A Photographer Told Us the #1 Trick for Shooting the Perfect Selfie

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(Image credit: Collage Vintage)

Whether your Instagram account is packed with selfies or you just snap one occasionally, you've probably attempted them before. Sometimes you just have to share those new Céline sunglasses with everyone, right? And if you're interested in perfecting the art of the selfie, we're here to help.

We reached out to photographer Nicholas Pakradooni for his expert advice. Nicholas works with Aimee Song and takes most of the photos for Song of Style. In other words, he knows his way around a camera, and if you need proof, look no further than his Instagram feed (@cholpak). Nicholas shared his tips for taking the perfect selfie every time—and it comes down to one important trick: lighting. Plus, he let us know a few more important tips.

Keep reading to find out Nicholas's selfie tricks which I put to the test myself, and then shop our favorite statement tops to wear in your next snap.

TIP #1: LIGHTING

"I have a really strict rule called 'never let good selfie light go to waste.' Good selfie light is diffused natural light directly in front of you—you may have noticed that your selfie game is fire on cloudy days. Artificial light isn't great, because everything looks yellow, and direct sunlight is only good sometimes and can help accentuate features like your jawline but will usually cast unflattering shadows on your face."

A photo posted by on

TIP #2: ANGLE

"I usually stick to one angle for a selfie. My left side is my good side, and I like to make my jawline look defined, so I hold the phone a bit below my face and tilt my head up and to the right. Alternatively, you can hold the phone at eye level and angle your face down a bit, which is also flattering for a lot of different face shapes."

A photo posted by on

TIP #3: MIRROR SELFIES

"Then there are mirror selfies—rules don't apply. Have fun."

A photo posted by on

Now, Shop Puffy-Sleeve Tops Perfect for Any Photo

We don't know about you, but we're always on board for new photogenic tricks.

This post was published at an earlier date and has been updated.

Associate Director, Special Projects

Kristen Nichols is the Associate Director, Special Projects at Who What Wear with over a decade of experience in fashion, editorial, and publishing. She oversees luxury content and wedding features, and covers fashion within the luxury market, runway reporting, shopping features, trends, and interviews with leading industry experts. She also contributes to podcast recordings, social media, and branded content initiatives. Kristen has worked with brands including Prada, Chanel, MyTheresa, and Luisa Via Roma, and rising designers such as Refine and Tove, and her style has been featured in publications including Vogue.com, Vogue France, WWD, and the CFDA. Before Who What Wear, Kristen began her career at Rodarte, where she worked on assistant styling, photo shoots, and runway shows, and at Allure, where she moved into print and digital editorial. She graduated from the University of Southern California, where she studied art history and business, and currently lives in New York.