The Ins and Outs of Getting the Perfect Selfie

In a world ruled by social media and technology, it was only a matter of time until selfie was invented. The word “selfie” was declared the word of the year in 2013 and was included in the Oxford Dictionary with the following meaning: “A photograph that one has taken of oneself, typically one taken with a smartphone or webcam and shared via social media.” So the basic role of a selfie is to show you in an environment that deserves to be shared with friends. It can be a vacation, an exotic place, or a personal achievement. What’s important is for you to consider it a shareable moment. This type of photography is very popular, but it still has some rules.

It’s all about you!

A selfie is an opportunity to show off; to be a star. Whether you focus on your person or on the activity you are doing, a selfie is an extremely personal reason to be proud. The mood you want to share is usually a happy one. Try to look fresh and enthusiastic, to smile, and to glow. If you are proud of an activity, try to put some clues in the background. It can be a place you are visiting or some amazing things you are doing (maybe for the first time). It can be something you wished to do for years or just a good day you want to share with your friends. A selfie is always about you, although you can also do a group selfie.

Nevertheless, attitude is essential.

How to look good in a selfie

A picture taken this close and with your own hands can suffer a severe distortion. Use a selfie stick to elongate the distance between you and the camera. Another good trick is to position the camera slightly above you as to force you to look up. By doing so you eliminate the risk of a double chin, an abnormally big nose, and discolored face.

Light is essential for selfies, and if you use a smartphone, you probably know that the front camera is not as good as the back camera so pay attention to the lighting conditions. Here’s a list of easy tips for the perfect selfie:

• Try to face the source of light
• Explore different angles until you find the right one.
• Using the flash can be tricky. Avoid it if possible.
• Use wide lenses.

Pay attention to the background, even when you focus on yourself. Remember that you will share this picture and you really don’t want something embarrassing in the background. If the background is interesting, position yourself in a third of the image and let the other two-thirds show what’s behind you.

Selfie for shy people

If you want to share a selfie with your friends, but you are too shy to focus on your face you can try some different approaches. The first is to take the picture of your reflection or of your shadow. If you are in a beautiful place, you can put just your feet in the picture and let the landscape fill the frame. You can also photograph your hands in order to show an action. A picture can be taken from a distance if you use a timer to trigger the shutter. There are endless possibilities for those who don’t want to show their faces but want to share a moment or a memory. Be creative!

A selfie should be spontaneous, friendly, and joyful. Don’t stage it, don’t lie about your adventure. An honest selfie is more valuable than a thousand fake ones. Social media can be cruel and sometimes is hard to always see perfect faces and perfect lives. But remember that being true to yourself is more important than showing off in digital environments.