BEFORE THE LOCKDOWN, our Instagram feed was filled with fashion influencers in elaborate magazine-like editorials taken in exotic and far-flung locations. Over the past three months however, due to travel restrictions and stay at home guidance, we began seeing an influx of at-home mirror selfies. Some are intimate, taken in various states of undress, some are casual while others very dressed-up; some include a cup of tea or a glass of red wine, but all tell a quiet (quarantine) story. If you’re still staying mostly at home and are looking for ways to share yourself without a friend or Instagram husband on hand, here are a few easy tips for taking the perfect mirror selfie.
The first and easiest step is to make sure that the mirror is clean. Smudges and dust will show in photos, so take a few moments to spritz some glass cleaner on the surface until it shines. Find your best angle by playing around with the phone’s placement, as well as different distances from the mirror. Keep focus on your phone and not the lens or the mirror. Always consider lighting: soft, natural lighting is often best, so choose a room with large windows if you can. Try to keep lighting at eye level to reduce shadows, and if natural lighting is not available, use softer lighting such as table lamps instead of bright overhead lights. And finally, don’t forget about the background. Clean up a messy space and clear away clutter; feature a favourite corner of your favourite room, a fireplace perhaps, or a gallery wall. Some even take the time ensure the foreground is beautiful, with pretty objects in view on a vanity, for instance, a crystal glass to hold makeup brushes, a favourite candle and a vase of white roses…
