5 Tips for a better #Selfie!

This blog post originally appeared in 7 Steps to a Rockin' Selfie. I've added new pictures and commentary. 

All of my blog photos are selfies.

I have mastered the art of the selfie stick and when using a tripod and studio lighting, I have learned how to neatly conceal my remote clicker, even when displaying my hands in a shot. (And I've recently figured out that I can shoot barefoot (who would know?) and use my toe to press the clicker.)

Despite the abundance of selfies all over the Internet, I've found a lack of solid instructional info on how to take a good selfie.

Through trial and error, I learned how to take the best selfies, and I’ve brought back the best tips to share with you.

#1 You need a selfie stick.There is no way around this.  

​You need a selfie stick. Take your ego and pride and stick into your selfie stick. The selfie stick allows you to make the most of your angles, lighting, and time. Once you get over feeling ridiculous for buying a selfie stick, you will be grateful you have a selfie stick. Running around $15, they are well worth the investment.

Check out the link below... 

Selfie Stick

#2a Lighting - Outdoor
​The hour after sunrise and the hour before sunset are referred to as “the golden hour.” This is when you look your best, so utilize this lighting if you plan to do an outdoor selfie shoot. 

If for some reason you decide to take a photo outside of this time slot, when you review your photo reel, be prepared to see a hideous, pocked faced, withered monster wearing your clothes and pretending to be you. I find that there is a half an hour window when I look like the beautiful goddess that I truly am.

​#2b Lighting - Indoor
Indoors as well, you want to create a soft, illuminating glow. 

1) Diffuse direct sunlight by pinning a white sheet over windows. 

2)Soften harsh overhead florescent lights by using diffusing paper. 

3) If you need more lightening, hang a Chinese lantern above (about one foot) and in front of (about another foot) your now soft and glowing face. Grab the cord to raise and lower the ball like a piñata while you use your phone (already poised in the selfie stick) to check for the perfect lighting. 
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4) If you want to get fancy, look into a professional lighting system. I bought mine for less than two hundred dollars and I haven't regretted it. 

Click below for more information on professional lighting kits.... 

Professional Lighting Kit

#3 Background
​I’ve traveled to amazing locations by the ocean, in the desert, in the woods, and all this makes for some awe-inspiring photos. 

While the vista of the Grand Canyon behind you would clearly make the best shot, if the lighting isn’t working for your face, you’ll have to end up turning the camera and turning the camera to find …that your best face lighting happens to highlight the trash dumpsters behind you. 

This is the reality of being a selfie portrait artist. The struggle is real. 

​#4 Take a lot of pictures... A LOT!

​ Be prepared to take 500 pictures and to throw 490 in the virtual trashcan. It’s ok. It’s not you. Professional photographers admit that you may have to go through several rolls of film to get one good picture.

​If this is true for world-class super models, it’s true for you, so get over yourself and keep that shutter snapping. 

​#5 Angles...You have a best side – find it. 

Take that camera, find the good lighting, and experiment. Do a shot straight from the front, then swivel your head slightly to show the left side of your face (take a picture) and then the right (take another picture). Angle the camera slightly above, at a 75 degree angle to take the next picture. Then lower it down to a 60 degree angle… Take a dozen or so pictures finding the best sides of you.

Selfie Do's and Don'ts

 Do look directly into the lens – the little dot on your iPhone. If you look at the iPhone screen, your eyes will look more cross-eyed than they naturally are. If you haven’t already learned this lesson, don’t worry, you will.

Do follow the good example of others. Do you like someone’s selife? Emulate the angle, the layout, the lighting and the energy.

Don’t worry about people staring at you when you're doing an outdoor selfie shoot. They will stare. Just hand them your business card and take advantage of a little shameless self-promotion.

Do take advantage of accessories like the selfie stick, the tripod, and the remote control. LIFE HACK! You can plug your ear buds into your iPhone and use the volume controls as a free remote control! 

Do experiment with your smiles. Find which smile suits your best look. And remember to smile with your eyes (and your heart!).

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What are your selfie tips?

Please share them in the comments section!