfies. And avoid fluorescent light of any kind. It produces a blue or green color cast and spoils the natural look.
Natural light during midday or the golden hour gives the best results. Unless you are an influencer or a pro, you don't need to invest in extra equipment to create artificial light.
Avoid screen flash
While most phones have an option to light up the screen to create a flash effect, you should stay away from it. Screen flash isn't as effective as a dedicated selfie light ring. It can only highlight the center subject and doesn't brighten up the entire scene, leaving you with an average selfie. You might end up with an infamous red-eye effect. That's not a good look unless it's Halloween.
Smile normally
Your best angle or ideal lighting condition won't matter if you take selfies with a fake smile. Use a natural smile, as your friends and family can immediately spot a fake one. Take a few selfies to find a natural smile that captures your essence.
It can be difficult for some to come up with a natural smile when looking directly at the camera. Practice your natural smile in front of a mirror before taking selfies.
Play with different camera angles
You don't want your Instagram account to fill up with selfies that look alike, right? Keep the camera up, put your chin down, and try several angles until you find one worthy of posting on Instagram or Snapchat.
Some people might not look their best when staring into the camera. Those highly symmetrical photos are less visually pleasing. Turn sideways and take the picture. There is no winning formula for taking memorizing selfies from a specific angle. Try different poses in various styles and pick the best one.
Try portrait mode
Most front-facing cameras have a portrait mode. It blurs the background and focuses on the main subject, delivering a professional-looking photo. If your phone doesn't have a portrait mode, or you forgot to use it, use Google Photos to add a background blur to your selfies. See our Google Photos tips post to learn how to do it and other tricks to organize and edit your selfies.
iPhone users are in for a treat with a front-facing portrait mode since iOS offers different light effects in the selfie camera's portrait mode. You can play with contour light, studio light, stage light, and monochrome effects to apply studio-quality lighting to your portrait mode images. The Portrait Lighting feature is available on iPhone 8 Plus and later phones.
Use a timer
You might capture blurry shots when you have shaky hands and take selfies with a shutter or volume button. Use your phone's selfie camera timer and capture the perfect selfie moment. Look for the timer option in your phone's camera app and choose between 2s, 3s, 5s, or 10s.
Use wide-angle mode for group selfies
Sometimes, it isn't easy to keep everyone in the frame. Use the wide selfie mode to fit everyone in the final shot for group selfies. If your phone supports the function, you'll notice a group icon on the front camera interface. Check the screenshot below from a Samsung Galaxy A52 running the One UI 4.1 skin for reference.
With this, there shouldn't be any complaints of anyone being left out or getting an unusual half-cut face in a selfie.
Clean the camera lens and use a selfie stick
Your selfies may look smudgy if your phone camera lens is dirty. Most smartphones suggest cleaning the front camera when it detects considerable dust particles on the camera. It's best to clean the camera before posing for a selfie.
If you have shaky hands, you may end up taking blurry selfies. Use a dedicated selfie stick for better selfies. If you have a Samsung phone with a built-in S Pen, use the stylus to take quick selfies on the go.
Use props
You can use fun or stylish props to level up your selfie game. If you are at a party, grab a glass of champagne, fun props, balloons, or anything that works the best and suits the scene.
Be confident
Don't stress about anything before taking a selfie. Even with excellent lighting conditions, a capable camera, and sufficient equipment, your selfie likely won't turn out well if you don't feel confident about yourself.
Many people feel they don't have a photogenic face and stay away from clicking selfies. It's all about self-confidence. It's something you have to work on. You can browse some inspirational videos, practice for a couple of minutes in front of the mirror, and do jumping jacks to set yourself up for a good selfie.
Use your phone's back camera
Your phone's back camera is more powerful and feature-rich than the front one. You can flip your phone and take selfies using the main camera on the back. It may take some time to get used to an ideal selfie angle since you can't see the camera viewfinder on your phone.
Save selfies as previewed
Some users may prefer to save selfies as previewed. Most smartphones offer an option to save selfie photos as they appear in the viewer.
- Open the Camera app on your phone.
- Go to the Camera settings from the upper-left corner.
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Scroll down and turn on the Save selfie as previewed toggle.
Use photo editing apps
If you're not fond of the default filters on your camera, there's no shortage of capable photo editing apps in the Google Play Store. You can use the Pixlr app to make collages or Photoshop Express to play with different filters. Don't go overboard with tons of filters, stickers, effects, and frames, as subtle tweaks tend to stand the test of time.
Check the background
Even though you have an ideal outfit, makeup, and lighting, check the background once before taking a selfie. A busy background with photo bombers can ruin your photo. This is especially true when you take selfies in a nightclub or crowded park.
Wear sunglasses
If you feel shy looking straight at the camera or have a problem with maintaining eye contact for dozens of selfies, wear your favorite sunglasses. This way, you only need to concentrate on your natural smile and camera angle to snap a badass selfie. It's also a neat way to hide blemishes under your eyes.
Stick with your preferred filter
Once you find a filter that perfectly captures your vibe, stick with it. You don't need to use different filters for every selfie. Aim for a consistent look on your social media page with selfies in a few selected filters.
Take selfies like a pro
You've successfully captured some incredible selfies. Next, share them with your friends and followers on Instagram and Snapchat. However, not every photo is meant for the public eye. Follow our guide on hiding photos on your iOS or Android device to ensure your private selfies remain personal and protected.