15 birthday selfie ideas for Instagram

The best birthday selfie often is not an arm's-length selfie at all. A mirror shot or a timer photo from a tripod shows the outfit, the balloons and the cake, and looks like someone else took it. For close selfies, face a window, hold the phone slightly above eye level and use the main camera if you can.

Mirror selfies

1. Full-length mirror in the outfit. Phone at chest height, not face height, so the body is not foreshortened.

2. Mirror with balloons. A bunch of balloons in the free hand.

3. Bathroom mirror getting ready. Makeup, hair tools, a glass of something.

4. The sitting mirror selfie. On the floor in front of the mirror, legs tucked.

Close-up selfies

5. Cake and candles. Room lights off, the candle glow on your face.

6. The crown. A paper or glitter crown, chin down slightly.

7. Blowing a kiss with confetti. Throw confetti with the other hand. Burst.

8. Behind a bunch of flowers. Half the face hidden.

9. With your birthday drink. A cocktail or coffee near the face.

Timer "selfies"

10. The balloon wall. Phone on a tripod, 10-second timer, step into the frame. The Portrait 1 guide frames full-body shots.

11. Lying in balloons on the bed. Phone on a shelf pointing down.

12. Sitting by the window with the cake.

With friends

13. The group selfie from above. Arms up, everyone squeezed in. Tap the arrows on the front camera to widen the frame so nobody gets cut off.

14. Cheek to cheek with the best friend.

15. The blurry party selfie. Slightly blurry, flash on, on purpose. It is a mood.

Selfie tips on iPhone

• Face the light. A window in front of you is the most flattering light.
• Phone slightly above eye level. Chin forward and down a touch.
• Use the back camera when possible. It is sharper. Use the timer or a mirror.
• Avoid the ultra-wide close to the face. It distorts noses and foreheads.
• Clean the lens. Phones live in pockets.

For a full shoot, see 30 birthday photoshoot ideas. For general selfie technique, read how to take better selfies on iPhone.

Frame your day

slay overlays composition guides on your live iPhone camera, so your timer shots are framed before you step into them.

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