We knew there was something they weren’t telling us…
If it seems as if you’ve been missing out on some kind of selfie bible – aside from the classic tips AKA know your angles, hold your phone high and find good lighting – then let this be your ultimate ‘gram guide. We’ve compiled a list of need-to-know tips c/o our favourite influencers to ensure that when you’re taking that next crucial shot you’re not a Cher Horowitz level of clueless. From selfie tips, other-people-taking-your-picture tips, how to ‘gram your food tips and all the rest, these influencers have your back when it comes to getting that perfect snap.
Scroll below for your ultimate ‘gram guide:
Aimee Song | @Songofstyle
“Standing at a slight angle can make a person look more slimming,” so that means we can skip the gym, right? Song also suggests that “finding a cool background is always a plus to make your selfies more interesting!” So maybe the gym can be swapped for selfie-location-scouting walks.
Geri Hirsch | @GeriHirsch
“Everyone loves a good selfie but only in the context of an overall interesting Instagram account. Minimise the narcissism by maximizing the diversity of your gallery.” Everything in moderation, right?
Chiara Ferragni | @ChiaraFerragni
“Looking into the camera creates a special eye and soul contact. Don’t think too much. The best pictures come naturally.” Make a mental note, don’t stage your snaps.
Cory Crawford | @Coryacrawford
Stuck for ideas? “Follow people whose feeds you would like to emulate. The more good photos you see in your feed, the quicker you can develop an eye for it. Also, don’t be discouraged or overexcited about likes. Certain types of photos get more likes than others, regardless of the quality. Focus on taking photos that you like, learn from the best, and don’t be afraid to try something new!”
Jacey Duprie | @damselindior
“I think just a genuine juicy grin wins.” Still can’t get that perfect selfie smile? Duprie suggests “looking at photos of yourself you like the most and then trying to replicate that over and over again.” That might even get you the giggles you need for a good photo.
Danielle Bernstein | @Weworewhat
Not sure how to stand? Us too. Danielle says, “I stand straight as if I’m not paying attention, or walk toward the camera.”
A post shared by Margaret Zhang 章凝 (@margaret__zhang) on
Margaret Zhang | @Margaret__Zhang
For foodie shots, Margaret suggests making the shot as full as possible. “Fill the background with your drink or salt and pepper shakers towards the edges. Add in any flowers that are on the table or the meal of whoever you’re with.”
Her style for outfit flat lays is similar, using rings and flowers and other small things to fill the blank spots. But in this case, always make sure the piece you have based your outfit around as the main focus of the pic. “Generally speaking, I use shoes as cornerstones to establish the square in my outfit shots.”
For the problem of getting someone, you are with (friend, mother, stranger, whatever) to take your picture, make sure you give them plenty of instructions. “I’ll just be like: ‘put me in this bit of the grid, and make sure my feet are at the bottom of the frame’ – that way they can’t shoot from a high angle, they need to take the camera down to eye level”.
Jaclyn Hill | @Jaclynhill
Jaclyn confirms the tried and true phone up, chin down pose but adds in some other essential info: “Holding the camera at an angle so it’s slightly looking down at you is such a flattering angle. Also, slightly raising your eyebrows always helps to show off your eye makeup a little more.”
Greg Maguire | @Megaguire
“Take a stroll! If I need to be somewhere, I’ll try and give myself the time to reach my destination by foot. I find that walking gives a photographer the time to really soak up their surroundings and capture moments they might otherwise miss.” This makes sense – there is a very low chance that the best backdrop for your carefully curated outfit is your hotel bathroom.
Caitlin Covington | @Cmcoving
Caitlin’s Instagram looks deceptively simple and candid – so it is surprising to hear that even a mirror selfie can take hours, from the 100 or so snaps to editing the chosen one in VSCO (a photo editing app you should get ASAP) to making sure the clothes she is wearing are available. All this has to stay hidden behind the guise of candid-ness because “The goal is to make people think, ‘She just snapped a photo’.”
Kim Kardashian | @Kimkardashian
Kim K dropped a bombshell regarding the success of her selfies. Most are taken on a digital camera, “this is how it makes all of [my] pictures so flawless”.
And then, of course, there is the lighting. You want it pointing right at you because “You want to blow out everything that you don’t want to see and highlight the things you want.”
Still not happy with your snaps? “A lot has to do with how your crop it. If you don’t like something on your body, you just crop it.”
Lauren Randolph | @LaurenLemon
Of course, Instagram would be damn boring if everyone follows all the same rules. “Don’t worry about your follower count or how many likes you get. Shoot what you want, share what you want, and let your feed represent you and not someone you’re trying to be. I love shooting portraits of my friends, and when I look back through my feed it’s the people I see that give me the best memories.”
Words: Alex Blackwood
Photos: Instagram
WATCH: 5 hacks to make your phone battery last longer
