Finding your angle and the right lighting are the keys to a perfect selfie, which can be hard if you are only in the confines of your own home or apartment, like many of us are these days. But, the number one key is taking the photos when you are feeling like your best self, even if you are a professional. “I take the most selfies/self-portraits whenever I feel the most confident,” says photographer Idara Ekpoh. “I take portraits whenever I feel the most confident, which I've been feeling a lot more lately than usual. I think taking them is important because you get to capture how you felt in that specific moment. You document how you felt, how you looked, and your overall energy from that one moment and you can always refer back to it.”
In the midst of the pandemic, Ekpoh was inspired to start #SelfPortrait Sunday, a personal project where each Sunday she takes a series of selfies. “This has not only challenged me creatively as a photographer, but it became a way for me to explore my identity. I control my narrative and my self-portraits are a reflection of that,” she says. “I went from never wanting to capture myself to becoming my favorite muse.”
From using a self-timer to finding the right light, we asked Idara Ekph to share her tips on how to take the perfect selfie on her iPhone 12 mini. Now, we too can become our favorite muses!
Tip 1: Before you start, the best tip I can give for a selfie is to be confident. Do whatever makes you feel beautiful before you take your photo. When you are confident, that energy will glow through your image.
Tip 2: Once you open the camera app, the first thing I do is flip the camera on myself. This is so I can easily see myself on the screen and can focus on posing for my image.
Tip 3: Use the self-timer. I usually use the 3s self-timer and this will help free up your hands so that you can find a way to include them in your selfie.
Tip 4: Before you take your photo, it is important to make sure your face is in focus and that your exposure is correct. If you tap the screen, you’ll see a yellow box that will allow you to lock the focus and exposure for your shot.
Tip 5: Once you are ready to shoot, the next thing is posing. Posing is my favorite part of the photo because I think that's your chance to let your energy shine through the photo. I always like to try a variety of different poses to help my selfies look a bit more interesting. If you can, incorporate your hands as well.
Tip 6: You're ready to take your shot! As soon as the image is taken, I love how easy it is to edit. If you press "edit" on the photo, there is an option to click auto and your iPhone will automatically create a base edit for your picture. You can then go into exposure, brilliance (my personal favorite), and the rest of the options to make any edits to get your selfie to where you like it. These options are all available right below the photo.
Tip 7: If I want to continue editing my photo, sometimes I also use apps like Snapseed and VSCO to help put some finishing touches before I finish.
