Yup, I’m Writing This — 7 Tips for Snapping the Perfect Selfie
It’s hard to believe I’m writing this, but the time has come to cover one of our greatest social media trends of all time — that’s right, there’s no escaping the selfie. After all, it’s so ubiquitous in our society that there’s even a guy whose entire Instagram account is dedicated to leading the selfie movement.
But selfies can actually go a long way in helping you build your following and likes on Instagram and other social media platforms. The thing is, there are plenty of bad selfies out there. You don’t want to find your own pictures numbered among them. With that in mind, here are seven tips to help you snap the perfect selfie:
1) Get the Right Angle
No matter what type of selfie you’re taking, the angle of your photo is one of the first things you should consider. Taking a head-on photo typically won’t get you a very interesting result. Experiment with different angles to find one that helps you look your best.
2) Lighting Matters
Lighting is one of the most important aspects of good photography. That’s equally true for your selfies. As the Instagram marketing experts at Kickstagram note, natural lighting is typically your best bet for any kind of Instagram photo.
Interior lighting can often be either too dim or too harsh to get you a high-quality photo. Keep your light source in front of your face to get the best lighting, coloration and shadows.
3) Use an Exciting Background
A unique background can make your selfie that much more engaging for your followers. Which sounds more exciting — a selfie of you sitting at your desk during another boring day at the office, or an image of you getting on the plane for your Hawaii vacation? A unique background adds to the story of your photo, making it more visually appealing and engaging.
4) Make it Unique
Look, we’ve all seen a million selfies taken in the bathroom mirror when you’re about to head out for a night on the town. We’re sick of them. If you really want your selfie to stand out from the crowd, do something to make it unique.
I don’t care if you’ve got your new puppy in the shot or managed to snag a selfie with your favorite celebrity — the more unique your selfie is, the more engaging it will be for your followers.
5) Know When Not to Selfie
Let’s be honest for a moment. As tempting as it is to take a selfie for just about every unique experience, there are some times when you really shouldn’t take a selfie at all (like the girl who took a selfie at Auschwitz).
You don’t want your selfie to blow up the Internet for all the wrong reasons, unless inciting widespread outrage is your thing. Next time you’re at a funeral or some other somber event, you’re better off leaving your phone in your pocket.
6) Watch For Trends
We’ve all seen our fair share of selfie trends come and go over the years (duck face, I’m looking at you). Whether you think these trends are annoying or clever, participating in selfie trends is a great way for you to attract new followers.
Just be sure that you know how to take your selfie correctly and use the proper hashtags. It’s best to participate in these trends as they’re just becoming popular — don’t wait until they’ve become boring and overdone, otherwise you’ll miss your chance to grow your follower total.
7) Edit!
Even after you’ve set up the perfect shot, chances are your selfie could use a little extra gloss to get the look you want. Even simple edits such as resizing your photo, adjusting the lighting or touching up any flaws can help your selfie look even better. In some cases, a filter could add an extra layer of depth to your photo.
Parting Thoughts
The next time you take a selfie, stick to these practices and you’ll be on the right course for getting likes and building your following. You may not be set to become the next Justin Bieber or Kim Kardashian, but your followers will appreciate your efforts and reward you with the engagement you crave.
Lucas Miller is the Founder of Echelon Copy. When not writing, tweeting or attempting to play pickup basketball, he’s working tirelessly to perfect what he claims is the “World’s Greatest Pompadour.” To get more tips on how to start your own freelance copywriting business, join his free newsletter.
