How to take better selfies…without pouting

 5 MINUTE READ

Let’s be honest selfies are vain and a bit pointless but hey, on a night out or sitting in a beach bar they can be fun….but getting a good one ain’t easy.

 I average about 25 duffers to one mildly acceptable pic

Now that I’m posting regular blogs I’ve had to skill-up on the old Selfie front…so, dear reader, here I’d like to share my, ermmm, extensive knowledge garnered from exhaustive research (Googling and You Tube-ing for an hour) and endless experimentation (I’ve sent at least 3000 selfies to Trash)

Top Tips for taking better photographs with your phone

1. WIN THE LOTTERY THEN GET AN IPHONE X

It has a Selfie Portrait mode which makes EVERYONE look fantastic!!

2. MAKE IT EASY TO FIND THE CAMERA BUTTON ON YOUR PHONE

Keep the camera button in an obvious place (top left/bottom right…whatever) of your phone’s home page so you don’t have to dig about in your handbag for your reading glasses to find it – by which time the moment has passed!

TOP-EST  TIP EVER  (which I only found this out the other day )  if you use an iPhone when you’re in camera mode you can take a photo by pressing the ‘volume down button’ on the side of the phone. Go on try it. It works.

3. EQUIPMENT AND STUFF

Get yourself one of these little beauties – Popsocket – it’s a stick-on pop-up handle that makes texting and taking pics much easier. A proper one is about £14 (there are tons of fakes for a couple of quid )

You might also want to get a Selfie Stick. Ok, you might feel like a bit of a plonker but they do help take a good pic – especially with group shots.

Filters and Apps – jeez, now we’re entering a minefield of technical stuff.  So here’s all I know –

There are tons of them that come with most phones and a further 28 million or so Apps and Filters and Effects

The one I use most is the iPhone’s little magic wand which always makes a pic look a little better.

You could experiment with some effects – moody Noir or  Chrome, big eyes, flowers in your hair  – but, personally, after age of 22, I think they look at bit silly

4. LET THERE BE LIGHT

As any photographer will tell you lighting is everything – however…

TOO BRIGHT = HARSH

On a sunny day (yeah right, in Scotland)  try positioning yourself near a window or an open door for a softer effect.

5. STRIKE A POSE

Find a signature post that works for you.

Don’t ask me what it should be – I’m still trying to find mine.

  You could buy one of those crappy celebrity magazines and check out how celebs (and I use the term loosely) pose.  They tend NOT to be GUZZLING WINE and some like to stick a leg out or tilt their head or do the old turn slightly to the side and bring one knee in look and then there’s that a weird hen-toed look that’s going about just now.

Also, experiment to find your best side –  take loads of pictures of your face from various angles, left and right and one will, hopefully, stand out.

6. SMILE – SAY JUICY PLUMS

Forget Cheese and try saying Juicy Prunes – gives you a sorta natural pout – oh…and try sticking your tongue up behind your front teeth to create a smile showing some teeth (actually I’ve just tried doing both at the same time and it’s impossible … so pick one)

A bit of makeup helps – you can’t go wrong with bright lipstick  – but go easy on the Touche Eclat, or you could end up looking like someone has just emulsioned your face

For close-ups…

• The camera lens positioned just above the level of your nose is considered the sweet spot for portrait pics
• Try turning your head quickly and then looking back at the camera to create a bit of hair movement.
• Looking up towards the camera looks sweet and looking down sultry – take your pick
• Try tilting both your head to one side for a  I’m so gorgeous in a casual sorta way or take a pic with the phone on the diagonal so you end up in the corner of the pic (I like that one)
• Whatever is nearest to the camera will look bigger so if you want your lips to look bigger position the camera at the bottom of your face (double-chin alert!!)
• Lots of people take pics with the camera above their head but this can create too much distance between your head and the lens –  try bringing the camera closer to your face.

7. PROPS

Don’t just stand there grinning hold something (keep it clean now).

It could be glass of wine, a bunch of flowers, or a cat – yes a cat, they always go down well.

If you are about to EAT something delicious, hold it in front of you, about chin-height – and smile at the camera as if you’re totally indifferent about eating it.  RESIST the urge to stuff it into your GOB

8. BEHIND YOU!

 Check the background.  I loved this pic of me and my pal Wendy at a friend’s fab wedding…until I spotted the Brillo Pad Effect plonked at the top of my head – no it’s not a backcomb or a fascinator… it’s a  BUSH

9. AND SOME OTHER TRICKS

• If for some random reason you want to take a pic of your shoes (A Shoeie …yes, I did just make that up ) aim the camera straight down to make your legs look as long as possible
• Apparently, some earphones can be used to take photographs (who knew!)
• Make your own tripod – rest your phone on the legs of an upturned pair of sunglasses, or  raise up the camera by propping it up on top of a pile of  book (on the sunglasses)
• Mirrors can be useful if you want to take a full body selfie, but it can take a bit of practice.

So Get Clicking…and never forget the TRASH BUTTON is your best friend.

Any selfies secrets you’d like to share? 

THE END

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