THE TIP BOOK

How To Take Good Selfies

+ Choose a well-lit area. Good light is an essential element of any photograph, and selfies are no different.The sun or light source should always be in front of you and a bit above eye level, never behind you. Light from behind leaves your face in shadow and completely ruins a selfie.
Consider using a thin curtain to diffuse sunlight or a single light source. It makes the light softer and more flattering and smooths facial lines while making it easier to smile.Use natural light if at all possible, since it renders colors more faithfully than artificial light. You can use artificial light to fill shadows, if necessary. Most modern digital cameras have some automatic color correction but artificial light, particularly florescent, will change the colors of objects over the entire photo.
 
+ Pose with a pretty background. While the bathroom reflected in your bathroom mirror may seem like an acceptably standard background, to take a truly good selfie, try posing with something that people might actually like to see. Nature always makes a great background. In the spring and summer, you can pose in a small wooded area or near a blossoming bush of flowers if you need a quick and easy backdrop. For fall, capture the color of the changing leaves in the background, and in winter, capture the majesty of ice and snow.
If nature is not your thing, you could stay indoors and take a selfie in your room. Tidy things up first, though. You could also display something interesting in the background as long as it is not distracting. For instance, if you love to read, than a bookcase or stack of books would be a good backdrop. A movie poster with a lot of different people on it could be distracting, however.
 
+ Show off something new. If you decide to take a selfie to show off a new haircut or a new pair of earrings, make sure that you frame the photo in a way that highlights the new feature that has you so excited. A selfie showing off your new hairstyle should show your hair from the most flattering angle. On a similar note, a selfie showing off a mustache should show the mustache straight-on, and the same goes for a selfie showing off a new pair of glasses.
 

+ Try a natural look. You can take a picture of yourself as the outside world always sees you, but taking a snapshot of yourself with bedhead or minimal makeup can give the illusion that you're giving your social media followers a glimpse at the “real you,” which can be both interesting and pretty. If your just-out-of-bed look is more of a nightmare than a dream, however, you can straighten up a little. Even light makeup can give the impression that you are showing your “natural” face, especially if you tend to wear much more makeup than what you put on for your selfie.
 
+ Focus on one feature. If you do decide to make yourself up for your selfie, consider glamming up one feature while downplaying the others. This works especially well if there is one feature that you are especially pleased with. For instance, if you love your eyes, play them up with mascara and complementary eye shadow while keeping your complexion and lips fairly natural. Likewise, if your smile is your most charming feature, keep your cheeks and eyes looking natural while donning a stunningly beautiful lipstick.
 
+ Smile. Maybe smiling for the camera—or camera phone, as the case might be—makes you feel a little silly, but taking a random photo of yourself with your phone is a silly enough action in itself. Trying to look “cool” in a selfie usually backfires, anyway, so don't be shy and show off those pearly whites. You can play around with different smiles, of course. A closed-mouth coy smile can be just as appropriate and just as flattering as a wide, laughing grin. Nonetheless, a smile is one of the most appreciated and charming expressions you can wear, so you are better off sticking with a smile than another expression.
 
+ Avoid the usual mistakes. The "usual mistakes" involve actions and poses mistakenly done in an attempt to seem cool or seductive. Notable choices include the infamous "duck face," as well as unnecessarily flexing your muscles, pretending to sleep, or pretending to be caught off guard by someone else.
 
+ Frame the photo well. When taking a selfie of your face, let your face and hair fill up as much of the screen as possible without seeming overwhelming. Angle your face slightly to show off your "good side," whichever side that might be. The slight angle is generally more interesting aesthetically than a straight-on photo.
Girls, angling the camera slightly above yourself and taking a snapshot of your face and chest will highlight your cleavage. Since this position is fairly unnatural, odds are, you already know what the camera will focus on when you take a selfie like this. Understand that these sorts of selfies do not usually get good attention from respectable sources though.
 
+ Take a full-length photo. If you want to show off a great new outfit or a fabulous figure after a diet, you will need to stand in front of a full-length mirror to capture your body from head to toe. In this instance, your face is no longer the focus of the photo. Take full body shots in a clutter-free space. The photo should focus completely on your figure, not on random objects in the background.
For women, you can appear more slender by slightly cocking your hip to the same side you are holding your camera in. Your opposite shoulder should come forward a bit, and your free arm should either dangle to your side or your free hand can rest on your hip. The chest should lean forward naturally, and the legs should be crossed at the ankle.
 
+ Snap a photo of your shoes. If you decide to take a selfie of your feet after you slip on a great new pair of shoes, angle the camera so that your leg appears slender as it leads up to your foot. •Aim the camera straight down. The edge of the frame should land somewhere on your thighs, fairly close to your hips. This angle makes your legs look as long as possible.

- denim