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Love them or hate them, selfies have become one of the most popular types of photography in the world. Mirror selfies, in particular, are seeing rapid growth in popularity and are all over social media these days.
If you want to find out how to take better pictures in mirrors, you have come to the right place. In this article, I’ll give you eight important tips that will not only quickly and easily improve your mirror selfies but also help you grow your social media accounts!
Table of Contents
- Lighting is Key
- Buy a Full-Length Mirror
- Make Sure Your Mirror is Sparkling Clean
- Keep Your Background Neat and Tidy
- Don’t Be Afraid to Use the Flash
- Take Tons of Selfies
- Have Fun and Be Creative
- Never Over Edit Your Mirror Selfies
- A Few Bonus Mirror Selfie Tips
How to Take Better Pictures in Mirrors: Lighting is Key
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If I could only give you one tip, it would be to make sure you always have proper lighting. Just like any form of photography, when taking pictures in mirrors, you will only achieve the best results if you have the correct lighting.
Natural light is very flattering and will help make your selfies look more candid, so if you are shooting inside, try and set up your mirror next to a natural light source like a window. I know that’s not always possible, though, so it’s also a wonderful idea to invest in a high-quality lighting kit.
Another piece of gear that can increase the quality of your light is reflectors. I would recommend getting a 5-in-1 reflector kit that comes with white, black, translucent, gold, and silver reflectors. These kits are inexpensive and will without a doubt take your selfie game to the next level.
How to Take Better Pictures in Mirrors: Buy a Full-Length Mirror
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You can take pictures in mirrors of all shapes and sizes, but for the most aesthetic mirror selfies, you are going to want to get your hands on a top-notch full-length mirror.
They give you the most room to play with, let you show off your whole outfit, are pleasing to look at, and have the added bonus of making your room feel bigger than it really is. Here are a few fantastic full-length mirrors to check out:
- Miruo Large Full-Length Arched Hanging or Wall Mounted Mirror
- NeuType Full-Length Hanging or Free Standing Mirror
- Fennio Full-Length Mirror with LED Lights
How to Take Better Pictures in Mirrors: Make Sure Your Mirror is Sparkling Clean
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Nothing is worse than taking a bunch of pictures in mirrors only to realize later on there’s a big spot right in front of your face! One of the most common mirror selfie mistakes, and one of the easiest to fix, is making sure your mirror is clean.
It’s as simple as having a nice mirror cleaning solution, a small microfiber towel, and giving your mirror a rub down every once in a while. I prefer using an all-natural cleaning spray like Better Life Natural Streak Free Glass Cleaner, or you can make your own by combining one cup of water, one cup of all-purpose white vinegar, and a teaspoon of dish soap in a spray bottle.
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How to Take Better Pictures in Mirrors: Keep Your Background Neat and Tidy
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Another simple way to improve your mirror selfie game is to have an organized and tidy background. All a cluttered background does is draw the attention away from you and onto the mess. Also, let’s be honest, you don’t want everyone on social media thinking you are a slob, now do you?
Alternatively, you can go a step further and use backdrops or props when taking selfies. Sheets work great if you are on a budget, or you can find tons of cool and unique photography backdrops on Amazon. As for props, things like plants, musical instruments, string lights, balloons, and food all add an extra flair to pictures in mirrors.
How to Take Better Pictures in Mirrors: Don’t Be Afraid to Use the Flash
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Whether you are shooting pictures in mirrors with your phone or with a camera, shadows are one of your biggest enemies. If you are at home and you have a lighting kit, it’s easy to eliminate shadows, but what do you do if you are out on the town?
The answer is to use your flash. Many people only use their flash when it’s too dark to see properly, but if you know how to use them effectively, they can also be a great tool for eliminating shadows. So, next time you find yourself wanting to take a mirror selfie somewhere with shadows, go ahead and give your flash a try.
How to Take Better Pictures in Mirrors: Take Tons of Selfies
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Firing away one shot and expecting the perfect image is simply not how photography works. The same way studio photographers and landscape photographers often take hundreds of photos of the same scene, you should learn to do the same.
I’m by no means telling you to spend the whole day in front of your mirror, but by at least taking a few different photos, you can significantly increase the chances of shooting a winner. On top of that, the more photos you take, the more you will discover what works for you and what doesn’t.
How to Take Better Pictures in Mirrors: Have Fun and Be Creative
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This is an important one: whenever taking pictures in mirrors, you want to make sure you are having fun with it and not turning it into a chore or letting it stress you out. The more creative you are and the more fun you have, the happier you will be, and the better your photos will come out. Furthermore, people love silly and unique photos!
One way to do this is by experimenting with different poses, hairstyles, makeup, and filters. Also, don’t limit yourself to just mirrors. You can take selfies in windows, glass surfaces, shiny cars, bodies of water, ice, and even sunglasses! Lastly, another fun idea is to take photos with friends, families, or pets.
How to Take Better Pictures in Mirrors: Never Over Edit Your Mirror Selfies
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Photo editing has become an integral part of the everyday photographer's process these days thanks to the rise in popularity of programs like Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Lightroom, but one thing you will definitely want to avoid is over editing your photos.
Sure, cropping your photos or lightening or darkening them a little isn’t going to hurt, but if you do too much, your photos may end up looking unnatural. Adding too much clarity or HDR effects is a big no-no when editing.
A Few Bonus Mirror Selfie Tips
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I hope you have found these top tips helpful and that you put them to use the next time you plan on taking pictures in mirrors. If you have made it this far, good for you! Here are some bonus tips to up your selfie skills:
Put the phone/camera in different places and try looking at different places as well
- Be confident! It shows in photos
- Try lots of different angles
- Clean your camera
- Use a tripod
With that, you have some great tips for taking mirror selfies. Now all that’s left to do is to go get some great pictures in mirrors!
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