It’s hard to believe that just 10 years ago the word ‘selfie’ didn’t even exist. Now however, it’s a completely different story. We all know what a selfie is, we’re all guilty of taking them from time to time and on Instagram alone, there are almost 35 million photos containing the hashtag #selfie.

It’s also estimated that an incredible 1.2 billion selfies were taken in the UK last year which is hardly surprising when one in 10 of us admit to taking at least one a week.

Whether you love them or loathe them, it seems as though we can’t get enough of taking our own photos. If you’re one of these people who take 100 different snaps and then disregard them all, here are some great tips for taking the perfect selfie.

Tilt your head

Ever noticed why so many people tilt their heads at an angle when posing for selfies? This is because it’s not only much more flattering but it also highlights your cheekbones and makes your eyes look bigger.

Lighting

Clever lighting is a well-known photography trick and it can make all the difference to your photos. If you stand directly under bright, artificial lighting, it’s incredibly unflattering and shows up all the imperfections that you would rather hide. Try standing outside or next to a window to take advantage of the natural light. We can guarantee that you will instantly be happier with your snaps.

Hold the camera above your head

This is by far the most flattering angle to take a photo and is another great trick for making your eyes look bigger.

Use filters  

If all else fails, use a filter. Most camera phones have this built in but if not, there are plenty of apps out there that can give you a helping hand when it comes to perfecting your photos.

Don’t have your face in the centre of the photo

This tip is a bit technical but it’s well worth learning and it even has its own name – the rule of thirds selfie. Placing your face in the top right or top left corner of the frame is a lot more flattering than when you have your face right in the centre of your photo. Try to make sure your eye line is about one-third down from the top of the frame and off to one side of the frame a little bit. Once you know this trick, have a look through Instagram and you will wonder how you never noticed just how many people do it.

Use a professional

Technically it’s not classed as a selfie is someone else takes the photo for you but there are some occasions where a selfie is just wholly inappropriate. Your LinkedIn profile and team photos on your company website are just two examples where you can benefit from the services of a professional photographer. The benefit of using a professional is that they already know all the tricks of the trade and chances are that they have access to Photoshop as well so you’re guaranteed to be happy with your photos.