"I TAKE THE WORST SELFIES EVER AND I DON’T UNDERSTAND WHY"
This POV is ruining lives.
Dear Bonnie,
For the life of me, I can never ever ever hold my phone camera at an angle that makes me look good. I take the worst selfies ever and I don’t understand why.
— MR. BAD ANGLE
DEAR MR. BAD ANGLE,
Selfies—and photography in general, for that matter—are a gestalt of things. What might look like a simple moment of holding up a phone and snapping a picture is actually the result of multiple visual elements aligning.
My goal is to help you—and everyone reading—become aware of what’s really happening in that moment, why it’s happening, and how to adapt. These elements affect everyone differently, which is why there's no one-size-fits-all approach. But once you recognize the variables at play, you can start working with them instead of against them.
Tap “like” if your front camera has ever personally victimized you.
The first step is understanding the difference between the image we see in the mirror and the one we see on camera. The discrepancy isn’t just technical. It’s tied to how we perceive ourselves at the most fundamental level. I break it down, and show you how to work around it, right here.
Note: In this article, I also cover important basics like lighting for your selfies.
On the technical side, there are a few key elements to consider. The first is camera height, specifically, how high or low you position the lens in relation to your eye level. I always recommend starting at eye level, since it gives the most accurate and natural representation of how we actually look. Anything above or below introduces some degree of distortion. I dive deeper into camera angles in the article linked here.
Speaking of lens distortion, yes, the lens can absolutely change the way your features appear on camera. It can make your nose look bigger, your forehead smaller, and just completely distort reality. While that can work against you, it can also be used to your advantage. In this article, I explain how to get results that actually look like the real you. You can check it out here.
By the way, most of these deep-dive workshops are part of the paid membership. If you're ready to actually level up your photos with real, practical steps that make a difference, I’d love to have you join. Upgrade today and unlock everything you need to start seeing results.
Now let’s talk about face positioning. Is your best side the left or the right? I’ve got a simple exercise, and a scientific study, that can help you figure it out. You can read the article here.
What about the rest of the movement? How should you adjust your face positioning based on your face shape? In this article, I go over each face shape and share what I would recommend or avoid for each one. You can check it out right here.
Once you understand the rules, you start to find your rhythm. That’s when you can break them, with intention and strategy. At that point, things get fun. You can start experimenting in more creative ways, like:
Tweaking techniques like your smile or how you manage the double chin
Finding new ways to take selfies that feel fresh and expressive
Learning techniques to style your outfit so it photographs beautifully
And while this may not apply to everyone, let’s not ignore makeup, it plays a huge role in how a photo turns out
I do the research so you don’t have to. Because your time is valuable. And there’s nothing better than expert curation that actually works.
So reader, if you're ready for a change that goes beyond photography. One that activates your creativity and gets you results, make sure you're a paid member of Photogenic.
With love
Bonnie
