The twelfies of selfies: what you need to know to not look a fool.

Insider tips from a Seattle Professional Photographer.

As a professional portrait photographer in the Seattle area for over a decade, I have some opinions on the Art of the Selfie. Too long have we been running off unchecked with our smartphones and our filters. I’ve seen skin on 30-something women more pore less and smooth than a newborn, eyes whiter than freshly bleached laundry, and enough duck faces to call FOWL! (Oh, puns!)

So, today I’m coming at you with some fresh insider techniques on how to elevate your selfie game while still looking like YOU.

1. For the love…think about the background of your selfie. Don’t be the person with the hoarder inspired bedroom with dirty clothes (or worse!) everywhere. We don’t care how nice your smile is if your dirty socks and undies are in the background.
2. Light is key! Notice how many people selfie in the bathroom? It is where the artificial light tends to be the brightest in a home. I’m going to challenge you to take it one step further: stand right up in front of, or just to the side of, a window instead. You’ll have nice, bright light without a sink and spotty mirror to deal with.
3. This is a selfie. Not a porno. Keep your clothes on. #micdrop
4. Hygiene! No filter can realistically fix yellow teeth well, so brush them.
5. Take a step back from that app. Speaking of filters, that skin smoothing, eye pop app who’s playin’ you is a Photoshop wanna-be. Easy does it. Making your skin completely pore less and smoother than a beach ball isn’t fooling anyone.
6. Photograph from above! One chin is SO IN right now. Bring that camera lens right at eye level because a downward angle is your friend! Bonus tips? Forehead out and down, then put your tongue to the roof of your mouth to minimize your double chin and emphasize your jawline.
7. Info overload? Afraid you won’t remember these tips? If you are taking a selfie with a group then give the camera to the most stereotypical millennial of the group. That person will know exactly what to do.
8. Consider your audience. I feel like this should go without saying, but I’m scrolling my feed and GIRL. Never, NEVER, post anything that you won’t be embarrassed by when your future employer or spouse looks at your social media. I’m looking at you, VonDutch trucker hats and duck face.
9. Armpits are gross. I’d rather see a selfie stick rather than the Gumby arm sticking out the frame. Pro tip? Your smartphone most likely has a timer mode. My iPhone has a three or ten second countdown mode and then takes a burst of photos. Prop or lean your phone up, get in the frame, practice that perfect pose, and then hit the shutter to start the timer. Learn it, use it, love it. …and your husband will thank you.
10. Know when to elevate. Don’t use your selfie as a professional head shot. Just don’t. I am a Seattle portrait professional and people photography is my jam, let me make you look good when it comes to your work life.
11. A time and a place. The occasional derpy selfie is endearing. After all, you’re a carefree, modern woman with just enough vanity to forego 99% of Lularoe. But too many of those all chinz (or all Snapchat filtered…) selfies and it will seem like you are completely out of touch with technology just like great Aunt Mildred who still signs her name at the bottom of every. Facebook. Post. Also? Frequency. Yes, girl… you pretty. But less us miss you a bit.
12. The most important rule of the selfie? Remembering that they are temporary and quick and FUN. Smartphone-ography shouldn’t replace a professional portrait session, whether that is a family photo shoot in studio, a professional head shot, or maternity studio photography. A professional photographer will know exactly how to pose you AND relax you. Plus? The real Photoshop… because no shame in my game.

As a Seattle professional newborn photographer, my job is to take photos of exhausted, sleep deprived parents and turn them into people who have the unicorn of newborns that sleep through the night from birth, self soothe, and nurse without issue. Just like it’s my job as a maternity photographer to catch that perfect beautiful shot that makes a hormonal, pregnant woman cry because she has never felt so empowered and majestic. Or the baby photographer with the amazing baby photo studio that seems to bring out the gooiest, most precious smiles from a crabby 6 month old. Photography is my craft and my passion, so it only felt right to let you in on a couple secrets and insights to help you elevate your personal selfie game. I’ll be watching!