Taking a Good Picture of Yourself

Updated October 2026

The secret is volume. Take a lot of pictures, make faces, try odd angles. Nobody sees the rejects.

A few things make the keepers better. Most phones have a sharper camera on the back than on the front. So prop the phone up on a shelf or a little tripod and use the self-timer or a remote. You'll also get more than your face in the frame.

Face a window. It's the most flattering light in most houses. Overhead lights put shadows under your eyes.

Keep the camera at eye level or a bit above. And don't shoot from arm's length with a wide lens. Up close, wide lenses make noses look bigger. Stand back and use 1x or 2x.

Skip the flash, which gives you that washed-out look. For a profile picture, let your head and shoulders fill most of the frame against a plain background.