How To Take Better Selfies For Your Brand
People buy from people. Selfies get your face out there and encourage engagement, but how do you avoid taking the same old picture every time? Branding photography by a professional photographer is key for your business, but we can’t all be followed around by our own media-support team!
This blog helps you make your selfies count in a world where trust is increasingly important.
Creating professional-looking selfies with a smartphone
We’ll start with lighting and take you through to tips and tricks for using your smartphone more like a camera. We’ll get you out of a rut of selfies showing little more than your face unless they are taken in a mirror.
1. Think about lighting and positioning
Natural light is best. Turn off the flash and and overhead lights. If you’re inside, avoid shadows by having a natural light source to your side, not behind or opposite. If you’re outside, cloudy days make for good lighting. On brighter days, avoid dappled shade, squinting into the sun, or being in deep shadow because the sun is behind you.
Find a spot where the background is not too busy, messy, or distracting. Check for things like light fittings or trees sticking out of your head! Remember you are trying to create a picture with a professional feel.
2. Show your best side and convey confidence
Standing with your feet hip-width apart can help you feel more grounded and confident – and that’s a good start! Keep the camera at eye level and look into the lens or at yourself on the screen. Position yourself to the side of the frame and turn to a slight angle. Remember to smile
3. Taking selfies when you’re holding your phone
You can use one or both hands to hold your phone. Using both ‘frames’ the shot and can help keep it steady. These days most smartphones let you take a photo with a side button, making it easy for both landscape and portrait pictures.
4. Using the timer for your selfies
Your smartphone should have a timer option, so you are not limited by having to hold it. Prop it up on your desk or on a coffee-shop table, for example, and show yourself working. Use the timer to take full-length shots too: selfies are not limited to how far your arms reach either!
5. Taking screenshots from videos
You can get several great selfies in one go with your smartphone’s video feature. Find a good background and video yourself in various poses. Remember to pause in each for a moment so you can get good, clear screenshots easily.
Try standing at different angles and moving closer to and further away from the camera. Try folding your arms or leaning in and different gestures or expressions. Experiment with what works for you and your brand: the more you do it, the more naturally it will come.
You can then pause your video at the pictures you like, screenshot them, and edit if necessary.
6. Invest in a tripod
You might have the perfect background for a photo but there’s nowhere to prop your smartphone to take it. Investing in a tripod will solve this problem. You can find inexpensive, lightweight tripods online that can be used indoors and outdoors, for close-up and full-length shots.
7. Using props and backgrounds that align with your brand identity
Just like your professional images, your selfies should align with your brand identity. Incorporate brand colours, props, and backgrounds to get your brand personality and message across. They’ll also add interest and a focal point to your pictures.
Does your company have an urban vibe, or is it more about natural surroundings? Do your clients expect a professional and measured approach, or do you bring energy and enthusiasm? Is your brand serious or a bit zany?
Better pictures for your brand and your business
Having consistent, good-quality, and authentic pictures of ourselves for business selfies is vital. They keep us front of mind and underline our brand values at the same time. Make sure your selfies reflect your business and the benefits you can bring to your customers. It can really drive home your values and help people see how you can help.
Do you need help with your branding photography? Just get in touch to find out more!
