It’s the age of the selfie. Facebook, Instagram, and Snapchat are all loaded with self taken snapshots of men and women itching for “likes.” However, it’s difficult to figure out exactly what angles and lighting are the most flattering on our faces. After all, looking good in the mirror is completely different than looking good in photographs, so practicing poses in front of a reflection isn’t going to help. The only way to figure out how to look the most photogenic in selfies is by snapping as many photos as possible while trying out the following photography tricks. Anyone can appear photogenic, as long as they know the proper way to use their camera phone. The right poses, angles, and lighting all contribute to the perfect picture. Since it’s highly embarrassing to upload a snapshot to social media and have it be ignored, these 15 photography tricks to get more likes on selfies will definitely come in handy:

15 Use Natural Lighting

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A person can look completely different under the harsh florescent lighting of a public restroom than they do under the soft, professional lighting of the runway. When someone steps beneath the wrong type of lighting, shadows are going to fall onto their face in unflattering ways. However, since most people don’t have their own elaborate photo studio, taking selfies outside is a great alternative. Natural light is always more flattering than artificial light. Instead of stepping outside in the rain or braving the heat, model-worthy snapshots can be taken beside windows. As long as the blinds are up and curtains are drawn, the window will let in a natural light source that will make your face appear softer.

14 The Rule Of Thirds

It’s actually unflattering for a person’s face to be in the dead center of a snapshot. It’s better for them to have their face off to one side, either toward the upper left or the upper right of the shot. This is called “The Rule of Thirds.” It’s a guideline that claims an image should be able to be divided into nine equal parts by equally spaced horizontal and vertical lines. The most important part of a photograph should be placed in the areas where those imaginary lines would intersect, or in layman’s terms, toward the sides of the photograph.

13 Focus On One Feature At A Time

Whether a model is headed for a shoot, or a student is just headed to class, they should use makeup to draw attention to their best facial feature and downplay the rest. If bright red lipstick is used, then the eye shadow and blush should be toned down, because it’s unflattering to have too many things going on at once. Just like a room in a house, a person’s face should have a focal point. If a woman has a dark smokey eye matched with painted black lips, no one will know where to look on her face. It’s best to spruce up one spot and leave the rest natural.

12 Use Flattering Poses

 

It doesn’t matter how thin a person is, because the wrong pose could make them look like they have rolls on their stomach and a double chin. To avoid the latter, the neck should be pushed forward and extended during photographs. In a full body shot, it helps to pop one hip to the side for a slimmer looking waist, or place a hand on the hip for slender looking arms. When it comes to sitting, anyone who is insecure about the size of their thighs should cross their legs at the ankle instead of the knee to avoid showing too much skin. Of course, posture is also important, which means that backs should be straight and shoulders should be pressed back.

11 Don’t Face The Camera Straight On

Facing the camera straight on can be a mistake, because it can cause a person’s face to appear too thick and wide. It’s best to turn your head three quarters to the side to create the illusion of a slimmer face. The same rule applies during full body shots. Facing the camera will make a person’s waist appear wide. Instead of heading to the gym to lose weight, standing at a slight angle will produce a slimming effect. It’s always for the best to turn your body and face slightly away from the camera, while keeping your eyes on the lens.

10 Use High Angles

Unless you want the world to see your double chin, you should avoid angling the camera below your face. The most flattering angles are at eye level or just a bit above it. The higher the camera is positioned, the bigger your eyes will look and the more your cleavage will be accentuated. Plus, higher angles can make you appear slimmer by highlighting certain shadows that wouldn’t be seen during lower angles. However, beware of positioning the camera too high, because it can make your head look much larger than it actually is and create the illusion of a disproportioned face. Holding the camera slightly above eye level is always your best option.

9 Avoid Using Flash

Flash is meant to be a helpful tool that enhances the photo taking experience. However, it rarely works the way that it’s meant to work. Unless it’s too dark outside to see and flash is necessary, it should be avoided, because there’s a big chance it will harm your photographs more than it helps them. Flash can overexpose your snapshots and make it difficult to make out what is going on. It can reflect in the mirror and create a distracting glare. It can cause a pair of beautiful eyes to turn into red eyes. The list goes on and on.

8 Choose The Right Color

Different colors awake different emotions. Red is a sexual color, so it’s a great idea to wear it for dating profile pictures. Blue creates a serene feeling, but is also linked to persuasiveness, so it’s good to wear for a LinkedIn profile, when a person is trying to convince another to trust them. Green is connected to nature, so it’s great to wear when a person wants to come off as earthy. No matter what color a person chooses to wear, it’s always a great idea to wear multiple shades of the color, or to wear complementary colors. It’s not the time for color clashing.

7 Show Genuine Emotions

It’s easy to tell when a person is genuinely happy in a photograph, because a true smile looks completely different than a staged smile does. A genuine smile will reach the person’s eyes, creating crow’s feet. Since it’s impossible to fake a real smile, it helps to be in a good mood while taking selfies. However, if you can’t seem to get yourself to feel true blue happiness, then you can place your tongue behind the back of your teeth and then smile. It will assure that you open your mouth the proper amount and look relaxed while doing so.

6 Use Burst Mode

Photographers never get their photos right on the first try, so why would a selfie come out perfectly after one snapshot? The more pictures that are taken, the better the odds are that a great one is thrown into the mix. The best way to take multiple pictures is by using “burst mode” on a camera or smart phone. The function will take multiple photographs in quick succession, so there’s no chance of the selfie being ruined from blinking or squinting. It can also help you test how wide of a smile you should make or how far you should tilt their head, because you’ll see every possible outcome.

5 The Right Setting

Once a photograph is uploaded to the Internet, it’s never going to go away. That’s why it’s crucial to look over a picture before posting it on social media. Make sure it doesn’t contain any embarrassing objects in the background or wardrobe malfunctions, especially if the photograph is taken in a mirror where more of the room is exposed than you realize. In order to get the most likes on your selfies, an interesting background is key. Instead of snapping photos in the bathroom like everyone else does, take one by a sandcastle at the beach or in front of a famous landmark.

4 Hold Your Phone Horizontally

Professional photographers typically take more horizontal pictures than vertical ones, because that’s the way that most cameras are set up. Think about it: movie screens, televisions, and even computer screens are all horizontal. Meanwhile, cell phones are held vertically, which is why most people snap vertical photos with them. However, a selfie taken horizontally can actually be more flattering than a vertical one. It allows the snapshot to hold more information, which means the photograph can contain more than just one face. Plus, a horizontal picture can make those faces appear thinner, because there will be more empty space around them.

3 Use Filters And Apps

Professional photographers alter their photographs all the time. Instead of using Photoshop like they do on models, there are plenty of simple apps for everyday people to use. There are some apps will help alter the whiteness of teeth and reduce red eye. There are some apps that contain borders and unique filters. There are even apps that allow users to erase blemishes and emphasize their favorite facial features. Of course, as long as Instagram is uploaded on your phone, there’s no need to download any extra applications, because the social media site comes with plenty of filters to alter pictures with. The most flattering ones are Mayfair, Rise, and Valencia.

2 Create Space

During full body shots, it helps to separate your limbs from the center of your body. Keeping your hands at your side and pressing your legs together can create the illusion of heaviness, making your photos look less than appealing. Instead, remember to give yourself some space. Bending your arms so that they’re away from your torso and standing with your feet a few inches apart can make a massive difference when it comes to how slender you look. Keeping your limbs away from the center of your body is a simple way to appear slimmer without having to exercise or watch what you eat.

1 Use Your Phone’s Back Camera

Most selfies are taken with cell phones, because they make it easy to post the pictures on Instagram and Facebook. While most people are used to using the front camera on their iPhones, so they can have an easier time framing their shot and can see what they look like, it’s not actually the best option. The back camera is capable of taking higher resolution pictures than the front camera is. The photographs that it takes are less likely to come out blurry, which means it’s more reliable than the front camera, albeit more difficult to use when taking a selfie.

Sources:digital-photography.com, digitalcameraworld.com, refinery29.com

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