OxfordDictionary's word of the year for 2013 was selfie. Love them or hate them,they're here to stay so you might as well learn how to take them properly. Justbecause snapping a selfie is easy doesn't mean you shouldn't put thought intoit.
Despitetutorials from seasoned selfie pros like , we've seen fartoo many double or triple chinned, poorly lit, pained expressionedself-portraits floating around on Facebook and Instagram. Consider thefollowing tips a public service.
1. Right Angles
Theangle is one of the most important aspects of selfie. In general, try to shootfrom above. This prevents the dreaded double chin while highlighting your eyesand making your face look slimmer. Ka-ching!
Tryturning your head at a slight angle. It's usually more flattering than lookingat the camera straight on. Experiment with different angles and head tilts tofind your perfect position.
2. Lighting
Youprobably aren't surprised that lighting is just as important to a selfie as itis to a formal portrait. bright lightstreaming in behind you and try to stand facing your light source. Natural lightis preferable and window lighting is best because the light is filtered. That'swhy selfies you take in the car generally look better than those underfluorescent lights. Also, avoid using the whenever possible.It's super harsh and can cause red-eye.
3. Backdrop Baby
Seriously,please try to be aware of your background. We've all heard about ToriSpelling's chestal region accidentally showing up in the background of herhubby's pic and many of us unfortunately saw the viral um "bathroom selfie."
Beforeyou whip out that phone, take a look at what else besides your smiling faceyou'll be capturing. Is your spouse half naked in the background? Do you have avoodoo doll made in the likeness of your boss sitting on your desk? Does yourcarpet need to take a trip to ? Play it safe andtake that pic in front of a nice blank wall.
4. Filter Friendly
Don'tfeel like you have to be a purist and post your selfies in all their wrinklyand blotchy glory. Repeat after me: filters are my friends. Check out the photoeffects that Instagram or your phone's camera have. You can also download coolfilter and that will give youthe tools to post only the most glam selfies.
5. Keep YourClothes On
Itsaddens me to have to say this, because really this should be one of thoserules that goes without saying. Do not let Mr. Tequila talk you into snappingselfies in poor taste and various states of undress cough cough. Even if youhave no intention of sharing your risqu portrait, it could accidentally fallinto the hands of, well, anyone. Or everyone.
Justdo yourself and all of your pals on Twitter a favor and keep it clean. Don'ttake a selfie that you'd be ashamed to share with Grandma. Because eventuallyGrandma will see it and wonder what happened to that sweet, perfect grandchildshe used to know.
6. About Face
Sureit's convenient, but the front-facing camera quality is quite crappy. You'regoing to end up with a higher resolution, less blurry picture if you can masterthe no-look selfie with your phone's regular camera. It may take a few moretries ... and some finger dexterity, but starting with a higher quality imagewill give you a better end product.
7. Moderation
Selfiesare inherently a .Does a quick scan of your Instagram account show nothing but you duck-facing?Maybe it's time to branch out and start snapping pics of other people or yourfood or cute puppies.
Andconsider adding some variety to your selfies. I understand that you want toproject a certain kind of image, but seriously, there are only so manydoe-eyed, triple coated mascara glam shots that I can stomach. Be yourSELF(ie).Ha. Show off your personality and your sense of fun. You don't always have tolook stunning.
For more tips on the perfect selfie, check out . Now scamper on out there my littlephotographers and start shooting better selfies.