Top Ten Selfie Tips Newcastle

Lighting is key to a great selfie!

• Natural Light: Whenever possible, use natural light. Position yourself facing a window or go outside if it’s cloudy . Natural light is flattering and reduces shadows.
• Avoid Harsh Light: Sunshine can be too harsh. Aim for the softer light of early morning or late afternoon or cloudy days.
• Artificial Light: If natural light isn’t an option, use soft indoor lighting. Avoid overhead lights that can cast unflattering shadows.
• If you drive, try sitting in the front seat of your vehicle as the directional diffused light really flatters!

Finding your best angle is crucial. It isn’t always from above as most tend to assume!

• Experiment: Tilt your head slightly to find your best angle. For most people, a slight tilt up or down or tilted to the side works best.
• Avoid Straight-On Shots: Slightly angling your face to the left or right can add depth and dimension.
• Try moving your camera below, above and to the slides of your face and see what flatters your features and bone structure best.

Use the tools available to enhance your selfie.

• Selfie Stick or Tripod: These can help get a better angle and include more of the background.
• Timer or Remote Shutter: Use the timer or a remote shutter to avoid shaky shots.

Composition matters.

• Rule of Thirds: Imagine your screen divided into a 3×3 grid. Position your face along these lines or at their intersections.
• Close-Up or Full Frame: Decide if you want a close-up of your face or a wider shot that includes more of your surroundings.

A clean, uncluttered background keeps the focus on you.

• Simple and Clean: Choose a background that isn’t too busy or distracting.
• Contextual: Sometimes, the background can add to the story of your selfie, like a beautiful rural landscape or an interesting urban scene.
• If this is for business, where would your clients expect  to see you?
• Try to keep backdrops in soft focus by using the portrait mode on your phone camera.

Your expression can make or break the selfie.

• Relax: Take a deep breath and relax your face. A natural smile is always more appealing than a forced one.
• Engage: Think of something that makes you happy or laugh. Genuine emotion translates well in photos.
• Look into the lens and imagine a client, a friend or someone else you are pleased to see looking back at you