How to Take a Selfie Without Holding the Phone

Co-authored by Crystal Bear and Hannah Madden

Last Updated: October 15, 2021 References

The classic selfie pose involves holding your phone in front of your face and smiling as you snap your picture. The problem with this pose is that your arm might be included in your photo, creating an awkward-looking picture without much of the background in it. If you want to up your selfie game and try taking a picture without holding your phone, you can use the self-timer or a selfie stick to take better selfies with more natural looking poses.

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Using a Self-Timer

1
Place your phone on a steady surface with the front camera facing you. Choose a surface that is about eye-level, like a shelf or a chair. Set your phone with the front facing camera towards you on this surface and make sure it is standing completely upright.^{[1]
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- If your phone is tilted forwards or backwards at all, it could throw off the depth of your selfie and make your face look distorted.
- You can set your phone on its side for a landscape selfie or keep it upright for a portrait selfie.
- Alternatively, you can turn the phone around and ask someone to take your photo because the camera at the back of the phone is of better quality than the selfie camera.^{[2]
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  Expert Source
  
  Crystal Bear
  Professional Photographer
  Expert Interview. 21 January 2021.}
2
Adjust the lighting and make sure you are in focus. Open your camera app and spend a few minutes adjusting the exposure and focus of your frame. Make sure that the area you will be standing for the photo is in focus.^{[3]
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- Avoid standing in front of a light source so that you don’t look washed out.^{[4]
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  Expert Source
  
  Crystal Bear
  Professional Photographer
  Expert Interview. 21 January 2021.}
- Do not sit in front of a window. Sit facing the window to take your photo.^{[5]
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  Expert Source
  
  Crystal Bear
  Professional Photographer
  Expert Interview. 21 January 2021.}
Tip: Use a room with natural light coming in towards you for a better looking photo.

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3
Set your timer to go off in 10 seconds. Click the option for your self-timer and choose the longest option, which is usually 10 seconds. This gives you a chance to move into position and adjust yourself before the timer goes off.^{[6]
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- Depending on the phone you have, you may be able to set a timer for even longer.
4
Click the photo button and quickly move to your selfie position. Keep an eye on the countdown display of your phone to figure out when your timer will go off. Move into the position that you’d like to take your picture in as quick as you can.^{[7]
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- Make sure you aren’t moving when your camera goes off, or your picture will probably come out blurry.
5
Look at the camera, not the screen. As you wait for your timer to go off, make sure you are looking into the lens of the camera, not at your phone screen. This will make your picture seem more natural and not like you are looking at something behind or next to your phone.^{[8]
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- You can look at your phone screen as you adjust your selfie position, but be sure to move your eyes back to the lens before the timer goes off.
6
Check out your picture to see if you want to redo it. If you do, simply reset your timer and change your phone’s position or your own pose. Make sure you keep your phone at about eye-level for the best picture.^{[9]
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- Some phones take timed pictures in “bursts,” which means they take about 10 photos all at once. If your phone has this option, you can pick and choose which photos to keep and which ones to delete.

Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Holding a Selfie Stick

1
Plug your phone into the selfie stick with the headphone jack cord. Most selfie sticks attach to your phone with a simple cord. Plug this cord into your headphone jack and make sure it is secure.^{[10]
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- Some selfie sticks connect to the Bluetooth on your phone. If yours does, turn on the Bluetooth function on your selfie stick and pair it with your phone in your Bluetooth settings.
2
Clip your phone into either side of the selfie stick. Take your phone and position it in the clips at the top of the selfie stick. Make sure your phone is snug in between the clips so that it doesn’t fall out.^{[11]
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- Some selfie sticks have detachable clips. If yours does, secure the clips around your phone and then attach the clips onto the top of your selfie stick by screwing them into place.
3
Hold the selfie stick by the handle and extend it fully. Grab onto the bottom of the selfie stick and pull the top outwards until the stick is fully extended. Make sure your phone is secure in the clips before lifting it in the air.^{[12]
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- Make sure your selfie stick locks into position so that it will keep steady as you take your selfie.
4
Angle your arm so that the selfie stick isn’t in the picture. Hold the selfie stick by the handle and put your phone up in the air. Watch the front facing camera on your phone screen to see how your picture will look. Make sure your arm and the selfie stick aren’t in the frame of your photo.^{[13]
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Tip: Hold your phone up higher to include more people in your selfie.
5
Click the button on the selfie stick to take a photo. Find the button on the handle of your selfie stick and click it when you want to take your selfie. Click the button a few times in a row to take a couple of pictures so you have some variety to choose from.^{[14]
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- Some selfie sticks have Bluetooth remotes that pair with your phone. If yours does, click the button on the remote to take a photo.

Expert Q&A

Question

Is the selfie camera better than the camera on the back of the phone?

Crystal Bear
Professional Photographer
Crystal Bear is a Professional Photographer and the Owner of Summer Bear Photography. Crystal specializes in weddings and portraits for women. She holds a BS in Interior Design and Consumer Science from San Francisco State University. Coming from a design background, Crystal brings a sense of style and artistry to her work that brings out her client’s inner confidence, showcases their beauty both inside and out, and puts them at ease. She also specializes in using the correct lighting and branding for women entrepreneurs.

Crystal Bear

Professional Photographer

Expert Answer

The camera on the back of the phone is of better quality than a selfie camera.
Question

Can I sit in front of the window and take a photo?

Crystal Bear
Professional Photographer
Crystal Bear is a Professional Photographer and the Owner of Summer Bear Photography. Crystal specializes in weddings and portraits for women. She holds a BS in Interior Design and Consumer Science from San Francisco State University. Coming from a design background, Crystal brings a sense of style and artistry to her work that brings out her client’s inner confidence, showcases their beauty both inside and out, and puts them at ease. She also specializes in using the correct lighting and branding for women entrepreneurs.

Crystal Bear

Professional Photographer

Expert Answer

Do not sit in front of a window. Instead, sit facing a window to take a photo. There should be an even light on your face. It should not be very bright behind you.
Question

What will happen if I sit in front of bright light and take a photo?

Crystal Bear
Professional Photographer
Crystal Bear is a Professional Photographer and the Owner of Summer Bear Photography. Crystal specializes in weddings and portraits for women. She holds a BS in Interior Design and Consumer Science from San Francisco State University. Coming from a design background, Crystal brings a sense of style and artistry to her work that brings out her client’s inner confidence, showcases their beauty both inside and out, and puts them at ease. She also specializes in using the correct lighting and branding for women entrepreneurs.

Crystal Bear

Professional Photographer

Expert Answer

The camera will take a bright photo in which you will appear dark or have a weird glow behind your head.