Strike a Pose: How to Snap the Best Selfies

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 by transforming and capturing herself in the guise of so many others. Sherman wants no part of 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 we’re turning to a few professional ones 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 plenty to choose from. These pros might look like they got that snap in a second, but be assured: There are plenty of discards in their camera rolls.

Extend Yourself

Pulling your face slightly away from your neck gives your jaw a taut and flattering appearance. You don’t want to stretch unnaturally far away, though, because the tension will be evident in your face. Just extend it a bit until you feel a little tightening in the lower part of your face. Gigi Hadid, unsurprisingly, has this down.

Look Up

Instead of staring straight at the camera, look up a little. This gives your eyes some sparkle and makes them look larger. Imaan Hammam adds a bit of smolder, too.

Angle Down

Aside from being a model, Miranda Kerr is the founder of a beauty brand(Opens in a new window) and married to Snapchat co-founder and CEO Evan Spiegel, so snapping perfect selfies is 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 ease and beauty.

Find Your Light

Face the light, whether it’s from a window, 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 accessories you can buy to make sure you look your best.

LuMee Case

Getting good lighting is so much easier if it travels everywhere with you. But you’re not Apollo, so try a LuMee case(Opens in a new window), like the LuMee Flip Holographic(Opens in a new window), that has a light that swivels from the front for selfies to the back for other shots. It features a dimmer, too, so you get the perfect lighting every time.

LuMee Flip case
(Credit: Case-Mate)

Ring Lights

A light-up case is great when you’re on the go. When you have more control of your environment, though, 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) works well for a reasonable price.

Pocket Reflector

PhotoTrust 2 in 1 Pocket Reflector
(Credit: PhotoTrust)

When you have a natural source of light that’s super-flattering but not illuminating exactly the right spot, 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.

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 with lots of features, such as ProCamera(Opens in a new window) for iOS and ProCam X(Opens in a new window) for Android. These apps are best 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 necessary for producing great selfies.

You can use YouCam Perfect (Android(Opens in a new window), iOS(Opens in a new window)) to edit your photo easily with a few clicks. Basic editing is free, but you can get more effects and extras with a monthly or yearly subscription. For a more polished 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(Opens in a new window). You can choose to do a one-click tune-up of your selfie or practically go pixel by pixel. If there’s an object or person standing in the way of your selfie being stellar, you can just swipe them away(Opens in a new window).