How to Take Good Mirror Pics that Look Effortless

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Expert tips and tricks on getting the perfect shot

Co-authored by Crystal Bear and Aly Rusciano

Last Updated: October 1, 2025 Fact Checked

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Holding Your Phone

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Posing

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Getting the Perfect Setup

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Video

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Expert Q&A

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Tips

ARTICLE

VIDEO

A mirror selfie is the perfect way to flaunt an outfit, flex your good-hair day, or just give your friends and followers a quick update on your day. But how do you take a mirror selfie that’s flattering? We spoke to professional photographers and social media experts to bring you the best advice on how to take a selfie that looks effortless and flawless. So, read on for the best posing tips.

How do you take a good mirror selfie?

Professional photographer Crystal Bear recommends holding your phone at a downward angle to get the most flattering photo. Gaze at the reflection of the camera lens within the mirror to radiate confidence, and hold a pose that shows off your striking features.

Section 1 of 3:

How to Hold Your Phone & Frame Your Face

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1
Hold your phone at eye level and look into the camera lens. The most flattering way to take a mirror selfie is to hold your phone up at eye level and look directly into the camera lens through the mirror. Looking into the lens opens your eyes and gives a look of confidence, so don’t be afraid to pout or serve a fierce look!^{[1]
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- To give a smolder worthy of a runway model, smile with your eyebrows raised, then drop the smile but keep those eyebrows up. This opens up your face and accentuates your natural facial contours.
Meet the wikiHow Experts

Crystal Bear is a professional photographer and the owner of Summer Bear Photography. She specializes in weddings and portraits for women.

Annie Tao is an award-winning professional photographer who specializes in capturing genuine emotions and real moments.

Chelsea Hunersen is a social media expert who specializes in social media and content development. She has over 10 years of experience.
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Look at the phone screen for a more casual look. If you’re going for a more low-key selfie, hold up your phone and look at the screen instead of the mirror. This gives off a “I’m not too serious” vibe, and has a more spur-of-the-moment feel.^{[2]
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- Give a slight smirk or a playful pout to get the perfect expression as you look into your phone screen.
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Hold your phone close to your face at a slight downward angle. Bear recommends holding your phone at a downward angle to get the most flattering photo. She instructs to make sure your phone is no lower than chin height, and to keep it closer to your face than to the mirror. Then, create the illusion of length and height by tilting it slightly downward. This slims your features and creates a more striking and flattering angle.^{[3]
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Crystal Bear
Professional Photographer

Expert Interview}
- The higher you hold your phone, the longer and slimmer you’ll look.
- Play around with different angles and heights to determine what works best for you.
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Hide your face with your phone to focus on your outfit or setting. If you don’t want your face showing, hold your phone directly in front of it so that everything but your hair is covered. Place your phone under your chin and angle it downwards until you can’t see your head in the shot. This shows that the pic is more about your fit, and less about the mug.^{[4]
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- Hide your face in a selfie if you don’t want to worry about what your facial expression looks like.
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Use the front camera for a cool double shot. Lean against the mirror and switch your phone to the front-facing camera, which is the one you use to take a regular selfie. Hold the phone out in front of you so that the shot captures both you and your reflection for an artsy effect.
- For a similar effect, position 2 mirrors so that you’re standing between them and are reflected in the mirror behind you when you take the shot.
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Hold your phone out to the side if you don’t want it in the shot. To snap a selfie without actually having your phone in the picture, stretch your arm out to the side and angle the phone in sharply towards your body. Check your screen to make sure the angle is correct and the phone is out of the view of the mirror before taking your picture.
- If you don’t want to outstretch your arm as far, stand more to the edge of the mirror. This makes it easier to angle the phone so it’s out of sight.
- Your phone can always be cropped out of the pic afterwards.
Professional photographer Annie Tao explains that “the height and angle of your phone can dictate how tall or lean you look.” So, you want to hold your phone in a way that highlights your best features. “For example, if you hold the phone camera high and angle it down, your assets up top will look larger, but you will look shorter. If you hold your phone at your waist area and point straight or slightly upwards, then you look longer and taller while highlighting your waist,” continues Tao.^{[5]
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Annie Tao
Professional Photographer

Expert Interview}

Section 2 of 3:

The Best Ways to Pose

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1
Place one leg out in front of you for a longer figure. Finding the right pose is the key to the mirror selfie. To get into one of these leg-lengthening poses, imagine that you’re taking a baby step forward. Step slightly forward out to one side or cross one foot in front of the other. Then, point the toe of your forward foot to lengthen your legs even more.^{[6]
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- Don't step out too far in front or too far out to the side, which might look a bit unnatural in the final shot.
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Stand facing forward with your legs slightly apart to show off your outfit. To highlight what you’re wearing, place your feet about hip-width apart and square your shoulders so you’re directly facing the mirror. Stand up straight with your shoulders back so you don’t look slouched over in the picture. This gives everyone a good look at what you're wearing, and lends you a dynamic, interesting stance.^{[7]
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- Let your arm hang naturally at your side, or place one hand on your hip to give a little more attitude.
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Sit in front of the mirror for a laid-back selfie. Have a seat to let everyone know you’re just vibing. For example, sit cross-legged on the floor in front of the mirror or pull up a chair and throw a leg over the armrest. This pose is simple but casual and flattering.
- Keep your back straight to fight off an unflattering slouch.
Bathroom selfies are classic, but can be tricky to make interesting. To make your pose more dynamic, throw a leg up onto the counter and rest your elbow on that knee. The extreme pose draws in viewers, and as a bonus, shows off your footwear in the process.^{[8]
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Turn to the side, then lower yourself to the floor while remaining on the balls of your feet. Keep your back straight and extend the foot nearest the mirror out just a bit. This is another great pose for featuring your outfit of the day, and flatters your form for extra glam.^{[9]
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Take a lot of pictures in a variety of poses and angles. More photos mean more choices! Social media expert Chelsea Hunersen recommends snapping multiple photos in all different poses or while holding your phone at different heights and angles. This ensures you have at least one that you like and gives you plenty of options to choose from.^{[10]
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Chelsea Hunersen
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- To automatically take more than one picture at a time, use the burst mode by holding down the shutter or volume button on your phone.
- If you have one pose that you like, take multiple pictures in it, making slight tweaks each time. For instance, if you like your legs crossed, take one shot with your hand on your hip and another with your hand in your pocket.

Section 3 of 3:

Getting the Perfect Setup

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1
Use a mirror that frames either your face or your outfit. Pick a mirror that’s big enough to fit as much of you in the shot as you want. For instance, a small wall mirror works if you just want a selfie of your face, whereas a taller mirror is prime if you want to capture a full outfit.^{[11]
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- Keep in mind that you can also crop your selfies. If you just want your face in the picture, but you only have a giant wall mirror, crop the rest of your body out of the photo after you take it.
- Try using a decorative mirror for added flair or a mirror with vanity lights for some flattering, built-in lighting.
- Unconventional mirrors, like a car’s rear view or the outside of a glass building, also make for interesting shots.
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Set up the mirror in a spot with good lighting. As Tao states, “Photos that make people stop to look at are those in good light.”^{[12]
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Expert Source

Annie Tao
Professional Photographer

Expert Interview} Natural lighting is the most flattering for pictures. To take advantage of this, open the blinds or curtains on windows to allow more light in and try to take your picture during the day when it’s sunny outside. If it’s nighttime, recreate natural lighting by turning on soft, warm lamps instead of bright overhead lights.^{[13]
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- For the best results, make sure the light is angled toward you, not the mirror.
- Avoid fluorescent or harsh white lights when you can. These can dull your skin.
3
Tidy parts of the room visible in the mirror. If you’re taking your selfie in your bedroom or your own house, make sure the space that’s showing in the picture is organized and clean—put away any dirty clothes on the floor, make your bed, and check that anything potentially embarrassing (like your life-sized celebrity crush poster) is hidden.^{[14]
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- As Tao says, “Pay attention to what is in the background of your photo, which may mean taking the time to remove or rearrange things to make your photo cleaner.”^{[15]
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- Don’t want to tidy up? You don’t have to! A quick snapshot in the life you’re currently living can give off an edgy, nonchalant vibe.
- Don’t forget to clean your mirror, too! Wipe it down with a cloth and glass cleaner to get rid of any smudges or spots.

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Question

How can I make my selfies a little more interesting?

Annie Tao
Professional Photographer
Annie Tao is an award-winning Professional Lifestyle and Commercial Photographer and the Owner of Annie Tao Photography based in the San Francisco Bay Area. While some of her commercial clients include Starbucks, PayPal, Rice University, and United Airlines, Annie is also passionate about capturing genuine emotions and real moments in people’s lives. She has been recognized as Kodak’s Featured Photographer and has had work featured in The Wall Street Journal, Brides Magazine, and Glamour & Grace.

Annie Tao

Professional Photographer

Expert Answer

Throw on a hat or a purse! A little fun accessory is a great way to brighten things up and make your selfie a little more interesting.

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Question

What can I do to make my selfies a little more casual?

Annie Tao
Professional Photographer
Annie Tao is an award-winning Professional Lifestyle and Commercial Photographer and the Owner of Annie Tao Photography based in the San Francisco Bay Area. While some of her commercial clients include Starbucks, PayPal, Rice University, and United Airlines, Annie is also passionate about capturing genuine emotions and real moments in people’s lives. She has been recognized as Kodak’s Featured Photographer and has had work featured in The Wall Street Journal, Brides Magazine, and Glamour & Grace.

Annie Tao

Professional Photographer

Expert Answer

Try using a variety of different facial expressions over the course of a few shots. This will give you plenty of options when it comes to picking a laid-back shot. You can also try including your hand, shoulder, or arm in the shot; that can often make you look more casual.

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Question

My selfies always look kind of boring. How can I get a little more creative with my selfies?

Annie Tao
Professional Photographer
Annie Tao is an award-winning Professional Lifestyle and Commercial Photographer and the Owner of Annie Tao Photography based in the San Francisco Bay Area. While some of her commercial clients include Starbucks, PayPal, Rice University, and United Airlines, Annie is also passionate about capturing genuine emotions and real moments in people’s lives. She has been recognized as Kodak’s Featured Photographer and has had work featured in The Wall Street Journal, Brides Magazine, and Glamour & Grace.

Annie Tao

Professional Photographer

Expert Answer

Experiment with the filters you have at your disposal. That's an easy way to make your shot look a little more creative. You can also play with different light and shadow configurations to hide parts of your face or body.

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For inspiration for more unique shots, browse the #mirrorselfie hashtag on Instagram to see what other people are doing.

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