Selfie (sel·fie) noun – A picture one takes of oneself with a smartphone or camera which is typically then uploaded to a social media site.
Sarah took a selfie and put it on Instagram to show off her bitchin’ new swag.
If you spend any amount of time on Instagram or Twitter these days then you no doubt are bombarded with a variety of selfies each and every day. They’re great…for the most part. Selfies allow us to show off our new clothes or how good we’re looking for a hot date. They allow us to broadcast to the world all of the fun activities we’re doing with friends. There are so many great reasons that selfies should stick around. However, they are indeed an art form. You can’t just whip out your iPhone any old place and start snapping pics. Here you will learn the proper etiquette for taking these self-photos and how to not come across like a gigantic douchebag.
You Must Be Discreet!
Discretion is your friend when it comes to selfies. You absolutely DO NOT want to be this guy.
See, this is the perfect example of taking pretentiousness too far. This guy thinks he’s so much better than those around him that he doesn’t have to be embarrassed even though most people would be. Well folks, I’m here to tell you that this guy most definitely should be reconsidering his life decisions. Because he looks like an enormous tool. So lesson 1, don’t ever do this!
The only exception to the rule of discretion is if you’re with a group of people out doing something.
In this instance a selfie is perfectly acceptable. You’re making it known to people on Instagram and all over the web that you’re out having fun and being social with others. This makes you look better. It will make others jealous of you, but in a good way. Whereas in the original example, you just come across looking desperate for attention.
Be Aware of Your Surroundings!
Obviously you are going to be the main subject in the photo. That’s the whole point. However, this doesn’t mean that backgrounds and settings don’t play a part in making a successful selfie. You don’t want ruin a picture of you looking great in some new threads by having a messy room or toilet stall in the background. And you sure as hell don’t want to slip up and leave something private in the photo like a vibrator or monster dildo.
As nice as this lady is looking in this pic, it’s completely ruined. Guess what? If you upload this to Instagram, it doesn’t matter how hot you are. The only thing the comments are going to be about is that bright blue dildo of yours on the nightstand. Good luck burying that joke amongst your friends.
It’s Okay to Be a Little Pretentious
Before I mentioned that you don’t want to come off appearing desperate or that you think you’re better than everyone. However, the whole concept of selfie art is that you are taking a picture of, well, yourself. It’s about as selfish as an activity can be. BUT there is definitely a smart way to go about it. This is where the artistic approach really comes in. Unlike our friend before, you don’t want to just take a plain, boring picture of yourself on a train. However, there are ways to spice it up so you come off looking just a little better than everyone else while still not acting like a jerk.
Now this is just absolutely A+ selfie work. This lovely gal was able to successfully blend herself in to the entirety of this picture. It’s as if she’s part of the room. You can look amazing, but if you appear out of place then the photo just isn’t going to work out. The filter in this particular selfie is also spot on. It adds just enough character without being too much. For more in-depth filter knowledge, try here.
So there you have it. The art of taking selfies. I expect all of you to now have a better understanding of the dos and don’ts of taking selfies and make the Internet a better, less douchebag-filled place.