I wanted to share with you some of my best tips for getting Instagram-worthy photos of yourself. Actually, I wrote this to teach my friends how to shoot better photos before we go out. Ha! Kidding, but it will come in handy for those situations as well.

Whether you are going the advanced selfie route and using a tripod and remote to take your own photos or asking someone to take a photo for you, here are my tips to guarantee you will love your photos.

1.        Practice the Rule of Thirds

This is a general photography composition ‘rule’. If you were to divide the frame into thirds both vertically and horizontally, or into nine squares, you would want the subject to place where the lines intersect instead of just centered. Some photos will still look better centered, but the rule of thirds can make a photo look just a little bit better composition-wise.

2.        Know Your Best Angles

Practice in the mirror what angles look good to you and then test them out in front of the camera to decide what your personal favorites are. For example, I am not a full-on smiling selfie type of girl. My favorite photos of myself in my most comfortable pose is actually me completely facing away from the camera. I just think adventure photos don’t need a face and look better that way. Figure out what you like for your photos and do you!

3.        Make Small Adjustments While Posing

I learned this tip from watching professional models pose. You start in one pose and make very small adjustments between shots. Move your hands slightly, then your legs, your face etc. Don’t just do three completely different poses and move on to the next location. Slow down and practice ‘flow’ posing. Here is a video so you can see this practice in action.

4.        Angle Your Arms and Legs

One of my go-to poses is with my hand running through my hair making an angle with my arm. Try this with your hand on your hip and angle your legs or bend your knee while sitting or standing. This gives your pose that added dimension and makes it look more interesting.  

5.        Choose Your Outfit Wisely

When I first started taking photos of myself, they didn’t look quite right because my wardrobe was all off. I now wear really basic clothing in solid colors like black, white, yellow, hot pink or blue. These colors look good against natural backgrounds so keep the colors and tones of your setting in mind also while dressing for a shoot.

6.        Visit Beautiful Locations

This one kind of speaks for itself. Look for fun locations shoot in to give your photos that wow factor. Try TripAdvisor to find cool spots near you or google Instagram-worthy locations with the name of your city.

7.        Change the Sky

If you find that your sky is lacking detail or is washed out, it’s super easy to swap it out using an application on your phone. I will direct you to my amateur tutorial.  

8.        Get Creative with Props

Bringing along props such as hats, food/drink or pieces of nature such as leaves or shells to add just that extra bit more to your photo shoot. Posing with props can also make you feel a little less awkward while posing.

9.        Shoot During Optimal Times of Day

The best time to shoot is during golden hour just before the sun is setting. The worst time is in the afternoon when the bright sun can overexpose the photo or cause harsh shadows. Usually, I go out earlier in the day, get my shots and then enjoy the location before the sun gets too bright and hot here in Florida.

10.     Be Spontaneous, Don’t be Shy and Have Fun!

This is so crucial to getting shots you will love. It’s hard to feel comfortable in front of a camera, especially out in public.  Sometimes, we get shy about taking a photo or pass up an idea we have because it seems silly but don’t overthink and just got for the shot. You will be glad you did.

11. Frame Your Subject

Look for ways to form a visual frame around your subject. Do you see above how squaring off the subject in a photo creates a beautiful focal point? I do this with trees a lot, but other good examples are doorways, windowsills or arches.

12.     Use Leading Lines

Leading lines are always fun to find. As you can see above, they draw your eye right to the subject. Keep your eyes peeled for opportunities to use leading lines in your photos. For example, you can create lading lines using any interesting pathways, fences, bridges or railings.

I hope you guys learned a thing or two to help bring your photos together. Have a w0nderful day!