How to Take Good Self Portraits With a Cell Phone

You can take a good self-portrait with a cell phone camera.

Everyone has seen the typical cell phone self-portrait: the subject is either holding the phone at arm's length or is shooting into a mirror and you can see the camera (and sometimes the flash). You can take a good self-portrait with a cell phone if you remember one thing--the camera doesn't take the picture until you take your finger off the button.

Instructions

1. Stand in front of a mirror.

2. Hold your cell phone up in front of you with the camera turned on and aimed into the mirror. You should be looking at your cell phone screen and seeing your reflection in the mirror on the screen.

3. Adjust your pose until you are happy with the image and cannot see your arm in the cell phone screen. Press the camera button in, but do not release it.

4. Holding the camera steady in position, turn away from the mirror. Release the camera button and the camera will snap the picture.

Tips & Warnings

• Once you get used to turning away from the mirror and keeping the camera in a stationary position, experiment with your self portrait and take several. You may be pleasantly surprised with the results.

• Be mindful that anything posted on the Internet or even exchanged as a picture between friends via cell phones can go places you may not want it to. Make sure that any picture you take and send or post is one you would be comfortable with anyone seeing.

References

• d332.com: How to Take Self Portraits
• GeekSugar.com: Take Portraits With Your iPhone Without a Mirror

Resources

• The Independent: What Makes a Good Self Portrait