A Photographer Told Us the #1 Trick for Shooting the Perfect Selfie

Whether your Instagram account is packed with selfies or you just snap one occasionally, you've probably attempted them before. Sometimes you just have to share those new Céline sunglasses with everyone, right? And if you're interested in perfecting the art of the selfie, we're here to help.

We reached out to photographer Nicholas Pakradooni for his expert advice. Nicholas works with Aimee Song and takes most of the photos for Song of Style. In other words, he knows his way around a camera, and if you need proof, look no further than his Instagram feed (@cholpak). Nicholas shared his tips for taking the perfect selfie every time—and it comes down to one important trick: lighting. Plus, he let us know a few more important tips.

Keep reading to find out Nicholas's selfie tricks which I put to the test myself, and then shop our favorite statement tops to wear in your next snap.

TIP #1: LIGHTING

"I have a really strict rule called 'never let good selfie light go to waste.' Good selfie light is diffused natural light directly in front of you—you may have noticed that your selfie game is fire on cloudy days. Artificial light isn't great, because everything looks yellow, and direct sunlight is only good sometimes and can help accentuate features like your jawline but will usually cast unflattering shadows on your face."

TIP #2: ANGLE

"I usually stick to one angle for a selfie. My left side is my good side, and I like to make my jawline look defined, so I hold the phone a bit below my face and tilt my head up and to the right. Alternatively, you can hold the phone at eye level and angle your face down a bit, which is also flattering for a lot of different face shapes."

TIP #3: MIRROR SELFIES

"Then there are mirror selfies—rules don't apply. Have fun."

Now, Shop Puffy-Sleeve Tops Perfect for Any Photo

We don't know about you, but we're always on board for new photogenic tricks.

This post was published at an earlier date and has been updated.