Okay, so you’ve taken some 100 photos, played around with every angle imaginable, took pictures with the flash and without but you still can’t get a good picture. Trust us, you are not alone.
There is more than meets the eye when it comes to perfecting a selfie – it boils down to having the right lighting, angle and filter.
Before you take a selfie for your Instagram profile picture or Tinder profile, scroll through the gallery for some tips to capture your best self.
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The tried and true time to take a selfie is either during sunrise or sunset. During this “Golden Hour”, the Earth is bathed in the glow of the sun. Your selfie will turn out warm and radiant.
If you take a picture in the middle of the day when the sun is high, shadows might form over your face and it can make the bags under your eyes heavier. As a rule of thumb, face directly into the light source.
Popular fashion influencer Aimee Song suggests having your back against the sun to take a selfie with a “hazy glow”.
Photo: Hyeri/Instagram
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Ask any photographer and they will tell you good lighting is key to nailing a good shot regardless of what their subject matter is. Always take advantage of natural sunlight streaming in when taking a selfie.
Even without a smidgen of makeup, you still get that coveted glow when the sunlight hits your face. If you’re going to take a picture, avoid harsh florescent lights that just do not do anyone’s appearance any favours.
Photo: He Ying Ying/Instagram
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Got a big night out? Make sure to turn off your flash function. Flash is never flattering if you’re taking a picture up close because the picture will just look overexposed. Camera flashes work the best when you are brightening objects from a distance. When used up close, the flash would almost certainly wash you out especially when you are against a pitch black background.
When you use take a selfie with the flash mode, the SPF in your base makeup might also react with the flash to create that horrendous dusty, white cast that saturates your complexion.
Instead of switching on the flash mode in your camera, next time you hit the town, enable the front facing flash of your Snapchat app. The messaging app has a flash feature for the front camera while the camera function on the iPhone does not. The screen will shine a bright light on your face when the flash feature is enabled, perfect for taking selfies at night.
Photo: Suzy/Instagram
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Photo editing apps and filters are great. The right filters will help to alter the tone and set the mood for the time of message you would like to convey through your photo. Apps like SNOW and LOOKS are popular amongst South Korean pop stars for their wide array of animated stickers and beauty filter.
These apps can also blur our imperfections and slim down our faces. Don’t be afraid to have a little fun with the different settings and filters. Just try not to don’t overdo it.
Photo: Yoona/Instagram
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Unless you are a supermodel, chances are, your face wouldn’t be perfectly symmetrical. That is why it is important to know your angles. While every face is unique, keeping your chin down and tilting your head to the side ever so slightly is a flattering angle for most people.
To give off that insouciant vibe, push your shoulders down so you look less tense.
Photo: Fan Bing Bing/Instagram
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The makeup you wear can also make or break a selfie. For starters, trade your physical sunblocks (with titanium or zinc oxide) for chemical sunblocks to avoid that ghostly white cast that will show up on camera.
Also, matte makeup always photographs better than dewy makeup because it wouldn’t reflect the light and wash you out.
Photo: Ko Sung Hee/Instagram
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Anything that is placed close to the camera will be magnified so as a rule of thumb, try not to have your face too close to your camera. Applying the same principle, push back your shoulders to appear more svelte and slender.
Photo: Dara/Instagram
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Always hold your phone slightly above you so your face appears slimmer and more defined. Holding your phone towards the side is also a good way to create the illusion of a sharper face. What is there not to like?
Photo: Park Shin Hye/Instagram
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