PHOTOGRAPHY

 The complete guide to taking great pictures of yourself just with your phone!

  Taking pictures of yourself can be a fun way to express your mood, capture a moment you want to remember, or maybe you want to post your selfies on social media like Instagram to share what's going on in your life.

  It can be frustrating if you don't like the photos you take. don't worry! Changing just a few things can help the way you take pictures and you'll have attractive pictures of yourself.

  Well, we're here to help!

  In this guide, I will give you basic tips on how to take better pictures of yourself with just your phone.

  Whether you just want to improve your overall selfies. Or you want to take selfies, or maybe you're traveling alone and want to get pictures of yourself while traveling, in this article you will find what you are looking for.

   HOW TO TAKE AMAZING PHOTOS OF YOURSELF?

  1- Find the right lighting

  The first thing you should think about when taking a picture of yourself – and arguably the most important factor in a good selfie – is “lighting.”

  Perhaps the most important tip we can give you is to seek natural light.

  Natural light is always better for photography. However, avoid direct sunlight, especially in the middle of the day when the sun is straight in the sky.

  Shooting in direct sunlight creates bright areas of light and intense shadows on a person's face, and any small imperfections that may be on the face will be visible. This's not attractive at all.

  The best light to photograph is in the first hour after sunrise or the last hour before sunset, this time called the “golden hour” that all photographers love. The orange glow in the photo of the girl below makes everything look better.

  If you're able, take the photos on an overcast day, as the light is very even. Or find a shady spot for soft, subtle lighting.

  If you must shoot indoors, try taking photos near a window with natural light (but not direct sunlight).

  Avoid light sources such as house lights or bright artificial light.

  And finally, don't think about using the flash!

  2- Hold your phone steady

  One area where smartphones are still lagging behind dedicated cameras is their sensitivity to motion. Even the slightest shaking of your phone can leave a photo looking like it was taken on a swinging boat.

  So when shooting make sure that the mobile is as stable as possible. If you hire someone to photograph you, make sure they support the phone using both hands and keep it very close to their body.

  Or use the best and easiest solution “Tripod”.

  If you think buying a Tripod for a phone is unnecessary, you're not alone. In fact, I was also one of those people who thought a tripod was only for big cameras. But as soon as I used it for the first time, I carried it with me anywhere.

  Some people also think that Tripods are big and hard to carry around, but that's not true! Tripods come in all shapes and sizes, and some are small and lightweight enough to take with you on a long walk without even feeling it.

  As for the price, you can find very affordable phone and camera tripods at this link on Amazon.

  You can also buy a tripod that turns into a selfie stick, meaning if you want to install the phone on the floor you use the tripod, and if you want to take a selfie with a group of friends, turn it into a selfie stick as shown in the picture below.

  Once you have installed your phone on a tripod, you may now be wondering how do I take pictures of myself? There are two solutions:

• Purchasing a wireless remote is a small device attached to your phone, that enables you to take a picture of yourself from afar without anyone having to press the phone to take a picture of you. Also available at low prices on Amazon.

• The second solution is to set the timer in the camera. The Timer is usually found in the Camera app's settings or it may appear as a clock icon on the Camera app's home screen. The timer aims to take the photo after the duration you chose, for example, you chose 5 seconds, the phone will take the photo 5 seconds after you press the shutter button.

  If you don't want to have a tripod, use what's available — a wall, a friend's shoulder, or even your other arm. Keeping your shot steady is especially important in low-light conditions.

  3- Use the back camera of the phone

  Usually, the best camera on any mobile phone is the primary rear camera. So, if you want to get the best quality photos of you, don't use the front camera.

  Sure, you won't be able to see yourself taking the picture but is it necessary to see yourself on the phone screen before taking the picture? Of course yes! Otherwise, how will you know if you are cutting off the top of your head or not? Well, there is a way to solve this issue.

  If you use the rear camera to take pictures of yourself but you can't see yourself, you may need to use markers.

  For example, before setting up the camera, decide where you want to stand when the photo is taken, and then put some kind of mark or small object where your feet will be.

  While you are setting up the camera, you can frame the shot using the markers as a guide.

  Or use the mirror to mirror the phone screen so you can see yourself in the mirror to frame your picture however you want.

  Or you can take a very wide shot that covers more area than it occupies in the frame and then crops it later. The downside is that you will lose some resolution after cropping the image. But if you are using a smartphone camera with a large number of megapixels, this should not be a big problem.

  4- Play with the camera settings on your phone

  Take a tour of each camera set up to understand what it does.

  Adjust the focus in your photo to make sure you don't lose sharpness or clarity.

  Preset exposure and lighting on the camera before taking the photo.

  Use Portrait Mode to get a blurry background.

   How to adjust focus and exposure in the phone camera, and also how to use Portrait Mode on your phone, whatever its type. All this information you will find in our article: How to take professional photos with just your phone – 8 easy tips

  Finally don't even think about using the digital zoom in your camera. When you zoom in on something, you're actually just cropping the edges of the image, and eventually, you'll get a degraded image.

   How do you look better in all your photos?

  In today's social media-obsessed world, knowing how to be attractive in your photos is extremely important. What's the point of having an Instagram account if you don't look good in photos, right?

  Learning how to take the perfect selfie is a skill that you can totally master. Here are some tips that will help you a lot.

  1- Relax and smile

  Oftentimes, an image that we think of as unpleasant or embarrassing is just one with a lot of tension.

  One of the places where tension is most noticeable is the eyes. If you smile with your mouth but not with your eyes, you may end up looking fake or frightened, anxious, or uncomfortable in the photo.

  Professional photographers recommend letting your mouth relax, relaxing your entire face. This way, when you smile, the tension in both your mouth and eyes will disappear.

  A big part of looking good comes with being comfortable. So relax, smile, and if you are photographing yourself alone, pretend someone is taking your picture.

 

  2- Test all your angles

  Most people's faces are inconsistent and I'm one of them. I would say that 98% of my photos are from the left side of my face because I look so much better from that angle.

  So you should try all angles until you find the one that makes you attractive.

  You will surely have a million pictures to look at, but you will quickly get a sense of where the camera should be and where your face and body should be to get the sexiest looks!

  3- Check your background

  The picture will never be pretty if there is a toilet in the background or a very messy room.

  If you're indoors, look for a neutral background like a blank wall or a window.

  If you're outdoors or at an event, be sure to include yourself and your environment so your photo tells a story.

  To create a more artistic look, blur the background i.e. make it blurry.

  You can do this using Portrait Mode if your phone camera has this mode, or you can use software to make the background blurry like AfterFocus.

  4- Use the rule of thirds

  This's an old photography trick that has been around for years, but you can still apply it to smartphones.

  According to the rule of thirds, the image is divided into nine equal parts that form a grid, the place where the lines intersect is where you can place the main subject of the image. (Small red circles in the bottom photo).

  This's where the lines intersect. If you're not looking directly at the camera, try to position your eye closest to the camera.

  The girl isn't looking directly at the camera in the photo below. So her front eye was placed at the intersection of the lines.

  Whereas if you are looking directly at the camera, place your eyes along the top line of the grid as shown in the image below.

  The eyes are where the viewer's gaze will be directed first, so placing them away from the center of the image according to the rule of thirds will usually create the strongest composition.

  The rule of thirds does not apply to the eyes only, in general, if you want to apply it put yourself away from the center, i.e. to the right or left line.

  You can play grid lines on your phone's camera to help you apply the rule of thirds.

  If you're on an Android phone, go to the camera settings, and select Gridlines (also found on EOS systems).

  More information about the golden thirds rule and how to apply it to get balanced images you will find in this article.

  5- move

  Moving in your photos will always look more dynamic than just sitting still and staring ahead. This can be as simple as walking forward to the camera, jumping, playing with your hair, moving your arms and legs, and more.

  When you take a photo with action, you will need a fast shutter speed so that your photo does not look blurry.

  Search your phone for shutter speed, or just S and choose a 1/200 sec or more speed.

  How does the shutter speed work and how can I freeze movement using it, everything you will find in this article (the shutter speed has the same work, whether in the camera or on the phone).

  When photographing yourself in motion you will need someone to film you or use the tripod and walkie-talkie we talked about above, or the tripod with a timer set.

  6- Make the light and shadows work for you

  For example, if the light is coming from a large window, chest down, away from the light and into the shadows, then turn your face back towards the light - it will only highlight your face, which will give a great picture.

  7- Don't stick to just one smile

  When photographing, try other facial expressions other than just smiling. Because your face tends to tense up after doing the same smile over and over. So many other expressions should be tried.

  8- Carry something to support your hands

  Nobody (and I repeat: nobody) knows what to do with their dangling hands when taking pictures. Props take away that embarrassment by giving you something to do. Yes! Because they "provide a fulcrum for your hands" and "keep your shots fresh and dynamic." It can be as easy as a handbag, a drink, or sunglasses in your hands, etc.

  The mainstay that girls love when taking pictures is their hair! Touching your hair is a natural movement, so it will look fresh and candid in the photo.

  9- Tilt your head a little

  When shooting, don't look directly into the camera. See a little above or below. Then tilt your head slightly up or down.

  To get a stronger jawline and reduce the possibility of a double chin, elongate your neck and tilt your chin down. It may sound funny, but it will help you look great.

  10- Take a lot of photos

  One of the best ways to get the best picture is to take more than one picture! The more photos you take, the more likely you are to get a great photo.

  11- Immerse yourself in confidence!

  Make sure you feel proud. You are unique and you have great features. Focus on that rather than any flaws you think you have. Being happy and giving a real smile in a photo can make all the difference.

  Don't try to bend your body into uncomfortable or awkward positions. Pose to flatter your body, but be sure to stay natural. Being tough will make you look unnatural, resulting in a strange image.

   How to take great travel photos of yourself

  1- Stop worrying about people looking at you when you take pictures

  I used to get embarrassed when I took pictures of myself in front of a group of people. But the downside to leaving a beautiful place without being photographed is much greater than the temporary shyness I feel when a few strangers stare at what I'm doing.

  So I decided to not care if people looked at me standing or running to set the timer on the phone to take a selfie.

  The less I pay attention, the better my photos look, the more I don't notice people around me because I'm busy thinking about how to frame the shot.

  Also, I'll never see any of these random people again anyway.

  Therefore, ten minutes of embarrassment can give you memories that will last a lifetime. I think this's a good trade-off.

  2- get up early

  You may lose a little sleep, but you'll thank yourself later.

  The best way to get great views of yourself and take pictures before the crowds arrive is to get up early! There will be no one around to make you feel ashamed!

  Even very popular tourist spots can be empty if you go there at sunrise.

  Most people like to sleep, they will move around in the middle of the day. If you go early, you'll get better lighting and less crowd.

  3- Ask strangers to take a picture of you

  Although it may seem like the most beneficial option, it's not always the best option. It may turn out to you that the pictures that other people have taken of you are bad, with the head or legs cut off, etc.

  Unless you explain to someone exactly what you want and tell them to hold the phone in a specific position, your photo is likely to be useless.

  4- Take a tripod with you when traveling

  We have to admit that a tripod makes things a lot easier than relying on people to take pictures of you.

  Tripod gives you more control over the frame, and also by using it you will get clear pictures without the slightest blur because the phone is stable. So it will give your photos an overall more professional look.

  Traveling with a Tripod in your luggage or on your back while exploring the city can be stressful. Try buying a small one for travel.

  Take things a step further by purchasing the wireless device so you don't have to repeatedly cycle to the phone to set the timer.

  Usually, people take pictures of themselves by setting a timer on the camera while traveling, but it's not a very practical method. You may find yourself running a lot between location and camera to get the perfect shot.

  Having a remote control will enable you to control the action of the camera. This way, you can have more time to fiddle with positioning, facial impressions, etc.

  When you are standing where you want to take a picture of yourself, press the button of the small device you hold in your hand. And here you are, you got the picture.

  5- Get creative with your body

  You don't always have to take pictures of your whole body. It could just be a certain part of you.

  Whether it's your hands with a cup of coffee or some delicious food.

  Or your legs with a breathtaking view.

  Or turn your back to the camera.

There are endless ways to get creative shots.

  6- Be normal in your photos!

  When we see a spontaneous image, it's easy to fall in love with it, be charmed by it, and imagine ourselves there.

  If you can take pictures of yourself without it being obvious it's a selfie, you'll look candid too! It's all about pretending to fit the shot, either by making yourself small in the frame:

  Or dancing, laughing at the picture, or looking away:

  I know it sounds weird, but it actually helps to relax in front of the camera.

   How to take amazing selfies

  1. Lighting is everything

  The first rule of selfies is to pay attention to the lighting. You need good lighting. Natural lighting. As vlogger Jordan Liberty said, "Light is without a doubt the best beauty product that you don't have to pay for."

  Take pictures near a window with natural light. Or better yet, go outside and enjoy the sun's glow (with sunscreen). But try to stay out of direct sunlight.

  Good lighting can make under-eye circles and shadows disappear completely.

  Stay away from harsh lightings, such as bright white kitchen lights.

  2- Eyes in selfies are important

  We are drawn to anyone's eyes in the images we see. That's half the magic of the Mona Lisa, isn't it?

  We are not robots. We're still looking for that human connection in someone's eyes.

  So, the point is: to take an engaging selfie, focus your eyes on the camera. Directly into the camera and not the phone screen.

  3- Smile!

  Try to smile naturally! It's not easy to master a natural smile for the camera. Unnatural smiles are mechanical, not real, and sometimes even frightening.

  Since this's not easy for everyone, you may have to practice. Take a wide range of selfies and practice until you find your most natural and attractive smile.

  4- Shoot from above

  Taking the photo from above will provide a more satisfactory angle. This will likely focus on your eyes and make your face and neck appear smaller.

  Shooting from below can make some people look tough, but it usually makes the chin and nose look more prominent, which is not satisfactory for most people.

  It's better not to raise the phone too much so as not to distort the image. Hold the camera just above eye level. Then take the picture.

  5- Keep the phone away from your face

  The viewfinder will distort anything you come close to. It will often make your nose appear larger than it's. So try to keep the phone away from your face using either your hands or a selfie stick.

  6- Use the main camera of your phone

  Although the front camera is more suitable for taking selfies, the quality of the main camera of the mobile is much higher and it will take better pictures.

   Editing stage: photo editing

  Now that you have a bunch of good pictures of yourself, it's time to add some tweaks to them to go from good to amazing.

  Learning how to edit your photos is a basic photography skill, and it will help you get the best results.

  Using an image editing application, you can make simple adjustments to Contrast, Brightness, and Saturation.

  Of course, you can also go further - removing skin blemishes, whitening teeth, etc.

  There are a plethora of options when it comes to mobile photo editing, I love and use Snapseed, you can download it on iPhone, and on Android devices too.

  This app contains some great photo modes I will mention some of them:

• healing: to remove objects from the photo.

• Tunes: This tool contains a set of options to adjust Contrast, Brightness, Saturation, and more.

• Brush: To apply some adjustments to the parts you want from the image.

• Selective: Apply adjustments to the color you selected in the image.

• White Balance: Increases or decreases the warmth of colors in the image.

  And many many other tools that will be of great help to you in modifying your photos.

  On my PC, I use Adobe Lightroom and recommend it if you want to get more serious about photography.

   Conclusion

  Finally, if you want to learn how to take a professional photo with your phone, the best advice ever is to practice! You don't have to worry about filling up your phone's memory, take as many photos as you want to analyze the results and take notes on how to improve it. Is it lighting, composition, camera shake, etc.? Find out what you're doing right and what's wrong and keep getting better.