Las Vegas Sun

March 19, 2024

How to take a better selfie

13th Annual Official Star Trek Convention Opens At Rio

Steve Marcus

Actress Denise Crosby, center, takes a selfie with Lisa Kovacevic and Brandon Nigl during the 13th annual Official Star Trek Convention at the Rio Thursday, July 31, 2014. Crosby played Lt. Tasha Yar in “Justice,” a Star Trek: The Next Generation episode that took place on Rubicun III. Kovacevic and Nigl are dressed as Edo, the inhabitants of the planet.

TRY THIS

Two cameras: Most cameras don't have a flash in selfie mode. So if you're in a dark place, use the flashlight from a second camera to cast light on your face for the picture.

TRY THIS

The body selfie: While most selfies focus on the face, sometimes the goal is a body selfie. Pregnancy progress or weight-loss photos are great examples. Unless you’ve invested in a selfie stick, your best tool for a body selfie will be a full-length mirror. Just remember: Don’t forget your face.

Chances are, there’s a cutting-edge piece of technology in your pocket, a device capable of capturing raw emotion, pure energy and a little bit of history at once.

It’s your camera phone — but do you know how to use it?

Taking great cellphone pictures isn’t rocket science, but a few tips can help you get the best possible shot every time — especially when the subject is you.

Here are some tips for taking everybody’s favorite photo: the selfie.

Let there be light

Most photographers will tell you the secret to any and all photography is light. And just like that elusive pair of jeans, there really is no perfect light. Just find enough ­— real or fake — to brighten up what matters most when it comes to a selfie: your face.

Don’t be afraid to move to find the right lighting, either.

Ideally, you want light on you. If it’s behind you, the light will underexpose even the best duck face. Think basking; get under some rays and let the light shine down.

It’s all about the angle

Everybody looks better from above. It’s a fact. Photos taken about 20 degrees above of the nose will capture an angle that is flattering for most faces. Once you’ve mastered the angle, consider tilting your head. W magazine asked a group of supermodels how they take a selfie, and many said they tilt their head to one side to help differentiate their chin from their neck.

Long arms are key

Knowing someone with long arms has benefits. Those with Inspector Gadget appendages are just the folks you want to cozy up with for a selfie.

Alone with short arms? Next time you’re doing a little Internet shopping, search for a “selfie stick.” These extendable, camera-phone-holding sticks help capture the perfect selfie angle from a sizable distance for about the price of a large pizza.

The real secret to the selfie stick is keeping the stick out of the selfie.

Buddy system

But nobody ever said selfies have to be of just one person. They also are ideal for kids, pets and grandmas. Most children love to say “cheese,” and they all love seeing themselves on camera; selfies are the perfect combo. And capturing your furry best friend is so much easier when you have him in a (gentle) selfie headlock.

As for grandmas, chances are you will capture a priceless expression of surprise, joy and curiosity as to “what the heck a selfie is.”

Know your surroundings

We all know that texting while driving is a bad idea. But have you heard about the recent rash of selfie-related injuries and close calls?

A young couple vacationing in Mexico were nearly struck by lightning while they posed for a selfie on a beach during a storm. And tragically, a couple reportedly taking a selfie recently fell to their deaths off a cliff in Portugal — right in front of their young children.

Share sparingly

Looking to trim your Facebook friends list? Post a new selfie every five minutes. Unless you’re posing with a a Kardashian or the pope, not even your best friends want to see your grinning mug over and over again.

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