t's one of the most common aspects of owning a smartphone: the 'selfie.'
'Selfies' or self-taken photos have become such a phenomenon ABC News did a report about their popularity and even solicited advice and tips from noted fashion photographer Nigel Barker, currently host of 'The Face' on Oxygen.
Barker's advice is straight-forward: keep your chin up, remain comfortable and relaxed and by all means avoid that dreaded 'duck face.'
'Duck faces' should be avoided along with those ubiquitous shirtless gym pictures.
The long-time of judge of America's Next Top Model advises anyone against posing, calling it 'the worst.'
'For a selfie it's not about the pose, it's about you.'
Barker's main advice about striking a good balance for a 'selfie' is to be relaxed and to think of something happy.
Talking to ABC News reporter JuJu Chang, he even encouraged someone to think of something delicious.
'Just imagine for a second a beautiful piece of chocolate in your mouth, just melting over your tongue.'
Thinking of that automatically sends a message to the brain to become at ease and to 'smile with your eyes.'
Barker also has several suggestions for women who might be self-conscious about their appearance.
His trick for avoiding the dreaded double chin is a move he calls 'the turtle.'
Before taking the photo look up to the ceiling for a few moments because the muscles under the chin will stretch and excess skin will momentarily disappear.
But be quick with the photo, you have only about five seconds before the chin reverts to its natural state.
Another thing women can do to appear thinner is to put their hand on their hip because 'it creates a great shape.'
Avoid crossing your arms because that can make the arm appear bigger. Although for men, by all means make your biceps bulkier.
With the rise of social media
platforms like Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, the 'selfie' has become
popular with celebrities like Rihanna, Amanda Bynes, and Kim Kardashian
(who has been using it to document her pregnancy).
But there can be a dangerous side to the self-taken photo, just ask former congressman Anthony Wiener.
However Wiener's photo transgressions doesn't mean everyone in the political world has to shy away from the 'selfie.' Case in point: Hillary Clinton.
'Selfies' or self-taken photos have become such a phenomenon ABC News did a report about their popularity and even solicited advice and tips from noted fashion photographer Nigel Barker, currently host of 'The Face' on Oxygen.
Barker's advice is straight-forward: keep your chin up, remain comfortable and relaxed and by all means avoid that dreaded 'duck face.'
ABC Reporter JuJu Chang sought 'selfie' advice
from Nigel Barker. It paid off with this shot of the two of them on her
cellphone.
Practical tips from Barker include putting a hand on the hip and making sure the camera is held steady
The long-time of judge of America's Next Top Model advises anyone against posing, calling it 'the worst.'
'For a selfie it's not about the pose, it's about you.'
Barker's main advice about striking a good balance for a 'selfie' is to be relaxed and to think of something happy.
Talking to ABC News reporter JuJu Chang, he even encouraged someone to think of something delicious.
'Just imagine for a second a beautiful piece of chocolate in your mouth, just melting over your tongue.'
'Posing is the worst.' Barker would probably frown against this lips-heavy selfie from Kim Kardashian
Actress Amanda Bynes has been documenting her increasingly different appearances with selfies on her Twitter account
Barker also has several suggestions for women who might be self-conscious about their appearance.
His trick for avoiding the dreaded double chin is a move he calls 'the turtle.'
Before taking the photo look up to the ceiling for a few moments because the muscles under the chin will stretch and excess skin will momentarily disappear.
Queen of the selfies: pop princess Rihanna is a pro when it comes to snapping a photo of herself
Another thing women can do to appear thinner is to put their hand on their hip because 'it creates a great shape.'
Avoid crossing your arms because that can make the arm appear bigger. Although for men, by all means make your biceps bulkier.
Though he was fired as a judge on 'America's Next Top Model,' Barker quickly found another gig as host of Oxygen's 'The Face'
'The Face' is a model competition show with
teams from Coco Rocha (right), Naomi Campbell and Karolina Kurkova and
hosted by Barker.
However Wiener's photo transgressions doesn't mean everyone in the political world has to shy away from the 'selfie.' Case in point: Hillary Clinton.