How To: Take Good Quality Selfies

I'm not a professional photographer nor a model so I can't give you any "professional" tips. However, I love taking selfies and I've learned a few things in my experiences about taking photos. If you like the way my selfies look, please do continue.

P.S. All the following photos are me, myself and I.

High Megapixels 

The higher the megapixels, the clearer and larger the photo. It doesn't have to be an expensive camera. I take photos with my phone camera. It only has 5.0 Megapixels, but the clarity is good ( good enough for me ).

1.3MP

2.0MP

3.2MP

5.0MP

16.1MP

Main Camera Over Front Camera

In case you haven't notice it, If you have a front camera, it takes much lower quality photos than your main camera ( The one at the back of your phone ). I'd only use a front camera if I'm having problems with the main camera. You may not be able to get the "perfect angle" with the main camera but there's always photoshop! Right?

Lighting

The flash in your camera is never enough. Everywhere you go, carry a torch light. It's good lighting for selfies! Have you ever taken a selfie with the flash on where your face is fairer than your neck and the rest of your body? Well, shining more light on those areas will help even out your skin tone as well.

The photo on the left is me holding a camera with one and my phone with its flash on in the other. You can also see a few other people holding on to their phone's flash for more lighting too!

The photo on the right is me holding my new love for light. It's actually my dad's torchlight. Cyclists come to him to buy this light. The quality: AWESOME. Here's a link to his blog if you're interested and if you're a cyclist and you wish to find some other products, I'll drop you a link for his BBS page.

Lastly, the photo at the bottom is me under bright lighting in a photo shoot.

How did the photos turn out? Look below and see it for yourself.

Other Examples of GOOD Lighting

Purikura lights

Natural sunlight

Examples of BAD lighting

Uneven lighting / Shadows

Back light

Too dark

Too bright

Personally, I don't like lighting like the ones mentioned above. But it depends on each individual preferences. It may look artistic to others so there's no really a right or wrong.

Photoshop

It's a life saver for the perfectionists. When I do my makeup, I make sure I get my eyes to look as even as I can. Sometimes, I cheat that with photoshop. 

In the close up photos of my eye, you can see that I've dragged the ends of my eyes more downwards and removed the tiny strands of hair that were in the way.

Filters

Another fun part of photoshop are filters. They can change the feeling that your selfie gives to the viewers. The same photo can look from sweet and soft to sharp and clear. Some filters have even more fun effects.

That's all the tips I want to share for now Thank you for visiting!

Purikura: Things you should know about PuriPix App

Simple Introduction of PuriPix

PuriPix is an app which allows you to download your Purikura directly to your smartphone.

App links for
  https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.puripix​

   http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/puripix/id542086164

Go to PuriPix' Site HERE for Q & As and support center's contact.

Screenshots and Scans of PuriPix

Screenshot of the app photos

Screenshots of the app on Google Play

Description of the app on Google Play and iTunes

"PuriPix" allows you to download a photo which is taken at a photo sticker booth (Japanese Photo Sticker Machine). 
Take photos and select your best shot at our Photo Sticker Machine, and you can save/view it in "PuriPix" with your smart phone!
*You can select a download photo while playing at Photo Sticker Machine.

Photos that are taken from machines in Japan, cannot be downloaded with this PuriPix application

◆ How to download the photo
1. Start the app.
2. Enter 16 digits Sticker ID which is printed on the photo sticker that you get from the Photo Sticker Machine
3. The photo displayed
4. Save it to your smart phone by tapping "save" button

◆ Viewing/downloading photos
You can view and download 1 photo per play in "PuriPix".
The photo can be viewed and downloaded within 7 days after the photo is taken.

◆ PLEASE NOTE
We provide you the photos by using wireless communication system.
If the network connection has some problem, it may take some time to receive the data or it is possible that data cannot be received at all.

Scans of PuriPix' brochures 

How to Use PuriPix

 Have your Purikura photos taken and edited.

 Select ( press ) the big flashing box at the top which will allow you to choose your favourite
       Purikura and retrieve your Purikura's code.

 Select your 2 favourite shots of the day.

 Select ( press ) done and wait for your Purikura to be printed.

 Collect your Purikura and look for the 16 digit code(s).

 Wait for a day or two.  

 Go to PuriPix app.

Step 8, 9 and 10.

Step  Enter the 16 digit code .

Step  Select on the FREE photo or Buy to download all photos.

Step  Select Save.

PuriPix Review

 PROS 

The photos appear vivid and clear.

It saves up time for scanning, editing and taking photos ( with a camera ) of your Purikura over and over again because you want to find the focus point.

 CONS 

The size of it's photos are small. ( 640 X 640 )

You have to buy them if you want them all.

Available Photos

You may choose a single photo or all the photos collaged together, but it would be a much smaller size. You will get to choose your photos after you've edited your Purikura at the Purikura machine.

Single Photo and Collaged Photo

Things that you might not know

 You have to wait for at least 1 day after you've taken your Purikura before you enter the
        16 digit code to the app.

 You have to download the PuriPix photos within a week or the photos will be gone forever.

 Not all places have PuriPix. If there's no code, there's no PuriPix.