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Most holidays are about spending time with others, and that’s as it should be. But today, it’s time to think about you. Or rather, what others think about you. National Selfie Day is here.
Self-portraiture isn’t inherently self-involved. It’s a form of communication driven by a desire for people to see us for who we think we are or want to be. In some ways, it’s more telling and honest than how we might come across in person. And while there doesn’t have to be artifice in self-presentation, there can be art. Just because you’re photographing yourself, you don’t necessarily have to present yourself.
Just look at Cindy Sherman, who has built a career transforming and capturing herself in the guise of so many others. Sherman wants no part in being known as the queen of selfies(Opens in a new window), but she has used Instagram(Opens in a new window) and the apps YouCam Makeup(Opens in a new window) and Perfect365(Opens in a new window) to post images that she’s worked into reflections of the human condition. If you’re not yet comfortable in front of a camera, following her example and creating a character of your own could help you build up to revealing your true self.
Whether you’re a self-assured selfie taker, feel like your snaps fall short of your IRL beauty, or want to create the Instagram version of the Mona Lisa, this guide will help you get your best shot.
Strike a Pose
Pretty much everyone is a poser now, but there are a few professional ones we’re turning to here for their tried and true tricks for looking their best when they’re the ones behind the camera. Before we begin: Make sure to take tons of shots so you have lots of photos to choose from. These pros might look like they got that snap in a second, but be assured that there are plenty of discards in their camera rolls.
Extend Yourself
Pulling your face a bit away from your neck will give your jaw a taut and flattering appearance. You don’t want to stretch unnaturally far away because the tension will be evident in your face. Just extend it a bit until you feel a slight tightening in the lower part of your face. Gigi Hadid unsurprisingly has it down.
Things Are Looking Up
Instead of staring straight at the camera, look up a bit. This will give your eyes some sparkle and make them look larger. Imaan Hammam adds a bit of smolder, too.
Even if Your Face Is a Bit Down
Aside from being a model, Miranda Kerr is the founder of a beauty brand(Opens in a new window) and is married to Snapchat co-founder and CEO Evan Spiegel, so snapping perfect selfies comes second nature to her. One thing she often does is angle her face down.
Side to Side
Taking a shot front-on can be unflattering. Turn your face (and maybe even the camera) slightly to the side. Play around a bit to see what works best for your face. Paloma Elsesser looks great from any angle, but these side shots are giving easy and beautiful.
Find Your Light
Face the light, whether it’s from a window or a bulb or wherever, for your best look. Zendaya stepped into the sunlight for this series of shots and you can see how it hits her on all the spots you want to highlight (between the brows, the tip of the nose, above the bow of your lips, and the chin).
Get Equipped
A smartphone is all you need for selfie perfection, right? Not necessarily. There are a few things you can buy to make sure you look your best.
LuMee Case
Getting good lighting is so much easier if it goes everywhere with you. But you’re not Apollo, so try a LuMee case(Opens in a new window), like the LuMee Halo Gold Mirror(Opens in a new window), which is ringed with an LED bumper on the front of the case for selfies and has a circle of LEDs on the back for other shots. There’s a dimmer so you get the perfect lighting every time.
LuMee Halo Gold Mirror case
Ring Lights
While a light-up case is great when you’re on the go, if you have more control of your environment, you can use a ring light. PCMag has a guide to some of the best, but in general, the 12-inch Razer Ring Light(Opens in a new window) is a good light for a good price.
Pocket Reflector
PhotoTrust 2 in 1 Pocket Reflector
When you have a natural source of light that’s super flattering but not in exactly the right spot for the background you want, use a reflector. The PhotoTrust 2 in 1 Pocket Reflector(Opens in a new window) is tiny, collapsible, and gets the job done. Be sure to hold it opposite the light source to cast light back onto yourself.
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Tripod
Extending your arm is only going to give you so many posing options. Get a tripod and you can set up shots that fit your entire self and give you greater background options. The UBeesize Phone Tripod(Opens in a new window) is compact so you can carry it with you easily, and it comes with a remote. If you need something with more height to it, Ubeesize also makes a tripod that extends up to 67 inches(Opens in a new window) and also comes with a remote.
Remote
By using a camera remote, such as the CamKix Camera Shutter Remote Control(Opens in a new window), you’ll have the time and space to take a great photo. Set your camera’s timer a few seconds out and you can stash the remote before it snaps.
Apps Are Where It’s At
Instead of relying on the standard-issue camera app on your phone, you can put whatever photo skills you have to use with apps that have more features, like ProCamera(Opens in a new window) for iOS and ProCam X(Opens in a new window) for Android. These are for those who have some knowledge and experience of cameras and want more options than a built-in camera app offers, but they’re not a necessity to take a great selfie.
You can use YouCam Perfect (Android(Opens in a new window), iOS(Opens in a new window)) to take a great selfie and edit it easily with a few clicks. Basic editing is free, but you can get more effects and extras with a monthly or yearly subscription. If you want a more made-up look, try YouCam Makeup (Android(Opens in a new window), iOS(Opens in a new window)).
And there’s nothing wrong with a little Facetune (iOS(Opens in a new window)). You can use it to take a photo and choose to do a one-click tune-up of your selfie or practically go pixel by pixel. The original version of the app is a flat $3.99 and remains the top contender because its successor, Facetune 2, requires a subscription that lots of people gripe about. Unfortunately, Android users only have Facetune 2(Opens in a new window) available to them.
If there’s an object or person standing in the way of your selfie being stellar, TouchRetouch makes it easy to remove them with a click. It can also fine-tune your shots in lots of other ways, too.
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Source link : https://www.pcmag.com/how-to/how-to-snap-the-best-selfies