The Ultimate Guide To Taking the Perfect Selfie on National Selfie Day

Struggling to snap a good selfie? Here are four tips (and one bonus tip) to up your selfie game!

June 21 marks the summer solstice, which means that summer season is coming up fast! After a long winter, it’s nice to store away your coats, put on some flip flops, and take a few days off to get some sun in the park, the beach, or just around town. Summer is also the perfect time to take photos — which may be why June 21st is also National Selfie Day!

To celebrate National Selfie Day and the transition to warmer weather, we decided to compile this list of tips for taking selfies that will be helpful whether you’re a pro at taking selfies or you always seem to struggle with getting the right angle. From finding the best lighting to using the right filters, we’ll show you how to take your selfie game up a notch. So grab your phone and get ready to snap some selfies!

1. Put Together Your Look

One of the most important aspects of taking a good selfie is looking your best. Not only does it help accentuate your good features, but it also boosts your confidence, which increases your ability to pose and smile better so you can take some really great shots!

Put together an outfit that you feel confident in and do your hair and makeup so you look polished. If you’re not sure what to wear, take a look at some fashion blogs or magazines for inspiration, or browse through your favorite stores’ websites.

Keep in mind that this doesn’t mean you have to put on a full face of makeup and wear your Sunday best — if you want to do a boho, rocker chic, emo, casual, or neon-themed selfie, go right ahead! Just put together your look beforehand to make sure you’re capturing the vibe you want.

2. Find Your Location

Finding a location is absolutely crucial to capturing the right look for your selfie. This doesn’t mean you have to go to some exotic or expensive place — in fact, your backyard or bedroom can make for some really great selfies!

Try to find a spot that’s visually appealing and matches the aesthetic you’re going for. If you’re doing a more natural, outdoorsy selfie, look for a spot with pretty flowers or greenery. If you’re going for a city vibe, try taking your selfie in front of cool graffiti wall art or unique architecture. If you want something more artsy, find a spot with good lighting and interesting shadows, like next to a fence or stained-glass window.

You can also consider basing your selfie around the location rather than yourself and your look. Vacation selfies where people pose next to waterfalls, monuments, or other sights are a good example of this. Sometimes the best selfies are just pictures of amazing sights with you strategically placed somewhere in the photo. So don’t be afraid to put the focus on a bridge, road, plant, or anything else you want.

Alternatively, you can also take a selfie with a dull background and something interesting going on with you. For instance, a bedroom selfie with a unique and artistic makeup look or a blank wall background with an amazing outfit. Sometimes a location is less about going to an interesting place and more about avoiding the wrong place.

3. Find the Right Lighting

No matter where your location is or what you’re choosing to focus on, lighting is key when it comes to taking selfies. A nighttime photo can turn out many different ways depending on if you’re using flash, moonlight, or long exposure. So plan ahead and take into account (or make a good guess about) what the lighting will be like at your location.

Things that can influence lighting include the time of day, whether it’s indoors or outdoors, the weather, and many other factors. If you’re not that experienced with photography and want to make a safe bet, stick with natural lighting (the lighting that comes from the sun). You can do this by either having your shoot outside or posing near a window or skylight.

If you want a shortcut to an amazing shot, the best time to take a selfie is usually during the golden hours, which includes the hour right after sunrise and the hour right before sunset. The lighting during these times is softer and more flattering, so everything looks glowy and smooth instead of harsh and bright or dim and blurry.

Another thing to keep in mind is that you don’t necessarily want the sun shining directly into your face. The light will be too harsh and can cause squinting, which makes for an unflattering selfie. Instead, try to position yourself so the sun is either behind you or to the side of you, hitting your cheekbones. This gives you a nice, natural glow.

4. Figure Out Your Pose

Once you have your outfit, location, and lighting sorted out, it’s time to focus on your pose. This is probably the biggest thing that can make or break your selfie, even if everything else is right — after all, no one wants a picture of themselves with their eyes half closed or making an awkward face!

When you’re debating over your pose, try to take into consideration where you are and what aesthetic you’re going for. For instance, if you’re in a city and want to look artsy, try a pose with one arm up against a building or using props like sunglasses or flowers. If you’re at the beach and want to show off your bikini body, go for a sultry lean or have your feet in the sand.

Once you have an idea of what pose you want, there are a few things you can do to make sure your pose is on point. First, try different angles until you find one that you’re happy with. Second, make sure you’re standing up straight and not slouching — good posture will make you look more confident and attractive. Third, try tilting your head to one side to give your selfie a different feel.

And finally, experiment with facial expressions! A smile always looks good, but you can also try pouting, looking serious, or making any other face that suits your mood. Just make sure it doesn’t look too fake or forced.

5. Optional: Play Around With Filters

People tend to either love or hate filters and photo editing. If you’re not a fan, that’s totally fine — you can skip this step! But if you want to add a little something extra to your selfie, playing around with filters can be fun.

There are tons of different photo editing apps out there, so find one that you like and start experimenting. If you want to keep it simple, you can just adjust the brightness, contrast, and saturation levels. Or, if you’re feeling more adventurous, try adding a filter or changing the color of your photo.

Just be careful not to overdo it! Sometimes a little bit of editing goes a long way, and too much can make your selfie look fake or cartoonish. Find a happy medium and have some fun with it.

Conclusion

And that’s it! With these tips, you’re sure to take the perfect selfie on National Selfie Day (or any other day, for that matter). So get out there and start snapping away!

And of course, when you need to get a unique outfit, accessories, or even props for a selfie shoot, don’t be afraid to stop by ThriftSmart. We have tons of previously loved clothes, shoes, furniture, knick-knacks, and more, so you can make the selfie of your dreams!

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