The phenomenon of selfie taking captured the imagination of the world to such an extreme extent that the action made it’s way into the modern English dictionary.
So popular is the selfie that almost half of Australian social media users have taken a one specifically for their online profile in 2018 alone.
But what most people don’t care to admit is the lengths it often takes to find the right angle and snap the perfect shot.
Sydney based celebrity cosmetic aesthetician Dr Jake Sloane is an expert in the art of the selfie and recently revealed the most important tip to remember if you want to take your photos from amateur to professional.
So popular is the selfie that almost half of Australian social media users have taken a one specifically for their online profile in 2018 alone (pictured, Australian model Jesinta Franklin shows how it’s done)
According to Dr Sloane, lighting is the key ingredient separating satisfying selfies from sensational ones.
‘Lighting is essential to highlight your facial features as it removes unflattering shadows,’ he said.
‘This is especially true for the dark under eye areas that can make us look quite tired.
‘Whenever you take selfies outdoors, face the sun for the best natural ‘filter’ for your photos – indoors, look for windows letting in daylight.’
According to Dr Sloane, lighting is the key ingredient separating satisfying selfies from sensational ones (pictured, YouTube sensation Georgie Stevenson filming with her ring light)
Sydney PR queen Roxy Jacenko (pictured) often uses ring lighting to create beautiful selfie’s with a flawless finish
Dr Sloane advised against selfies taken in shade, under umbrellas on the beach or other dark areas, as poor lighting will showcase your ‘least flattering angles’.
‘Position your phone camera with your hand in front of your face and elbow bent.’
If your face or nostrils look wider than usual, Dr Sloane said it’s likely because you are holding the camera lower than your jawline.
‘You can also add in some simple and cheap tricks like holding a piece of white paper out of shot under your face to bounce more light onto your face,’ he said.
Serious selfie enthusiasts could invest in a nifty gadget like the Spectrum Aurora ring light, which the doctor uses to counteract the absence of natural light in his clinic.
Serious selfie enthusiasts could invest in a nifty gadget like the Spectrum Aurora ring light, which the doctor uses to counteract the absence of natural light in his clinic; pictured is Spectrum representative Alyssa Plickova demonstrating a poorly shot selfie with bad lighting and angles (left) and a perfect snap using the ring light (right)
Dr Sloane (pictured) advised against selfies taken in shade, under umbrellas on the beach or other dark areas, as poor lighting will showcase your ‘least flattering angles’
Ensure the shooting angle is higher than the bottom of your face for the most flattering effect.
Dr Sloane also recommended experimenting with the ‘live’ function available on the iPhone, which allows users to create a 1.5 second mini-movie of images.
‘You can scroll through these pictures to pick your best selfie in case you blinked or the wind blew your hair away!
‘It’s really interesting to see how the most subtle change in our facial expression can also create a perfect or less ideal photo.’