Too often we focus on what’s in front of our cameras and not enough on who’s behind the lens. Today’s challenge is a tough one for many photographers – it’s time for you to take center stage in a creative selfie.

To help you in that endeavor, we’ve got some handy tips that will help you get a sense of how to get away from those cliché mirror photos to take a creative selfie. We’ve put together a few self-portraits to get you inspired as well.

Photograph Only a Part of You

Selfies don’t have to be of your entire face or body. In fact, some of the most unique selfies are those that have interesting cropping to focus attention on one aspect of who you are. Your eyes, lips, or feet might make for an interesting image. Another thought is to obscure part of your face with a piece of fabric or with even with water, as was done in the image above.

Don’t Forget Rules of Composition

Just because you’ve taken a somewhat ridiculous pose with your phone in hand doesn’t mean that your selfie shouldn’t still adhere to some basic compositional rules. Your phone has a thirds grid built in, so use it to ensure that you align yourself with one of the grid’s intersecting points. Like with any other photo, it will help you create a far more interesting image than if you frame yourself in the dead middle of the shot.

Lighting is also just as important for selfies as it is for traditional photos. Ambient lighting will give a warm glow to your face, while the harsh mid-day sun will produce hard shadows and wash you out. Backlighting can make for an interesting silhouette while sidelighting can produce a dramatic contrast between the lit and shadowed sides of your face. Don’t be afraid to get dramatic with your lighting either! Going dark and only minimally lighting her face resulted in a stunning selfie for the photographer in the image above. 

Give the Photo Some Context

Selfies often get a bad wrap because they seem so narcissistic, like the image above. But if you give your selfie a little bit of context, viewers will have a reason to connect with the image because it’s more about where you are and what you’re doing than it is about showing off how cool you are. 

When thinking about context, imagine ways to incorporate the scene around you. Is there interesting architecture, a beautiful fountain, or an amazing sunset that will inform viewers as to where you are? Also think about ways you can provide insight into what you’re doing. This could be accomplished in many ways, like showing what you’re wearing or who you’re with, as seen above.

Practice and Participate!

These three, easy to implement selfie tips will not only improve the composition of your image but will also help you create a photo that is about much more than just showing off your face. With interesting framing and lighting choices, you can turn a regular selfie into something unique and interesting. And by highlighting your surroundings and the people you’re with, you will create a selfie with which people can more easily connect.

With these tips firmly in mind, grab your phone and your selfie stick and head out and take a creative selfie that shows off your photography skills. Don’t be shy either! Select your best selfie and upload it to the forum thread so others can see the work you’ve done. Also be sure to have a look at the selfies that other photographers have uploaded so you can get even more ideas for the future!