Let’s be real… we all do it! We all have those days when our hair is looking amazing or we just feel really cute. And we want to document this awesomeness – because we feel GOOD! And as much as we’d like our selfies to seem effortless, the truth is we usually end up taking a bajillion pictures to get it just right! So today, just for fun – I’ll be sharing some of my favorite tips and tricks for posting that perfect selfie!

1. Find Your Light
Just with any photo, the right lighting is key. Ideally, you’ll want to snap the picture in natural light because that little flash on your phone can do bizarre things to your photo. I’ve found the best method is to turn towards your light source, which usually ends up being a window. This allows the light to reflect on you and illuminate your face, which is always flattering! If you absolutely must take a selfie at night, try using the same concept, but face a lamp instead. Notice below… on the left I turned my face toward the window resulting in a nice flattering light. This makes my face look thinner and creates some depth. On the right – I have my face turned away from the window resulting, which means more light is hitting my face and it makes it look rounder, flatter and less flattering.

2. Background Check
Before snapping away, make sure you’re aware of what’s going on behind you in the picture. What may not stand out to you, like a pile of clothes on the floor or a dirty mirror, will be more than obvious to anyone else viewing the photo. If you’re not in a place that would make for a pretty backdrop, go for a neutral wall.

3. All About the Angle
To capture your most flattering angle, extend your arm out in front of you and position the camera so it’s a little above eye level. This position eliminates any double chin and makes your eyes look big and bright. Although this is kind of a golden selfie rule, you can always play around with different angles and poses to see what turns out most flattering for you.

4. Edit Away
The right photo-editing apps can make a huge difference in the look of your selfie. Instagram may have the basics, but there are tons of other online programs and apps out there that do so much more. Here are a few of my favorites:

– VSCO Cam is a camera and editor all rolled into one app. It allows you a lot more control when taking your photos and when editing too. It allows you to brighten a photo, change the temperature, add contrast, fade, and a lot more. Plus, the app comes with a collection of unique filters too.

– Snapseed is my favorite photo editor. It’s really easy to use and allows me to easily manipulate my photos on my phone. After all – I want my selfie to look effortless – this app actually makes it feel effortless too.

– After Light is a fun app for when I’m bored. It has a lot of unique filters and gives you extreme control of tweaking your images. There’s also the ability to add light leaks and textures which is super fun. I seriously could spend way too much time playing on this app

– Squareready is great for those photos that just don’t work as a square. This app will take your horizontal or vertical photos and add a white background to make them fit the standard Instagram shape.

Here’s my fun little edit using AfterLight. I used one of their filters (Wicker) and added a light leak filter too.

Now get out there and go take that perfect selfie! And be sure to share you gorgeous face with me! Tag me  on Instagram @greentreemediaphotography so I can see your awesome!