It’s not a stretch to say that college students love their phones. Whether it’s for texting, taking pictures, playing games, or many other things, most millennials and teenagers have constant use for their phones, the majority of which have no judgement. However, some activities don’t escape criticism from others, such as: the selfie.
Selfies have recently been receiving some unexpected backlash and certain stereotypes around the reason they’re taken, and while some of these may be true in certain cases, not every person takes a selfie for the same reason. There are even some beneficial reasons to taking selfies that will hopefully encourage you to utilize this trendy photo op.
Much like others, I personally can find a million flaws in my pictures, either individually or in group settings. And before you ask, yes, I have definitely been the person to make complete strangers take thousands of different pictures and angles while my friends suffer secondhand embarrassment. While selfies are great because they eliminate the need for a third party- either complete strangers or a friend excluded from the group photo- selfies also help with confidence. I understand that taking selfies seems like a weird way to practice self-love, but by taking a bunch of pictures of yourself, whether with friends or by yourself, you can learn to see past the “flaws” in the photos and see the beauty.
Along with this, taking selfies gives you a chance to practice and develop the best postures and lighting to find your perfect angle or good side. This may sound shallow at first, but it is another way of boosting your confidence and overall comfort during picture taking. If you go into a spontaneous photoshoot with friends or have to take pictures with unfamiliar relatives at a family reunion, you’re sure to shine even brighter than usual because you already know the best way to pose. You’ll know you look good and upgrade your self-confidence, which will reflect into your outward appearance and help you go from looking great to looking amazing.
Overall, snapping selfies of yourself from time to time can help you love and embrace yourself more. If it’s awkward at first, that’s okay! That’s why the delete button exists on camera rolls. And this article is not telling you to post a picture of yourself that you don’t like, not every photo is going to be a magazine cover. But that’s the beauty with selfie taking, they don’t have to be perfect every time! Selfies are the best types of pictures to help you practice your camera expressions and angles, while letting you have fun on your own terms. No one’s rushing you, judging you, or if you want, even in the same room with you, making the selfie be a completely personal experience. Selfies can be everything from serious, cute, funny, or even the long-surviving duckface, just do what makes you comfortable and you’ll be amazed at how much your confidence will shine from the inside out!
