5 Quick and Easy Tips on How to Take an Awesome Selfie

With the release of Kim Kardashian's new book "Selfish" dedicated exclusively to her selfies, it's clear to see that the selfie trend is here to stay! Who wouldn't like selfies - it's like a mini photo shoot where you're the model, photographer, lighting director, makeup artist and stylist! Whether you're posting selfies to show off your amazing makeup or your outfit of the day, here are some tips that are sure to have your Instagram followers double tapping and your Facebook friends pressing the like button.

1) Make sure the light is right! Lighting is one of the most important factors when trying to take a flawless selfie. Make sure the lighting doesn't cast shadows (as this can draw attention to unwanted areas and make facial features appear larger, such as the nose) and try to avoid fluorescent lighting, as this type of lighting is universally unflattering and can make the skin look pale and lifeless. The best type of lighting to use is natural light, if possible!

2) Know your angles! It may take time and some experimenting at first to find your best angles, but it will be worth it! Try different poses and movements to see which ones flatter both your face and body. Knowing your best angles and how to work them is definitely an important factor when taking a selfie. Also, play around with the placement of the camera - you don't want your selfie to be too close or too far away. A low placed camera angle is usually best to be avoided as it is an unflattering angle for most people.

3) Pick a natural pose! This goes hand in hand with knowing your angles - it's best to pick a natural pose that doesn't look too forced or awkward. Play around with head tilts, smiles, and facial expressions until you find the selfie that you like the best.

4) Use caution when choosing a filter! Filters are both amazing and a curse as they can completely change the way a selfie looks. Choose a filter that's more on the conservative side that adds a flawless look to the selfie, instead of an extreme filter that edits the selfie so much that you don't even look like yourself anymore. There's nothing worse than posting a selfie that's edited so much that people don't realize it's you!

5) Write a witty caption! The caption can be describing your makeup, what you're doing that day, where you're about to go, details on your outfit - pretty much anything goes! Selfie's with a caption or description are just that much better than selfies without, and are more likely to gain likes from your followers. Double points if your caption is clever and funny!

Most of all, it's important to remember that selfies are fun and for the most part, effortless. Don't take yourself too seriously when trying to take the perfect selfie, and remember - if at first you don't like any of the selfies you've taken, you can always try again and again! Happy selfie-ing!