Lifestyle

Selfie Esteem

We’ve become a society of selfie addicts — we can’t help ourselves. Is it narcissism? Is it a way of putting our best foot forward and connecting with others? Whatever it might be, check out these tips on how to make your selfie downright selfie-sational.
Text by Francesca Cruz | May 21, 2018 | Lifestyle

Picture Perfect
The first step is to find the very best resolution. Go to your smartphone’s settings and make sure you use the highest resolution available. You’ll have to delete any unwanted photos on a regular basis to avoid overloading your phone’s memory. If you have a case on your phone, remove it when using the camera so it doesn’t affect the flash and quality of the image. Also, a dirty lens contributes to snapping an unflattering selfie. Get some lens cleaning solution, a soft cloth and go to town. Ready? Pucker up!

Light Right
Lighting is everrrrrything! There’s nothing worse than having a huge shadow cast over your face, or an ominous background. The golden hour to shoot a money shot is during sunrise or sunset, when the light is soft and most beautiful. If you take a picture in the middle of the day with the sun high and blazing over you, the shadows will appear as if you have bags under your eyes, and sunglasses will yield a reflection. Avoid bold makeup and a backdrop with a lot of stuff going on, it will deter from you as a focus. Soft light, pretty makeup and nature as your canvas is sure to get you plenty of likes.

Move Around
Symmetry is a very good thing. Experiment with angles. Tilt your head to the left and then the right as you view yourself on your phone’s screen. Observe your profile. Learn what your best angles are. Straight-on shots are usually not the way to go. This is a selfie, not a passport picture. Get creative. Adjust your shoulders. Look over one shoulder; the other shoulder. Be playful. Arch an eyebrow. Soften your pout. Try everything but the dreaded duck face. Generally you want your eye line to be 1/3 down from the top of the frame. If lighting is important, framing the image is crucial. Now say cheese!