Have you ever visited a beautiful place and wanted to take a picture of yourself, but you had trouble taking a good one? That’s common with a lot of people; some are of the view that the best pictures always have to be in a studio, or you have to hire a professional photographer. But, professional photographers say otherwise. In this article, they share tips on how to take the best pictures yourself. 

21-year-old Abdul Djalil, a local photographer who has been doing this professionally since 2018, says, "When it comes to taking pictures, it goes beyond just snapping if you want to capture a great photo.

"Make sure your camera lens is clean to avoid blurry pictures. Make sure the light is fair, and after starting your camera, adjust to a single shot mode.”

You could also use a tripod— a tripod allows you to capture a longer exposure by using a slower shutter speed of up to several seconds. This helps to minimise the risk of any movement—or a timer.

"Capturing a moment leaves a memory and that memory can last forever,” says Meridien, a 23-year-old photographer working with Digitec Studio. 

"Drag the focus ring around the touchscreen to adjust the focus on a specific object. Your phone can take pictures in either landscape or portrait orientation. The image is always stored upright. Even so, you can reorient images later,” he suggests. 

Also, be in the moment and edit your picture according to your preference. When it comes to selfies, you want to…

•Make sure your lens is clean

•Hold the camera away far from you

•Make sure you angle your phone up, down, or to the sides

•Avoid shadows, use a fair lighting

•Be confident and flash that smile

In her article, ‘14 Tips for Taking Creative Self-Portraits’, published by Toms Guide, 

Lacey Johnson writes, "Whether you want to spice up your selfies on Instagram or you dream of seeing your work in an art gallery, these quick tips will help you master the art of self-portrait photography.

"Place yourself in a visually interesting environment. For eye-catching self-portraits, try posing in a visually rich environment. Surrounding yourself with patterns and textures — such as a red brick wall, field of flowers or sea of turquoise water — is a great way to make your portraits more graphic. Unique interior spaces and architectural elements can also help your images pop.

"Shoot your reflection. Just about everyone has photographed their reflection at some point. Shooting into a mirror not only lets you preview your pose and expression, but it also often provides an intimate glimpse of your life by showing the inside of your home (if that’s where you’re shooting) and even the type of camera you’re using. For a more sophisticated take on the mirror self-portrait, try searching for reflections in less predictable places, like windows, puddles and other shiny surfaces.

"Use window light. When photographing self-portraits inside, try shooting near a large window. If it’s cloudy or shady outside, the diffused natural light will minimise harsh shadows to create a more flattering image.”

Johnson also suggests experimenting with facial expressions. "Smiling and looking into the camera gets old fast, and it’s not terribly creative. Be sure to switch up your poses so you’ll have plenty to choose from. In most cases, your expression and body language will ultimately decide the mood of your self-portrait.”

With these tips, you will have the best pictures of you, captured by you! Give them a try and keep those memories alive.