How to Frame and Pose for a Mirror Selfie

Choosing a backdrop, holding your phone, and using your front camera to snap the perfect pic

Co-authored by Annie Tao and Luke Smith, MFA

Last Updated: March 12, 2023 References

Setting the Scene

|

Framing Your Face

|

Perfecting Your Pose

|

Expert Q&A

A mirror selfie is the perfect way to flaunt an outfit, flex your good-hair day, or just give your friends and followers a quick update on your day. But taking mirror selfies is an art, and there are some tricks to getting it just right. The best mirror selfie looks effortless and casual, but still flexes your clothes or your surroundings. We’ll give you some vital tips and pointers on how to set up your shot, hold your phone to frame your face, and sell the snap with the perfect pose to make sure your mirror selfies are the best they can be, every time.

Things You Should Know

Tidy your space and clean your mirror to remove any distractions or unflattering grain from the shot.
Set up your mirror in a spot with lots of natural light, or else turn on a few soft, ambient lamps. Avoid harsh fluorescent or overhead lights.
Hold your phone no lower than your chin to flatter your face, and look either into the lens or at your phone screen.
Strike a dynamic pose to show off your fit and your figure—place one leg slightly out in front, get into a squat, or take a seat to make the selfie more interesting.

Part 1

Part 1 of 3:

Setting the Scene

1
Use a mirror that frames either your face or your outfit. Pick a mirror that’s big enough to fit as much of you in the shot as you want. For instance, a small wall mirror works if you just want a selfie of your face, whereas a taller mirror is prime if you want to capture a full outfit.^{[1]
X
Research source}
- Keep in mind that you can crop your selfies, too. If you just want your face in the picture, but you only have a giant wall mirror, crop the rest of your body out of the photo after you take it.
- Also use a decorative mirror to add some flair to the photo, or a mirror with vanity lights for some flattering, built-in lighting.
- Unconventional mirrors like a car’s rear view or the outside of a glass building also make for interesting shots.
2
Tidy parts of the room visible in the mirror. If you’re taking your selfie in your bedroom or your own house, make sure the space that will be showing in the picture is organized and clean—put away any dirty clothes on the floor, make your bed, and check that anything potentially embarrassing, like your life-sized celebrity crush poster, is hidden.^{[2]
X
Research source}

Tip: Don’t forget to clean your mirror, too! Wipe it down with a cloth and glass cleaner to get rid of any smudges or spots.

Advertisement
3
Set up the mirror in a spot with good lighting. Natural lighting is the most flattering for pictures. To take advantage of this, open the blinds or curtains on windows to allow more light in and try to take your picture during the day when it’s sunny outside. If it’s nighttime, recreate natural lighting by turning on soft, warm lamps instead of bright overhead lights. Also make sure the light is angled toward you, and not toward the mirror.^{[3]
X
Research source}
- Avoid fluorescent or harsh white lights, which dull your skin.
- Make sure that the light isn’t directly at your back. Otherwise, you’ll just be a silhouette. Adjust the light if possible so that it hits you in the front.

Part 2

Part 2 of 3:

Framing Your Face

1
Look into the camera lens through the mirror for a more flattering pose. Looking into the lens of your camera keeps you from concentrating too hard on the phone screen, which is handy when you want to avoid less flattering expressions like frowns or furrowed brows. It also lets your face and eyes be the focal point, which screams confidence!^{[4]
X
Research source}
- To give a smolder worthy of a runway model, smile with your eyebrows raised, then drop the smile but keep those eyebrows up. This opens up your face and accentuates your natural facial contours.
2
Look at the phone screen instead for a more casual look. If you’re going for a more low-key selfie, go ahead and look at your phone to line up and snap the pic, just make sure your phone is close to but not blocking your face. This pose gives off the vibe that you’re not taking this too seriously, and has a more spur-of-the-moment feel.^{[5]
X
Research source}
- Give a slight smirk or a playful pout to get the perfect expression as you look into your phone screen.
3
Hold your phone close to your face at a slight downward angle. Make sure your phone is no lower than chin height, and keep it closer to your face than to the mirror, which helps to flatten your face and avoid a fish-eye lens look. Then, create the illusion of length and height by tilting it slightly downward. This slims up your features and creates a more striking and flattering angle.^{[6]
X
Expert Source

Crystal Bear
Professional Photographer
Expert Interview. 21 January 2021.}
- The higher you hold your phone, the longer and slimmer you’ll look.
- Play around with different angles and heights to determine what works best for your selfie.
4
Hide your face with your phone to focus on your outfit or setting. If you don't want your face showing, hold your phone directly in front of it so that everything but your hair is covered. Place your phone under your chin and angle it downwards until you can’t see your head in the shot. These let people know that this pic is more about your fit, and less about the mug.^{[7]
X
Research source}
- Hide your face in a selfie if you don’t want to worry about what your facial expression looks like.
5
Use the front camera for a cool double shot. Lean against the mirror and switch your phone to the front-facing camera, which is the one you use to take a regular selfie. Hold the phone out in front of you so that the shot captures both you and your reflection for an artsy effect.

Did you know?

You can get a similar effect by positioning 2 mirrors so that you’re standing between them. You’ll be reflected in the mirror behind you when you take your selfie.
6
Hold your phone out to the side if you don’t want it in the shot. To snap a selfie without actually having your phone in the picture, stretch your arm out to the side and angle the phone in sharply towards your body. Check your screen to make sure the angle is correct and the phone is out of the view of the mirror before taking your picture.
- You can always crop the phone out of your picture afterwards.
- If you don’t want to outstretch your arm as far, stand more to the edge of the mirror. This makes it easier to angle the phone so it’s out of sight.

Part 3

Part 3 of 3:

Perfecting Your Pose

1
Place one leg out in front of you for a longer figure. Finding the right pose is key to the mirror selfie. To get into one of these leg-lengthening poses, imagine that you’re taking a baby step forward. Step slightly forward out to one side or cross one foot in front of the other. Then, point the toe of your forward foot to lengthen your legs even more.^{[8]
X
Research source}
- Don't step out too far in front or too far out to the side, which might look a bit unnatural in the final shot.
2
Stand facing forward with your legs slightly apart to show off your outfit. To highlight what you’re wearing, place your feet about hip-width apart and square your shoulders so you’re directly facing the mirror. Stand up straight with your shoulders back so you don’t look slouched over in the picture. This gives everyone a good look at what you're wearing, and lends you a dynamic, interesting stance.^{[9]
X
Research source}
- Let your arm hang naturally at your side, or place one hand on your hip to give a little more attitude.
3
Sit in front of the mirror for a laid-back selfie. Have a seat to let everyone know you’re just vibing here. For example, sit cross-legged on the floor in front of the mirror or pull up a chair and throw a leg over the armrest.^{[10]
X
Research source}
- Keep your back straight to fight off an unflattering slouch.
Tip: For inspiration for more unique shots, browse the #mirrorselfie hashtag on Instagram to see what other people are doing.
4
Put your foot on the counter to spice up a bathroom mirror selfie. Bathroom selfies are classic, but can be tricky to make interesting. To make your pose more dynamic, throw a leg up onto the counter and rest your elbow on that knee. The extreme pose draws in viewers, and as a bonus, shows off your footwear in the process.^{[11]
X
Research source}
5
Pop a squat to show off your figure. Turn to the side, then lower yourself to the floor while remaining on the balls of your feet. Keep your back straight and extend the foot nearest the mirror out just a bit. This is another great pose for featuring your outfit of the day, and flatters your form for extra glam.^{[12]
X
Research source}
6
Take a lot of pictures in a variety of poses and angles. More photos means more choices! Snap multiple photos in all different poses or while holding your phone at different heights and angles. This will ensure you have at least one that you like and gives you plenty of options to choose from.^{[13]
X
Expert Source

Annie Tao
Professional Photographer
Expert Interview. 3 March 2021.}
- To automatically take more than one picture at a time, use the burst mode by holding down the shutter button or the volume button on your phone.
- If you have one pose that you like, take multiple pictures in it, making slight tweaks each time. For instance, if you like your legs crossed, take one shot with your hand on your hip and another with your hand in your pocket.

Expert Q&A

Question

How can I make my selfies a little more interesting?

Annie Tao
Professional Photographer
Annie Tao is an award-winning Professional Lifestyle and Commercial Photographer and the Owner of Annie Tao Photography based in the San Francisco Bay Area. While some of her commercial clients include Starbucks, PayPal, Rice University, and United Airlines, Annie is also passionate about capturing genuine emotions and real moments in people’s lives. She has been recognized as Kodak’s Featured Photographer and has had work featured in The Wall Street Journal, Brides Magazine, and Glamour & Grace.

Annie Tao

Professional Photographer

Expert Answer

Throw on a hat or a purse! A little fun accessory is a great way to brighten things up and make your selfie a little more interesting.
Question

What can I do to make my selfies a little more casual?

Annie Tao
Professional Photographer
Annie Tao is an award-winning Professional Lifestyle and Commercial Photographer and the Owner of Annie Tao Photography based in the San Francisco Bay Area. While some of her commercial clients include Starbucks, PayPal, Rice University, and United Airlines, Annie is also passionate about capturing genuine emotions and real moments in people’s lives. She has been recognized as Kodak’s Featured Photographer and has had work featured in The Wall Street Journal, Brides Magazine, and Glamour & Grace.

Annie Tao

Professional Photographer

Expert Answer

Try using a variety of different facial expressions over the course of a few shots. This will give you plenty of options when it comes to picking a laid-back shot. You can also try including your hand, shoulder, or arm in the shot; that can often make you look more casual.
Question

My selfies always look kind of boring. How can I get a little more creative with my selfies?

Annie Tao
Professional Photographer
Annie Tao is an award-winning Professional Lifestyle and Commercial Photographer and the Owner of Annie Tao Photography based in the San Francisco Bay Area. While some of her commercial clients include Starbucks, PayPal, Rice University, and United Airlines, Annie is also passionate about capturing genuine emotions and real moments in people’s lives. She has been recognized as Kodak’s Featured Photographer and has had work featured in The Wall Street Journal, Brides Magazine, and Glamour & Grace.

Annie Tao

Professional Photographer

Expert Answer

Experiment with the filters you have at your disposal. That's an easy way to make your shot look a little more creative. You can also play with different light and shadow configurations to hide parts of your face or body.