Most teenagers and young adults entertain themselves with the new trend in photography - the selfie. What is a selfie? Let's just say it's a self-portrait. True, with some nuances. In a classic self-portrait, it is not always possible to understand whether the photographer took himself or someone helped him. Selfie - an obvious self-portrait, the image of which shows that the author of the photo takes himself.
Any photos of any genre are divided into. The components of these concepts are different, but there are absolutely the same for everyone. Let's look at what you need to pay attention to without fail in order to get quite decent pictures that will differ from a billion other self-portraits for the better?
You all remember that - an integral element of any photo, and selfie is no exception to this rule. Before clicking on the button to take a picture, choose a place where there is enough light. Also, make sure that the sun or light source is in front of you and slightly above eye level, and not shining from behind your shoulders directly into the camera.
If possible, use a thin curtain to cover a window that receives direct sunlight, or cover the only source of light with a thin cloth that will diffuse the light and provide soft and enveloping lighting, which will undoubtedly reflect in the final picture in the best way. Natural light conveys colors much better than artificial light, but with a selfie, color accuracy is not so important, since color temperature distortion can serve as a kind of artistic "chip" in a photograph. For convenience, studio equipment manufacturers have developed , which can attach a lightweight camera, which greatly increases the convenience for shooting self-portrait.
The next thing you need to pay attention to is the place where you are going to take the picture. There are some places where a selfie would be completely inappropriate. Probably, it is not even worth talking about funerals or weddings, as well as other solemn events. Just ask yourself the same question every time: “Is something more important happening here and now than me?” If you are inclined to answer "yes", postpone the creation of your self-portrait to another time.
One of the most common selfie mistakes is that almost all photographers pay little attention to. But for the background is an integral and significant part of the photograph. It depends on the background general perception photo viewer. If your portrait is taken in a bathroom with a towel dryer over your shoulders, it is unlikely that it will be of interest to anyone, except for a small circle of friends who are just as fond of creating self-portraits in any circumstances and under any conditions.
Consider that nature is always a wonderful backdrop. In spring and summer, you can sit on the green grass, near the beautiful rose bushes or against the backdrop of the "curly" sky. In autumn, bright colorful carpets of leaves will help you, and in winter there will be an appropriate background of blocks of ice or mountains of snow.
by Valentin Kouba
If you think that nature is not the right setting for your portrait, stay indoors, just look around. Before taking a portrait, remove things that are likely to lie in the most inappropriate place and will pull the eye on yourself in the picture. You can also show what you like or what you do in this moment time by arranging the background yourself - stack books and magazines or place yourself against the backdrop of a bookcase if you are reading at the moment or love this activity very much and want to “tell” everyone about it. Try to include elements of the gym in the frame if you take a selfie at the time of training. The background should become your co-author, then the picture will look much more interesting.
Always pay attention to whether there is someone else in the background who wants to spoil your photo. younger siblings who last moment they will gladly put “horns” on you or suddenly jump out of cover and scare you with their cries. To avoid unpleasant surprises, you must always remember that they can be.
Very often, personal portraits are taken to show a new haircut, earrings or glasses that were purchased just a few minutes ago. Despite the excitement of the new thing, make sure that the framing is chosen correctly and the emphasis is on the part that you would like to showcase first.
Quite often you can find selfies of young girls who, wanting to demonstrate their natural beauty to the world, post photos directly, one might say, from bed, immediately after sleep, etc. But even if it seems to you that you look like an angel, believe me, such pictures can only be shown to your mother. She will appreciate, be touched and be very grateful that an adult child decided to extend such threads of communication to her. All other viewers, at best, just smirk.
It is quite possible to show the natural beauty and morning angelic freshness by slightly putting yourself in order. Even light make-up can give the impression that you are showing your natural face, especially if you tend to wear a lot more makeup than in the picture at a given time.
When taking personal photos, remember to strengths his appearance. If you have gorgeous hair, try to get noticed, even if you are shooting against the backdrop of the Eiffel Tower and selfies from the category of "I was here." Let there be a selfie “I was near the Eiffel Tower, look how beautiful my hair is at the same time.”
by Valentin Kouba
Maybe it seems to you that smiling at yourself in a camera or a phone camera is a very stupid thing to do and you also look not the best way. Drop doubts! And smile, smile! Keep in mind that taking a selfie on a smartphone is a rather... awkward activity in itself, so smile at this fact!
Smiles are different - a sly smile with a closed mouth, a wide open mouth and laughter so that all teeth can be seen or a mega-popular, but set on edge “lips with a bow / duck / tail" ... Nevertheless, a smile is one of the most popular and the most charming facial expressions that can be used always and in almost any situation.
Avoid common mistakes. They include funny poses that are mistakenly considered cool or seductive. For example, when, when posing, the butt is pushed back too much or the person pretends to be asleep or was taken by surprise. Consider this already bad manners in a selfie photo.
For full-length selfies, the general rules of portrait photography apply - position yourself half-turned to the camera, this will visually stretch the line of growth and you will look more slender.
When shooting legs (or new sandals, it doesn't matter), try to capture the angle from the knees. Such cropping will emphasize the length of the legs and remove the excessive solidity and heaviness of the upper part.
Selfie photo involves taking pictures on smartphones, which means the possibility of using various filters. And you don't have to be ashamed of it! What may seem deliberate and tasteless during normal shooting, for a self-portrait photograph on a phone camera - funny and even artistic. It is impossible to give an unambiguous recommendation on the use of filters, so experiment! The same simple black and white or sepia filters have more options in applications, feel free to try them all.
And finally, for lovers of selfie photography, it’s absolutely not bad when you share your own images with your friends. But if your portfolio has more than 1 selfie for 8-10 shots, think about it, maybe you should diversify your photographic delights and try to shoot something different with a smartphone camera? Attention to your person will still be provided!
The term “selfie” has only recently entered the vocabulary, but the concept of self-portrait is not new. Artists created their self-portraits centuries before there were modern smartphones, however, modern photographs do not at all claim to be a work of art. But how do you take the perfect photo? Meet a few practical advice for a great selfie!
Keep your chin down and your camera up
Love her or hate her, but Kim Kardashian definitely knows how to take selfies. There is even a wax figure of Kim right in the process of taking such a picture, it is on display at Madame Tussauds. In an interview, Kim admitted that she always tries to keep her chin down and the camera up. If you hold the camera too low, it looks like you have a double chin. If you raise your chin, you can see the nostrils, which is not very bright for the selfie. But remember that this angle is suitable for Kim Kardashian because she has a rather thin face. Your ideal angle depends on the shape of your face. Try different angles to find the best option. 
Focus on more than just the face
Remember that you are not only your face. You can share other body parts as well. Did you buy new shoes? Show your legs! Walked twenty thousand steps? Show off a fitness tracker on your wrist! You can tell a story with your photo, even if your face isn't in it. If you're relaxing on the beach, sand-covered feet in a hammock create best story than a face in water. When you look at the camera, you are distracted from what is happening around you, so showing off your appearance is not the best way to show what is happening to you. A selfie is not just a face, a selfie is you. Try to notice small details too! 
Create the right frame
If you want to convey your feelings through facial expressions, try to shoot with your smartphone closer. Get rid of the distracting background, focus on the eyes. But don't get too close either, as the camera will focus on the closest object, and that will be your nose. Get close enough to be in the frame, but not too close to ruin the quality of the photo. Smartphone not working good camera, so you need to frame your shot properly. If you are body shy, you can focus on the face and posture that will look good. 
Divide and Conquer
If you position your face in the center of the frame, the picture looks like a passport photo. If you're not aiming for that kind of impression, use the basic photography rule of thirds. Divide the frame into three equal parts vertically and horizontally. Position your face to the left or right of the frame so that your eyes are a third below the screen and not in the very center. Such a composition allows you to show both your face and what surrounds you. The rule of thirds creates more compelling shots because it allows the eye to move across the photo and back to the subject. 
Photo while taking a photo
Sometimes the act of taking a selfie can tell a story. Ask someone to take your photo while you are taking your photo. Celebrities often publish such photos, which are depicted with smartphones. 
Crop your photo correctly
The background should be interesting, but not compromising. Always think about what surrounds you. No one will be interested in you if you have a dumpster behind you. It is better to cut such fragments. 
Is it worth pouting your lips?
The so-called "duckface" is suitable only for real ducks. The rest is better to pose naturally! 
Add sound
Instead of agonizing over trying to press the right button and keep the pose, just use the buttons to adjust the sound, this also allows you to take a picture. 
Be careful with filters
There are plenty of filters and apps out there, but don't get too carried away. If the photo has too many filters, it looks unnatural. Don't try to hide your natural look! 
Good lighting
The right light is the key to a good photo. Lack of lighting can ruin your selfie. Always try to take photos in natural light, as fluorescent lights don't brighten skin tone. However, the direct rays of the sun are also not suitable. You need a uniform light, not directed directly at you. 
Should you use a selfie stick?
A selfie stick is a great way to take a picture of both your face and the nature around you. Use this device carefully so as not to disturb others, especially if you are in a tourist place.
Take photos with pleasure
You can endlessly click yourself on the camera, but what's the point if out of a thousand pictures you can hardly manage to choose at least one decent one! Think you're not photogenic? No, you just don't know how to take beautiful selfies! Selfies, or the so-called "selfies", gained popularity in the late 2000s, when the camera function appeared on phones. Modern fashionistas can no longer imagine their insta-life without smartphone self-portraits. By the way, according to statistics, it is the "selfies" who gain a record number of likes! Do you want your selfies to delight, and your friends to envy such excellent shots? Just follow our simple tips, and then you will definitely learn how to take a selfie correctly!
Find your corner
First you need to find the "working" side. It's simple: take a selfie with different hands, bringing the right side of the face closer to the lens, then the left side of the face. The side that hides the flaws and emphasizes the merits will be the “working” one.
Try tilting your head at a 3/4 angle, so your eyes will look bigger, your cheekbones more expressive, and your jaw line won't merge into your neck.
Another trick is to raise the camera above you. This technique will visually narrow the face, allow you to focus on clothes, the neckline or capture the background.
Let there be light!
Lighting plays a huge role in creating a quality selfie. Best to use natural light. To do this, you can go to the window or go outside. The light source should be located above eye level, and not shine from behind the shoulders directly into the camera. You can use a thin curtain to get soft, enveloping lighting. In low light, you can use artificial light, but not a flash! She will give you red eyes and distort reality.
Show emotion
"Self" on which you smile sweetly is the easiest trick to charm an insta audience. But if the mood is autumn and there is sadness in your soul, you can experiment, show thoughtfulness, surprise or even fear. You decide. The main thing is that the emotion should seem sincere, and not simulated!
Makeup won't hurt
When we are talking about the selfie, the first thing the eye falls on is the lips. Make them more expressive with red, purple or pink lipstick. And please forget the duckface! You will also need a highlighter. Apply this fabulous remedy to your cheeks, bridge of the nose, chin and forehead. The skin will instantly change, become more fresh, radiant and healthy. Highlighter is an indispensable must-have for those who like to sleep longer! Wear it instead of a full-fledged make-up, and you are incomparable.
Sorry, what's the background?
Concentrating on themselves, many forget that there is a clothes dryer, a street dump, and other things or people that do not fit into the self-portrait at the back. It's great if you take a selfie against the background of picturesque nature, original interior, sights, turquoise sea, palm trees or unusual animals. The right background can attract no less than your flawless face. Well, if you manage to catch a celebrity in the lens, it will be generally cool!
Use Apps
Let's say the selfie turned out the first time. But how to even out the tone of the face, remove the yellowness of the teeth and that pimple on the forehead? Feel free to use photo editors and improve yourself! Fortunately, they are now for every taste! Here are some of them:
- facetune. A find for selfie lovers! It can do almost everything: whiten teeth, remove “red” eyes, make hair brighter, correct the shape of the face, blur the surrounding background. Forgot to dress up? Make a make-up right in the app!
- Perfect365. Great photo retouching and makeup application. A large selection of settings allows you to change the color of the eyes and hair, adjust the shape of the face, whiten teeth, eliminate skin defects, remove bags under the eyes and much more.
- CamMe. For those who are tired of selfies with outstretched arms! Set the timer, put your smartphone on a plane 5 meters away from you and shoot, shoot, shoot. The application is controlled by gestures, so there will be plenty of time to set up.
- Retrica. Over 100 filters in real time! There is also a timer. One click and your photo is a work of art.
- . Easily transforms even the worst shot. No magic, just technology! Temperature, contrast, sharpness, transparency, many filters: everything for the perfect selfie.
- Pixelmator. Practically magic. This is a kind of Photoshop, but with a more intuitive interface. Everything you need to edit your photos is here: filters, effects, professional tools for retouching and color correction, etc.
- YouCamPerfect. A perfectionist's dream! The application allows you to remove wrinkles and other skin imperfections, remove shine, refresh complexion, make eyes shine, and even “surgically” correct different parts of the face and body.
And also remember:
- Always clean your camera before taking a selfie. So the photo will not be blurry.
- Taking pictures in the mirror is not comme il faut. Don't post photos of your smartphone on social media. Better use the aforementioned CamMe app.
- Try not to use the front camera for selfies. It loses image quality. Turn your phone over and set a timer. 2-3 seconds is enough to take a winning pose and find the right facial expression. If your gadget has a “portrait” function, you are incredibly lucky. Feel free to use it!
- Don't shoot yourself too low, you risk getting a double chin. And if you overdo it and stretch your arm high up, you will distort the proportions of the body.
- Stand out, find your style! Maybe your thing is to be photographed in hats, driving a car or showing off luxurious curls and fashion accessories.
- Candid selfies in a towel after a shower, in underwear or immediately after sleeping in bed, leave for a personal photo archive.
- Try to relax, look as natural as possible. A casual no-make-up selfie with a cute expression can get more likes and compliments than staged photos in expensive outfits.
- Dilute the same type of selfies with collective self-portraits. Let everyone know that you are not only beautiful, but also funny!
- In order not to be considered complete ignoramus, devoid of any morality, in no case take pictures of yourself at a funeral, against the backdrop of someone else's accident, next to a homeless person, in holy or tragic places.
- Before you take a self-portrait, make sure no one is lurking behind you hoping to spoil the shot.
Now you know how to take a selfie correctly! We hope that the new "selves" will blow up your instagram, and subscribers will appreciate the photo skill.
When it comes to showing off a new look, the position in which you stand in front of the mirror is often crucial. You definitely don't want a selfie where you're standing at attention - it can make you look old-fashioned in the picture. There are three when you take a selfie in the mirror.
Stick out your leg. This pose is considered a win-win when all other poses have failed. Thanks to this posture, the body looks slimmer, and this position also gives a good appearance along. And don't forget to expose your sock!
Set your feet apart. selfie in full height a priori cannot be unsuccessful, especially if you want to demonstrate the image in full. Just remember to spread your legs a little to the sides, thereby creating a smooth curve that flatters the image.
Cross your legs and bend your knee. The classic cross-legged pose, where you stand with your legs crossed one over the other, sometimes with your feet touching. We offer a slightly different variation. Cross your legs with one knee slightly bent, with the toe of the bent leg pointing towards the floor. This pose is especially flattering for midi and maxi skirts. And a bent knee, pulled forward towards the mirror, makes the legs look longer and slimmer.
Select phone location
One of the most advantageous places to place the phone is a little to the side right next to the face. But if you want to look slimmer, put your phone close to a mirror and place it under your chin. This posture has pros and cons. Due to this arrangement, the body looks smaller, but the head seems unnaturally large.
Keep Proportions
Here are some wise tips on how to keep your head from looking big and your legs from looking fat.
Focus on the waist. Add a belt, tie a shirt around your waist, or wear a jacket that reaches to your hips.
Remember your hair. Loose hair sometimes weighs down the image when it comes to a photo in an Instagram mini-frame. So for such photos it is better to take the hair up. A high hairstyle lengthens the body and does not block the details of the image.
Avoid distractions
You don't need anything to distract attention from you. The key to solving the problem is cleanliness.
Make sure the background is clean. Don't forget to clean up the extra stuff and sort out the pile of clothes in the background. It will be very embarrassing if all the visitors to your page see the mess in your room.
Wipe down the mirror. If you take a selfie in front of a dirty mirror, the result will be disastrous - strange stains and streaks on your face and clothes are inevitable, so make sure the mirror is clean before taking a photo.
Don't worry about facial expressions
It's embarrassing to smile at yourself in the mirror - not best idea for this type of photo (and people passing by will not strangely look askance at you). Sometimes the best way to take the perfect selfie is to forget about facial expressions, smirk a little, and look at your phone's camera rather than at your reflection in the mirror. In this case .
Use application tools
Photos in the bathroom or dimly lit bedroom don't always come out well, but there's a way to make your shot look less amateurish. So add more light. It's not about completely editing a photo, but Instagram and other apps have a set of tools to help you make your photo brighter and lighter. Experiment with shades until your photo is perfect.
Translation from English.
Often, when trying to take a good selfie, people attach too much importance to external paraphernalia. In fact, the use of a selfie stick, the exotic landscape around, and even the perfect make-up are not that important. The main thing is to look natural in the photo and be able to emphasize your dignity.
How to take a beautiful selfie on your phone? To create a beautiful selfie, you need to consider a few basic points.
Lighting
Any photographer will tell you that light is of the utmost importance in any shoot. The face can change beyond recognition, depending on the angle of illumination. You will be able to find the ideal lighting angles for yourself only by trial and error, because every face is unique.
- However, there is also general rule- Natural daylight looks the most beautiful. Therefore, it is best to take pictures on the street or indoors with the lights off during the day. Lamps give too sharp contrast - therefore, in professional studios in artificial lighting conditions, diffused light is specially created.
- Never photograph against the light. Often a face in a good angle turns out to be too dark, and it is difficult to fix this even in Photoshop.
- You should also avoid excessive direct lighting - on an overly lit face, you may not see flaws, but such a selfie looks careless.
Good selfie poses
Equally important are the poses for selfies. Many people like to just take pictures of the face from the front, however, even if this angle comes out well for you, you can’t constantly exploit it so that the photos don’t look monotonous.
Here are some good poses:
- The half-turned head position suits almost everyone and adds variety to the photographs. This position can hide many flaws, because in nature there is no perfectly symmetrical face - when photographed in front, you draw attention to the little things. Try photographing the face three-quarters to the right and left to see which angle comes out best.
- Profile photos are not very common and look unusual. If you want to try something new, this one is for you. Make sure that your eyes do not look at the camera, but strictly straight ahead - then the selfie will look organic.
- Tilt the head down visually increases the forehead and crown and reduces the chin.
- The head, raised up, makes the chin heavier, but makes the forehead smaller.
- Hands near the face can noticeably enliven the photo. Holding your fingers through your hair or resting your palm on your cheek will look great and add variety to your selfie collection.
Facial expressions for a good selfie
Facial expressions for selfies are no less important. Bow pouts are outdated and funny, unless you're doing it as a joke. Facial expressions for a selfie should be lively and natural: then the photo will turn out perfect.
- Laughter or at least a slight smile will look the most beautiful, but only if they are lively and sincere.
- In order for a smile to look natural, the look must be expressive. We recognize fake smiles precisely by the lack of fun in the look, as well as by the absence of mimic wrinkles around the eyes. Therefore, you do not need to smile only with your lips. Try to think of happy moments when you take a photo.
- However, the look is important not only for smiles. Any facial expression requires the participation of the gaze - if you cannot feel the emotion that you are trying to photograph, your eyes will be empty, and the selfie will not be convincing.
- If you are not always able to work with your eyes correctly, you can take pictures in sunglasses. With them, any photo looks more successful - besides, they can be interesting to beat.
10 beautiful selfie ideas
We all need inspiration, even for things like taking selfies. These ideas will help you take more interesting selfies and highlight your beauty.
- Selfie with pets
We all love animals. Exotic selfies from foreign vacation trips, dolphinariums and zoos are now popular. However, you don’t need to look for something amazing just to take a picture. A dog or cat is great for a selfie: the animals are usually extremely photogenic. In addition, they can evoke genuine emotions in you, and the photo will turn out to be truly alive.
- Selfie in the wind
The wind allows you to create amazing photos. Flying hair and clothes add zest to any photo. In addition, the hair falling on the face creates an interesting effect in itself, so even if you did not manage to make an expressive look and a natural smile, a few strands on the face will easily hide the flaws.
- Selfie with your loved one
How to take a good selfie for a guy? It is often difficult to get men to pose for the camera. A joint selfie can be a way out. There are many popular poses commonly used by couples in photographs, and they all usually look good. After all, you give each other sincere emotions that cannot but be reflected in the picture.
- Spontaneous selfie
It is not necessary to wait for the right moment or a significant event for a selfie. Best shots often happen by accident. Take a picture of yourself in a familiar environment right now - in a cafe with a cup of coffee, in the office or on the bus. Probably, such unexpected selfies will turn out to be even more successful than well-thought-out options.
- Selfie with kids
Children always bring positivity to the pictures. Next to them, any adult looks happier and younger. You probably noticed that children almost never have bad pictures. It is worth learning from them immediacy and vivid expression of emotions. If you have a smile on your face, the environment in the selfie will play a secondary role.
- selfie lying down
When you lie down, you are as relaxed as possible - just such a face can look good in photos. Such selfies should be taken with natural makeup and hair lying softly on the pillow. Soft daylight will be especially appropriate here. Such a gentle and simple selfie will allow you to ignore external attributes and emphasize your natural beauty.
- Selfie in an unusual way
Photos in which you look different than usual always attract attention. Bright make-up, wigs, carnival costumes will help you with this. Usually these are photos from parties and other entertainment events. A selfie like this is a great way to not only show how fun you are having an evening, but also show off a new side of yourself.
- Photos in men's t-shirt
Men's shirts and t-shirts that are several sizes larger are always sexy, and selfies are no exception. It is especially interesting to play in contrast and take a selfie in a men's T-shirt with a feminine make-up and styling.
- sexy selfie
Selfies in swimsuits and lingerie always look attractive. However, if you choose this option, you need to think through the details so that the photo looks stylish and not vulgar. How to make an erotic selfie? For starters, watch your facial expressions. Facial expression should not be deliberately sexual, it often looks tasteless. Calm relaxed expression fit better Total. Also, try not to emphasize the possible flaws of your figure, do not take such selfies if you have untidy skin or unwashed hair.
- Selfie with a look over your shoulder
Such options always look playful, beautiful and natural. Turning your head back adds zest to the selfie: it looks like you are turning around at a passerby. The facial expression here can be anything, but a slight smile is best.
As you can see, there are a lot of simple but effective ideas that will help you take a successful selfie. Don't limit yourself to this list. Find your most beautiful angles and boldly experiment with poses, makeup and environments.
Video: 10 life hacks for the perfect selfie
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