BY RACHEL TORRES
Slay the selfie game with these tips
Remember those high school and college days where we used to gather and ready ourselves for mini photoshoots for DP blasts? Yeah, we miss it too. So, to help us go solo on our shoots at home, we looked into a few selfie queens on Instagram and rounded up their formula for looking their best just with their phones.
In the age of Facebook, Instagram, and even LinkedIn (*sigh*) there’s enormous pressure on your DP (Display Picture) as your digital icon and symbol for strangers, colleagues, and friends. That one snap can say it all, so we rounded up some tips on how to put our best (cyber) foot forward.
Catch the Light
Pass on the flash and go all natural! Try shooting during daylight. You won’t need any filters; while they work in your Instafeed, let’s keep it bright and clean for your DP.
Natural light means less grain and less quality camera adjustment your phone has to do if there’s a natural light source — honestly, natural is the new filter, anyway. Use the light’s angle to your advantage, which this picture shows to perfection.
Take it from Julia Barretto herself. See how her skin and eyes glisten under the light play.
Blank Space, Baby
Taking cues from when Taylor Swift said she’s got a blank space, baby, we decided to take it to a different route. We’re looking for blank spaces in your homes for optimal minimalist background chic. Skip the setup and go for the white wall in your living room. You’re the focus, anyway. This way, we avoid the awkward lamp or electric fan stealing your show.
Just like Ashley here, she stands out by lessening background clutter and bringing attention to her features and captivating skin.
Additional tip: like Ashley’s photo, make use of your space by turning the timer feature on when taking it for more camera distance. This is a great way to show off more of your profile without being too near or too far.
At an Angle
Angle your phone to show how acute you are. Geometry pun? No? Anyway — angles. Beyond knowing the angles that complement your features after practicing head tilts in the mirror, get your phone to cooperate the same way.
Place or hold your phone where you find the balance between your perfect pose and where your phone is placed best. We’re doing it ourselves here, so we have to find the middle ground for this perfect selfie.
Instead of making your phone balance on a table showing half your ceiling, add some height to where you place your phone by using a stack of books, or use a phone stand if you have one for an easy hands-free setup. Claudia perfected the angle by doing a simple hand-held selfie with her arms resting on her knees for a better grip. The slick hair silhouette makes this selfie look so fresh, too!
Accessorize to Mesmerize
Wear chunky colorful rings, or go for your classic dainty pieces. Let your accessories do some extra talking. These statement pieces add details to your online icon-persona without having too many things going on.
Taking notes on Jamina’s photo on the left, her rings are color-coordinated with her Lightning McQueen kids shirt — cool girl much? Like her photo, don’t cover up your eyes with shades. Eyes say a lot about you, so save the shades as a temporary hair accessory instead.
In her photo, you immediately know she’s stylish, playful, and trendy just by this photo alone. Pick your favorite pieces, what do your accessories say about you?
In the end, be yourself. Don’t get too dressed up if that isn’t your thing. You’re trying to replicate the true you to a photo that will be seen by strangers, and your 1000+ Facebook friends and colleagues. A photo is worth a thousand words and nowadays when a photo is all you’re able to give, make sure it says exactly what you want it to!
Find the perfect accessories, outfits, and makeup for your selfies on ZALORA today!