I’ve been getting lots of compliments on my selfies lately, so I thought I’d share some of my best Selfie Secret tips! I did a few posts before about Kim Kardashian’s Selfie Secrets and Selfie Secrets Part Two – Shayla Taught Me, but I’m always learning new tips and tricks! I’ve also included some recent selfies from my Instagram @blushinginhollywood so you can see the tips in action!
In this photo ^ I’m in my special selfie spot with the good lighting, I have eyelash extensions from @msjessicajay (DM her!), my brows are tinted which is making my brow a bit bolder. I’ve also given some definition to my bottom lash line with an eyeshadow crayon like the Laura Mercier Caviar Eye Pencil – try a brown or bronze color, lightly trace along your bottom lashes, then run your finger over it to blend and soften .
Prepping for the Shot
Lighting
Indirect Natural Sunlight
🌟Lighting is so important! I take the majority of photos in my living room early in the morning because that’s when I can get the best indirect natural light. I stand in front of my sliding glass door and usually leave the white curtain down because it helps diffuse the light. Most of my photos are also taken earlier in the morning (before 10am) so the light isn’t as intense or overhead. Gloomy days are also awesome for taking photos.
Avoid Overhead Lighting
🌟Ever think you look good in the mirror, then try to take a selfie and you look 100 years old? That’s because overhead lighting will cast shadows on your face that will look terrible in photos. This is why you want light coming from in front of you to avoid shadows.
Phone Ring Light
🌟For night time I use this clip-on ring light, but I find this works the best for showing makeup swatches and product shots vs. selfies.
Clean your Lens
🌟Clean your phone! Wipe off the camera lens so your photos don’t get distorted. I carry pre-moistened lens cleaning wipes to wipe off both of my iPhone cameras and my mirrored sunglasses so they will also be camera-ready.
Posing for a Selfie
In this photo^ I’m wearing my Girl Get Glamorous hair extensions (use my code “HOLLYWOOD” for a discount!), I have false lashes on, I’m wearing a ton of extra makeup, and I used FaceTune! I’m also tilting my head down slightly to define my jaw.
Best Selfie Camera
Sony A5100 Mirrorless Digital Camera for Selfies
🌟For higher quality photos I use my Sony A5100 which is a mirrorless digital camera. That means it’s smaller than a DSLR and more portable.
Sony A5100 Flip-Up Selfie Screen
It has a screen that flips up so you can see yourself when taking selfies, but always make sure you look into the lens not just at yourself in the screen.
Sony A5100 Beauty Filter
This camera also has a beauty filter which smooths the skin and auto color corrects.
Related Post: Kim Kardashian’s Selfie Secrets
Wirelessly Send Photos from the Camera to Your Phone
It can send photos wirelessly to your phone too for instant posting! I don’t even need wifi to send the photos either!!
Sony A5100 Battery Life
The battery life is also fantastic. It lasts for days/multiple photo shoots that last hours.
Sony A5100 Shutter and Processing Speed
The other thing I love is the speed because it’s awkward enough taking a selfie, you don’t want to have to hold a pose forever in between shots because your camera is slow.
Sony A5100 Flash
It also has a really great flash for night time shots which is typically when we are the most dolled up and want to take the most photos. I am so obsessed with this camera and can’t recommend it highly enough.
Beauty Prep for Selfies
Lashes
🌟Lashes are a major key! If you are going to be taking lots of photos at an event you really want to be wearing fake lashes otherwise your eyeballs are going to look bald. Luckily for me I’ve been rocking eyelash extensions lately which really help my hooded eyes look poppin and flirty. My friend Jessica Jay (@msjessicajay on Instagram) does my eyelash extensions and you can DM her if you’re in the LA or Santa Barbara area and are interested! The photo above shows what my lashes looked like before they were blessed with extensions. For strip lashes I love Girl Get Glamorous Cruelty-Free Vegan False Lashes in Double Tapped. Be sure to use my discount code “Hollywood” for money off 🙂
Related Post: My Eyelash Extensions – FAQ’s, Tips, and Tricks
Hair Extensions
🌟Hair Extensions. If you have them, use them because they can make a huge difference. For better or worse we see photos and videos constantly of celebrities and people on Instagram wearing hair extensions so when you take photos now without them you can feel like you’re practically bald!
I love my Girl Get Glamorous Hair Extensions to give me volume, body, and length. Don’t forget my discount code “Hollywood” for money off 🙂
Related Post: Hair Tutorial ft. Girl Get Glamorous Clip in Hair Extensions
Makeup for Selfies
🌟Go heavier on the makeup. If you’re trying to show off your makeup and want it to show up in a photo you’re going to have to go heavier for it to look more like it does in real life. For me this usually means a more full coverage foundation, extra bronzer, a darker brow color, and some eyeliner on my top and bottom lash lines to add definition.
Brighten Your Smile
🌟Whiten your teeth. Whitening your teeth in my opinion is the fastest way to look younger. At the very least be sure to brush your teeth well and floss before a selfie session.
Selfie Editing
Selfie Editing App
🌟Facetune- Facetune is an app that helps you edit your photos. I use it but try not to go too hard so I still look human. Facetune helps me smooth my forehead wrinkles and I use the “details” feature on my eyes and highlights sometime to make them stand out.
Tips for Posing for Photos
Slim the Jawline
🌟Slim your double chin. We all have a double chin at the wrong angle, so again this is where practice can help. Elongate your neck (not straight up like a giraffe, just kind of think about having your neck pulled up and in like an old timey movie actress) then tilt your head slightly down to give your chin more definition.
Different Cameras = Different Angles
🌟Try different apps to find your best angle. Recently I’ve found that a selfie with the front facing camera taken in Insta Stories gives me the best photo. If I just use the iPhone camera app it comes out too HD and you can see every pore. You might find that Snapchat or using the back facing camera give you the best angle.
Hands Free Selfie Tip
🌟Get those arms out of your selfie!I just learned this tip from Jenny Mustard on YouTube and thought it was great! Plug in your headphones, set your phone where you’d like it, then push the play button on the headphones to snap the pic. This will get your awkward arm and armpit out of the photo and allow you to take a shot that will fit more of your head and body.
If someone else will be taking photos of you, I found this video super helpful for tips:
Final Selfie Tip
🌟Take photos when you look good 😉 You know when you’re dating someone new and you’re texting all the time and it’s fun and exciting and then they ask you to send a pic? But you’re festering in your soft clothes on the couch and haven’t washed your hair in 4 days (No? Just me?) Bank some selfies when you’re looking good even if you’re not planning on posting them because a) it gives you more practice and b) they really come in handy!
Do you have any selfie or posing tips? Comment them down below!!
More Selfie Blog Posts
Kim Kardashian’s Selfie Secrets
Selfie Secrets Part Two – Shayla Taught Me
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