Taking a quality picture, even with great tools at your disposal, all smartphones are loaded with impressive specs now, can become a frustrating challenge. Taking a selfie is even harder because you have angles, preferred sides, light, background, and many more things to pick through.
Hungry for help, we asked our in-house photographer Marco, who’s been in the business 25 years, 18 of which at UCSF, for tips. What does it take to capture a good selfie, including professional portraits? “Light is probably the most important thing in my picture. You can have the most beautiful set-up and perfect framing, but the wrong light can ruin it all.”
Before we dive into it, we should clarify that these tips apply to all reasons for taking a picture of yourself, from personal, like when you reached the top of the trail and need the view to commemorate the moment, to professional, like for your resident face cards or LinkedIn profile.
- Experiment with different light sources - window light, lamps, outdoor shade, mid-day sun, and ring lights.
- Make sure nothing in the background that takes away attention or looks busy.
- If possible, prop your device or use a tripod to get the most natural composition, without straining your arm.
- Smile with your mouth and eyes, or smize, as it has become commonly referred to.
- It’s very important to give a genuine expression. If you have trouble giving a natural smile put on some standup comedy or have a friend be your designated tickler.
Exercise:
You probably did not think that this tip sheet came with an exercise. We just have one simple question: which LinkedIn profile would you click on and connect with?
Although the picture on the left uses a nice neutral background, the angled light source creates stark shadows, essentially hiding his face. The close-up take also makes it feel like the frame is squeezing his at his arms.
The picture on the right uses mid-day natural light, an enriching yet not a distracting background, and he is free in the frame.
A big thank you to Andre Thelemaque for providing the selfies.
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If you still need help after some practice, schedule a photoshoot with Marco Sanchez.
Taking a quality picture, even with great tools at your disposal can become a frustrating challenge. Taking a selfie is even harder because you have angles, preferred sides, light, background, and many more things to pick through.
