9 Tricks for Taking the Perfect Selfie in Front of a Mirror

If you are one of those people who likes to take selfies in front of a mirror, you can make them look as if you are a professional Instagrammer. You just have to keep a few tricks in mind. 5-Minute Crafts will show you 9 of them, so you can look like a star in your home photo sessions.

Hack #1: Use natural light to your advantage

Natural light that’s soft and diffused is probably the most important thing to take into account when it comes to taking the perfect selfie. Some of the ways you can get more natural light in the room are by opening the curtains or by placing the mirror near a window during the day. You should either face the window or angle your face to one side or another. Also, remember that you shouldn’t use the flash, as it will reflect in the mirror and ruin the image.

Hack #2: Crop the photo properly

How you crop the picture can also make a big difference. For example, cropping limbs creates an unnatural effect on most people. That’s why it’s best to do it at the thighs or just past the elbow. If you want to crop lower, cut well above the ankles. Never crop across the joints, especially at the elbows or the knees.

Hack #3: Place your cell phone up for a full body picture

If you want your selfie to be a full body shot, it will look better if your cell phone is located at the top of the picture. This way, you will look thinner and with a more stylized silhouette.

Hack #4: Hold the cell phone with your arm on the opposite side of the light source

Hold your phone with your arm that is opposite the light. This way you will avoid any unwanted shadows from casting on your face.

Hack #5: Leg position is also important

To make you look more confident and assertive, and improve the appearance of your abdomen, you can spread your legs apart slightly and place your weight on just one of your legs. This leg should also be in front of the other, bend it at the knee and point your toe.

Hack #6: Place your cell phone parallel to your face

If you’re taking a selfie with just one hand, there’s a simple hack that you can use to look better. Stretch out your arm, making sure it’s above your head and angled down toward your face. You can also place the cell phone slightly above your head, parallel to your face. That way you can avoid increasing the size of your chin.

Hack #7: Look at your cell phone

Watch where your gaze falls when taking a selfie. A good tip is to look directly at your cell phone, specifically at the camera lens itself, not the camera app screen where you see a live view of yourself. Unless you are intentionally looking away from the camera to create a different look, this should work better.

Hack #8: Place your hand on your waist to make your silhouette look slimmer

A good trick so that the other hand that’s not holding the phone to take the selfie is not left in a strange position is to put it on your waist. Not only does this remove the awkwardness, but doing so will make your silhouette look more stylized. Put your hand on your waist but flip it so your thumb is forward if you want your arm to look more toned. Also, put your hand high up at your true waist (not at your hip), to accentuate the smallest part.

Hack #9: Pay attention to the position of the hand holding the cellphone

Pay attention to the position in which you place your hand when holding the cell phone. Hold it firmly and extend your fingers so they look straight.