30 tips for taking amazing selfies Automatic translate

The 21st century gave us social media, and social media gave us selfies. The selfie portrait as a genre has always existed in photography, the photographer himself set up the camera, set the aperture, set the timer and quickly stood in front of the camera to take his portrait. Thanks to modern technology, it is enough for us to turn on the camera on our smartphone and take as many portraits as we want. Celebrities and bloggers on social networks show us that selfies can and should be taken anywhere and anytime: on vacation, at a business meeting, at the stadium or at dinner, alone or with friends. The selfie has no age or status restrictions and is limited only by your imagination.

Each of us probably has one or a million selfies taken in the last month on our phone. In this way, we save our emotions for ourselves at a certain moment, a selfie from the airport where you fly on vacation, or a selfie from your grandmother’s garden, where you sit on an apple tree, can become very popular on social networks. At any moment of our life that we want to save or share with subscribers and friends, we take a picture of ourselves and leave it forever in our memory and phone memory.

After reading this article, you will learn the tricks of successful selfies and a few ideas from a professional photographer to create original shots that will get you a lot of likes on social networks. Do you want more? Moscow photographer Oleg Bagmutsky will answer this question as well.

1. Remember the right lighting

Good lighting is the foundation of photography. You should not take pictures on the street in bright sunlight, as you will get extra shadows on the face and an excess of light in the photo. Prefer artificial lighting or stand facing a window. But the most beautiful photographs are always taken in the morning and in the evening, an hour after sunrise and an hour before it disappears below the horizon. It will be the perfect lighting option for outdoor selfies. The light will be soft and diffused, which will make your photos even better.

2. Opt for the front camera

The camera on the front of a smartphone can and does take better pictures, but you can’t see yourself in the reflection and you rarely get good selfies. If you’re shooting a self-portrait with the front camera, you can control the light, the angle, and instantly see exactly how you’ll look in the shot.

People have come up with a large number of devices and things that make the life of a telephone photographer easy and simple. Take into account some of them:

The ingenious invention of the "monopod", the so-called "selfie stick", forever solved the problem of photographing large groups of people. In any place, at any time, you can always take a picture of the whole family or a large company with the help of this most useful device.

If you have a Selfie Ring Light (a circular selfie lamp), then questions with the right lighting will no longer arise. This portable LED lamp attaches to your phone and creates a virtual studio light for your selfies. This gadget is especially loved by makeup artists and beauty bloggers, as the result of their work is visible in all its glory.

Tripods are sometimes compared to monopods and everyone prefers to buy just one of them. But we insist that these are completely different devices that serve different purposes. A tripod is a portable tripod stand that is designed for support and stability, used for cameras, phones and other devices. One of the main advantages of this device is the static it gives to photos. You will never take a photo on a monopod with a really big company with Niagara Falls in the background, for example.

The underwater lens cap is a great way to get Mermaid and Aquaman style selfies. With this cover, you can arrange an underwater photo shoot in the pool or in the ocean. This is not just a waterproof case, so the photos will be blurry, but it also has a wide-angle lens that can help you get clear pictures. The case is equipped with a tripod that can be easily attached to the underwater mask for unique self-portrait ideas.

4. Be aware of the background during the photo shoot

You can capture the perfect light and perspective, but if there is an extra or ugly object in the background, all your efforts will be in vain. Before you take a photo, turn around and evaluate what and who is behind you and whether they will fit into your frame. Many of the best selfies have been ruined by scattered things, ridiculous reflections, or pets in the background.

5. Get perspective and cool collage examples

The most favorable angle is a half-turned head, the face is visually reduced, the cheekbones become sharper, and the neck is longer. If you are shooting a face, you need to turn your head a little, this will make the picture better. Practice a little in front of a mirror: turn your head, raise and lower your chin, choose which angle you like best.

6. Enjoy funny selfie poses

Properly chosen pose will help you look taller and slimmer in photos. Sit in front of a mirror and choose two or three positions in which you look like yourself. Here are some basic posing tips: watch your posture, straighten your shoulders, pull in your stomach, lower your arms along your body, this will help you look slimmer.

7. Try Top Selfie Photo Ideas

When you take an original selfie, raise your hand above eye level and take the photo. So the eyes will appear larger and brighter, there will be no double chin. But don’t raise your phone’s camera too high to avoid wrinkling your forehead.

8. Be positive to master the art of Instagram

Think of something beautiful before you take a picture, it will set you on the right wavelength and give your face an extra charm. Good thoughts always cause a sincere smile and sparks in the eyes. Listen to yourself and do what you want at the moment: if you want to smile - smile, if you want to show your tongue or wink - do not hold yourself back. Emotions are always good for photos, be yourself here and now.

9. The more inspiration, the better.

The case when quantity turns into quality. The more photos you take, the more chances there will be 2-3 very good poses among them. Even celebrities don’t always get it right the first time, so they take a series of 10 to 50 shots to choose the best one later. A little tip: if you are looking for a good angle and change the position in the photo, do it smoothly, without sudden movements, so you will have a better chance of getting good shots.

10. Use photo editors to create creative self-portraits

Now there are a huge number of photo editing programs with tutorials. Different styles and interfaces provide different degrees of sophistication and focus on different activities and themes. With this app, you can apply a filter, hide makeup imperfections, de-clutter your photo, and do a lot of other manipulations to get the perfect shot. Explore all the features and choose the one that suits you and reflects your needs. Understand the basic functions of the photo editor, practice a little, and your traditional cute pictures will become even more interesting.

We’ve covered the basics for getting beautiful high-quality shots, now let’s look at some original self-photography ideas.

11. Take a representative photo of your silhouette.

Such photos are obtained with a shallow depth of field and have a good dreamy look. To achieve such a sculpted silhouette, stand in front of a background that is lighter than you, making sure that the outline of the face is beautifully emphasized.

12. Use reflection to create your own design

Ideally, if it’s a reflection of your face in the water, you’ll have to get wet and play with perspective, but the result could be beyond your expectations. Take a closer look at the world and understand that reflections can be found in many, even the most unexpected places in the room: mirrors, puddles, walls, and sometimes even in a cup of morning coffee you can find an interesting shot.

13. Create a rainbow effect on your face

Bright colors always add creativity to a photo. You can use a lens to get the rainbow effect, or you can use the regular version and a flashlight. Shine a flashlight on the shiny side of the disc until rainbow streaks appear on the face, you may need a mirror and a tripod for these photos.

14. Create your own photo background

An interesting backdrop for a photo can be easily made by yourself. You will need a fabric of the original texture, a flower arrangement, crumpled and straightened paper, a drawing on a large sheet of paper. From the simplest materials, you can get a creative and beautiful background for your pictures. This is the most creative craft that couples, toddlers and even serious guys can adore.

15. Show off your main passions

When a person is doing their favorite thing, they look different, and these are great fun self-portrait ideas. For example, you love to ride a bike and take a selfie while cycling through the forest: your cheeks turn red from a fast ride, your eyes light up, you are doing what you love and leaving this wonderful moment as a keepsake.

16. Dressing techniques for students and experts

Sometimes you want to be a different person, for this it is enough to use a wig and clothes. A little creativity, bronzer, a wig from the store and you are already Rihanna’s twin. Such tricks will add you not only good photos, but also a good mood.

17. All attention to detail

When learning how to take a self-portrait, it is important to remember that you can take a picture of your hands while playing the guitar or cooking, a silhouette on the beach at sunset, feet in rubber boots walking through puddles, eyes or lips with beautiful makeup. Look at yourself in the mirror and take a picture of the part of you that you like at the moment.

18. Take funny photos

Cheer up yourself and others with funny photos. Even if you don’t really like the shooting and the results after it, you will still enjoy the shooting process.

19. Black and white shots

If you convert a photo to black and white, you always get a different effect, deeper and more dramatic than in color. It already turns out a completely different photo and a different story. When you don’t understand what else can make your photo better, try converting it to black and white and see how the most banal portrait turns into an old film frame.

20. Become a movie character

Movie hero cosplay is always fun. You can be Scarlett O’Hara or Harley Quinn or dress up like Men in Black. A little makeup, sunglasses, a formal suit - and you are already a secret agent. Such photos show your preferences in cinema, collect likes and immediately cheer you up.

21. Hide part of the face

You can use fabrics, hair, and even your own fingers to cover part of your face. Photos in which the face is partially covered by a palm leaf look very nice. If you put on a beautiful smokey eye make-up and cover the rest of your face with a silk scarf, you get a selfie in a very sensual style.

22. Don’t Forget Your Selfie Hats

Original hats do not necessarily cost a lot of money. You can easily make them yourself. A wreath of flowers is one of the most beautiful options, making gentle and romantic hats, any girl will look like a fairy fairy. A handmade crown or a purchased item will make you a real princess. And cute straw hats are just made for photos in the park or on the beach. Choose a hat to your taste and take the most beautiful photos.

23. Experiment with shadow and light or choose the middle

Shadows give the photo an element of mystery and magic. It can be a darkened part of the face, a silhouette against the background of an open door at sunset, amazing photos are obtained with the shadow of leaves and plants on the face. Find a light source and a beautiful background and let your imagination run wild.

24. Selfie with pets

If you have a beloved pet at home, then you are a very happy person. There is nothing better than a cool picture with your favorite fluffy cat in your arms, or with a pet parrot sitting on your head, or when your beloved dog licks your cheek. The animals in the photo always add warmth and comfort to her and make us smile.

25. Use triptychs

Triptychs are the new trend in self-portrait photography tips. A series of three photographs, united by a common theme and telling one story, is called a triptych. This selfie style genre will let you tell your little story through photos.

26. Selfie with friends

These are the most fun photos in the world, and the more creative your friends are, the more interesting the pictures will turn out. You can be Charlie’s Angels, sit on couches like Friends, just laugh and have fun. And no matter how many of you - two or ten, you will still get the funniest photos. The only thing you can’t do with friends is boring photos.

27. Use colors

Make the background, your clothes and make-up all in the same color scheme. Not all of the same color, but in the same color scheme. At first glance, this is a simple task, but it will require a lot of creativity from you.

28. Make the seasons play their part

Each season has its own special charm: winter photos in hats and mittens against the backdrop of a Christmas tree, spring picnics on green-green grass, selfies on warm summer evenings and, of course, red-orange autumn gardens. Every time nature reveals itself in a new way and gives us beautiful backdrops for photographs.

29. Bring a selfie from every vacation

Each holiday is a special magic and mood. Holiday photos against the backdrop of the Christmas tree, a selfie with a giant Thanksgiving turkey, and festive New Year’s confetti beg us to take a picture and capture this beautiful moment.

We hope our article was useful for you and will help you create your own galleries and styles.

Whatever portrait idea you choose, these tips are sure to give you a little idea of ​​how to organize everything. We wish you pleasant and sincere emotions, and for everything else there are modern applications and editors. But there is one more nuance that is worth knowing:

30. A selfie is not a portrait

Successfully photographing yourself is a whole science. Wherever you are, if you have a mobile phone with you, you already have a minimum set. However, reaching the level of your portrait that a professional photographer can take with a selfie is as difficult as giving yourself a good haircut.