Wondering how to take a great selfie on iPhone?
You’re in the right place. This quick guide will show you the simple tricks that make every selfie look brighter, sharper and more natural.
Here’s what you will learn:
- The basic rules for taking a good iPhone selfie
- How to capture great selfies with the iPhone rear camera
- How to take nice selfies with the iPhone front camera
Get ready to take a better photo by yourself in just a few easy steps!
Basic rules for taking a great selfie on iPhone
To learn how to take a great selfie on iPhone, you first need to understand six basic rules: good lighting, the right angle, natural poses and expressions, steady hands, a clean background, and proper camera settings.
1. Use great lighting to take a good selfie on iPhone
Good lighting is the key to taking a nice selfie on iPhone. Here are some lighting tips to make your selfies look brighter and more natural:
📌Stand near a big window or go outdoors for soft, even light.
📌Take selfies during golden hour - about an hour after sunrise or before sunset - for a flattering glow.
📌Face the light directly and avoid harsh shadows.
📌Indoors, diffuse light with a white curtain or use a soft lamp if natural light isn’t available.
2. Find your best angles for beautiful iPhone selfies
The right angle can make a huge difference in your iPhone selfie. Here are some quick tips to help you find your most flattering look:
📌Hold your phone slightly above eye level and tilt it down a little.
📌Tilt your head slightly to the side to elongate your neck and define your jaw.
📌Try looking slightly away from the camera or straight at it to see which works best.
📌Don’t be shy - take multiple shots from different angles and compare them.
3. Use natural selfie poses and expressions to set the mood
Your pose and expression set the tone for your iPhone selfies. Here are some easy tips to look relaxed, confident, and natural:
📌Relax and stay confident: Keep your shoulders down and chin slightly lowered to create a longer-looking neck.
📌Experiment with poses: Try leaning against a wall, over-the-shoulder snaps, hand in your hair, or full-body mirror selfies.
📌Play with facial expressions: Smile naturally, pout lightly, or look thoughtfully away from the camera. Avoid forcing a grin.
📌Strong eye contact: Look directly into the camera, not at the phone screen. Eyes convey emotion and make selfies feel authentic.
📌Have fun: Laugh, interact with friends or pets, or try playful poses. Genuine enjoyment always shows in your selfies.
4. Hold your phone steady to take clear selfies on iPhone
Keeping your iPhone steady prevents blurry selfies. Try these simple ways:
📌Place your phone on a flat surface or a tripod for stability, especially with the back camera.
📌Use a selfie stick, camera remote, or both hands to hold your phone steady.
📌Use the volume button, timer, or voice commands to take selfies without touching the screen.
5. Keep your background clean to take a great selfie on iPhone
A cluttered or messy background can distract from your face. Here are some easy tips to keep your selfies looking sharp and focused:
📌Choose a simple, uncluttered background so you stand out.
📌Move a few steps to remove distractions behind you, or adjust your angle.
📌Plain walls, natural scenery, or soft indoor setups usually work best.
📌Avoid bright lights or objects directly behind you that can cause overexposure or shadows.
📌Experiment with different backgrounds, but keep them complementary, not distracting.
6. Configure your iPhone camera settings for the best selfies
To take a great selfie on iPhone easily, you should make the most of your camera features.
📌Use the rear camera: While the front-facing camera is convenient, the back camera usually delivers higher resolution and better image quality. Try both and see the difference for yourself.
📌Try Portrait Mode: Blurs the background and keeps you in focus, giving your selfie a professional look. Available on both front and back cameras.
📌Don’t forget the flash: Use it when natural light is low, but be careful of red-eye or washed-out skin. Adjust your angle to avoid harsh effects.
📌Adjust exposure manually: Tap on your face in the camera preview, then slide the small sun icon up or down to brighten or darken the photo. This helps you get the perfect lighting even in tricky situations.
📌Use the grid: Turn on the grid in your iPhone camera settings to divide your screen into nine equal squares. It helps keep your composition balanced and level.
How to take a good iPhone front camera selfie?
Using the front camera to take a great selfie on iPhone is easy when you follow a simple step-by-step setup. Here’s a quick guide anyone can use:
1️⃣Face good light: Stand near a window and turn slightly (about 45-90°) so the light hits one side of your face.
2️⃣Switch to Portrait mode: Open the Camera app and choose Portrait for a softer, more polished look.
3️⃣Lock focus on your face: Tap and hold on your face until you see AE/AF Lock.
4️⃣Lower exposure for better contrast: Swipe down on the exposure slider (sun icon) and set it around -1.0 to -1.3.
5️⃣Adjust background blur: Tap the “f” icon and set the f-stop to 2.2-2.8 for a smoother background.
6️⃣Check that nothing blocks the light: Keep your face fully lit - avoid curtains, hands, or objects creating shadows.
7️⃣Look toward the light and take the shot: Slightly lift the camera, relax your shoulders, and pose naturally.
How to take a great selfie with iPhone rear camera?
Using the rear camera to take a great selfie on iPhone can feel harder because you can’t see yourself on the screen. Fortunately, a few tools and simple camera settings can help you take clear and easy back-camera selfies on your iPhone.
💡Use a back camera monitor for iPhone to take a great selfie
The back camera monitor is the best tool for taking a great selfie on iPhone, because it gives you a live view of your face while you shoot. It lets you see your framing, angles, and poses in real time, so you can enjoy the higher image quality of the iPhone’s rear camera without guessing.
A good example is the SYNCO XView M4 selfie monitor screen for iPhone. It magnetically attaches to the back of your phone and shows your selfie preview clearly while you take the shot.
It also comes with a 10m wireless remote, making it easy to take sharp selfies from a distance. Extra features like aspect ratio options, screen mirroring, and screen rotation make rear-camera selfies simple and stress-free.
👉Watch the video below to see how the M4 monitor helps you take good selfies on iPhone.
💡Use the rear camera to take a mirror selfie on iPhone
Another easy way to take a great selfie with your iPhone’s rear camera is to use a mirror. Follow these simple steps to capture a nice mirror selfie:
1️⃣Stand where the light hits one side of your face: Natural light works best. Face a window so one side of your face looks bright and clear.
2️⃣Step back from the mirror: Give yourself a bit of distance so your framing looks natural and your full pose fits in the shot.
3️⃣Switch to Portrait mode and choose a flattering zoom: Use 2x or 3x for a cleaner, more natural mirror-selfie look.
4️⃣Select Contour Light and set it to around 80: Tap the octagon icon and adjust the intensity for a defined, polished result.
5️⃣Set depth to f/2.0: Tap the “f” icon to add a soft background blur while keeping your reflection sharp.
6️⃣Lower the exposure to around -1.3: Drop the exposure slightly to improve contrast and avoid overexposed skin.
7️⃣Find the right angle: Position your phone based on your “good side”.
- For side-profile shots: hold the phone with the opposite hand from your best side. For example, if your left side looks better, hold your iPhone with your right hand when taking the selfie.
- For front-facing shots: hold the phone on the same side as your good side.
8️⃣Pose and take multiple shots: Try small head tilts, relax your shoulders, and capture several photos to pick the best one.
💡Set 0.5x zoom to take a wide-angle selfie on iPhone
Another way to take a great selfie with your iPhone’s back camera is to use its built-in ultra-wide lens - no extra tools needed. Follow these steps to take a perfect 0.5x selfie on iPhone:
1️⃣Switch to ultra-wide lens: Tap “0.5×” in the Camera app to capture a wider scene.
2️⃣Hold the iPhone correctly: Extend your arm fully and raise the phone slightly above eye level (about 10-20° tilt down) for a flattering angle.
3️⃣Check the edges: Ultra-wide lenses can distort objects near the edges. Keep your face centered and avoid being too close to walls or straight lines.
4️⃣Use creative angles and poses: Lean, tilt, or include more background to make your selfie dynamic and eye-catching.