Selfie-Awareness
Begin by asking the class: “What is a selfie?” (A photograph of yourself posted online, usually to a social network such as Instagram or a messaging app such as Snapchat.) How many students have ever posted selfies? (Encourage students that it’s OK to admit it – you may raise your hand here as well.)
Tell students that since they are the selfie experts, you’d like them to be your guides in how to take a good selfie. Set up a digital camera, camera phone or webcam to take a selfie of yourself or a student volunteer and ask the class to contribute tips on how to pose or position the camera to take a good selfie.
Make sure students understand that you’re not asking for tips on how to manipulate the photo once it’s been taken – just how to take a good initial photo. When students suggest tips, ask them to explain what that tip accomplishes.
You may prompt them with tips such as:
- Have a bright light on your face for the “overexposed” look (washes out lines, blemishes, etc.) Natural light is best but a strong incandescent light works too.
- Don’t take the picture straight on – turn your head to the left or right slightly (to give more depth and highlight your cheekbones).
- Hold the camera above your face, so that you’re looking up at it (makes your eyes look bigger, keeps your nostrils out of the shot and makes you look thinner).
- Have a simple background (focuses attention on you).
It’s all right if some students disagree on some tips – some may feel that striking particular poses is a good idea, while others may find them cliché. In that case you can either take a vote or take the picture twice and have students pick from the two pictures. When you have taken the photo, display it on the screen or the digital whiteboard.