How To Take Sexy Selfies (As Explained By Naked Barbie)
Do not take a sexy selfie until you read this.
As a professional photographer, I'm disappointed with the state of the selfie — sexy selfies in particular.
Taking good nudes can be a beautiful way to connect with someone you love (including yourself). But with the sheer amount of "leaked" celebrity photos on the Internet, I find it infuriating that we're raising the next generation to believe terribly composed iPhone photos are sexy just because you're naked. Nope. Not even a little.
For goodness sake, nudes used to be an art form. But lately, it seems we seem to have forgotten how truly sexy the human body can be in all its subtlety.
Lest I sound shame-y, I, too, have been guilty of the full face, full-on boob shot. And guess what? My husband never complained — and your husband/wife/boyfriend/girlfriend/sex partner probably won't either.
But after becoming more involved in boudoir and portrait photography, I've discovered that there are many exciting ways (in lots of sexy poses) you can increase and enhance the mystery of your nude pictures without simply flashing your breasts.
And guess what? They're super-easy.
To kick your sexting pics up a notch without getting too obscene, follow the tips below — illustrated with a little help from our pal, naked Barbie.
Your sexy selfies won't just stand out, they'll practically moan with excitement.
7 Tips On How To Take Good Nudes and Send Sexy Selfies
1. Good lighting is key when taking sexy selfies.
Photo: Casey Mullins
If you find yourself somewhere with excellent lighting, take advantage of it. Capture a few shots to send later on rather than using the crappy fluorescent lighting in your bathroom mirror at 10 p.m. when you're in the mood to send your lover a little something, something.
Is taking photos and saving them for later so you can use the best lighting possible cheating? Perhaps. But unless your beloved asked you what you're wearing right this second, sexting them a hotshot in which you are glowing in the morning sun will keep your mate happy until they can see you again.
Bonus lighting tips:
One of the best places to find good lighting is in hotel rooms during the day where you get some great natural light. White walls + white sheets = you will practically glow.
Also, standing in front of a window is always better than standing in front of a lamp; although bright, direct sunlight can be a bit harsh. Try turning your phone's camera on yourself and then walk around in front of different windows until you find a spot where you are evenly lit and your eyes sparkle.
2. Double-check your background before you start taking pics.
Photo: Casey Mullins
If a racy selfie of my daughter that she'd taken in a filthy bedroom ever hit the Internet, I'd be more furious about her negligent attention to detail than I would be about the photo itself.
I don't care how hot you are — if you're a slob, it's gross.
Is there trash on the floor behind you? A pile of dirty laundry in the background? White spots on the mirror?
Pay attention to what's in your photo, because while you may be focused on your fierce face and excellent rack, the person receiving your sexy pics can see the toilet, dirty clothes, or trashcan in the background — and trust me, none of that is pretty. This is even more important if you use a selfie stick to get a better angle.
3. Take sexy pictures that show your face or your body, but not both.
Photo: Casey Mullins
Go ahead and send a sexy pout with a suggestive bare shoulder, but if you're sending your bare butt or breasts, leave any identifying parts of your face out. Besides, it's a lot of work to get a photo where your face and butt look good (at least it is for me).
A great pose idea is taking a sexy picture while taking a bubble bath with your legs posed on the wall, as this is obviously suggestive as you are clearly going to be naked in the bathtub.
Remember that a little mystery is sexy. Shadows on a collarbone can be infinitely more seductive than a straight-on breast shot.
Plus, if you can't be easily identified in your nude selfies, you have that much less to worry about after a messy breakup.
When taking nudes and boudoir photos, you can use the help of your mirror to look amazing in your pictures. To take a good full-body selfie It helps if you put your mirror on the floor, and get low and close to the ground for a good mirror selfie and nude picture.
4. When striking sexy poses, tuck it in and hold it up (without making it look obvious).
Photo: Casey Mullins
In order to take a seductive selfie, you want to pay attention to your angles.
Every girl knows the elbows under the boobs trick to make her cleavage pop (and if you didn't, you do now). Most of us also know the right angles to make us look curvy where it matters and a little smaller where it doesn't.
Here's the catch: no one should be able to tell that you're pushing stuff in or holding stuff up, it ruins the illusion.
Even if you're terribly uncomfortable, no one will ever know you almost popped your hip out of joint to get the perfect curve as long as the photo looks good.
5. Duckface is out, gasping is in.
Photo: Casey Mullins
To be more seductive in photos, try getting the bottom half of your face in the picture to show your sexy mouth.
But newsflash: The entire world is over duckface. No one can see that pose anymore without rolling their eyes.
So what do you do with your mouth when you're trying to take a sexy selfie?
Right before snapping your photo, quickly gasp the way you would during some good, old-fashioned lovemaking. Part your lips ever so slightly and as you inhale, heave those bosoms and think about how damn sexy you are.
You can also try saying the word "apple" just before you click. Works like a charm!
6. Do not send crotch shots unless they are specifically requested.
Photo: Casey Mullins
Let's be honest, you don't want your vagina randomly hanging out there in the world. Even if your face is as gorgeous as Megan Fox's, if your other "lips" are showing, they're all the viewer is going to be able to focus on.
The same goes for your penis, fellas. Why must you insist on sending us junk shots? We'd much rather see a flexed bicep or that little dip at your hipbone.
Also, it's really strange when you leave your underwear bunched up around your knees. Is that a fetish I'm unaware of? To me, that just looks lazy and weird.
7. If you take a nude selfie, assume everyone will see it.
Photo: Casey Mullins
If your phone (or your lover's phone) ever goes missing, you'll want as little damning evidence on there as possible.
If you send naked photos with both your face and nipples in plain view, you could very well end up in a Google search, a gross meme, terribly embarrassed, or all of the above. The same goes for identifying jewelry or tattoos. Proceed with caution.
Sending mutual privately exchanged nudes or explicit photos isn't illegal as long as you are over the age of 18, but if you ever receive an unwanted and unprompted nude from anyone that you did not ask for, that may be seen as a criminal offense.
Bonus Tips for Taking Good Nudes
- Use a tripod.
Have you ever seen a sexy photo of someone on Instagram and wondered who actually took the photo?
Not everyone has — or wants — someone taking nude photos of them. And thanks to Bluetooth technology today, you don't have to!
There are a ton of inexpensive phone tripods on the market that let you set up your phone wherever you want and take your pictures using a remote that connects to the tripod via Bluetooth.
Alternatively, you can try using a PopSocket to prop your phone up while the camera is on a timer.
Invest in a ring light.
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Lighting is key to a good picture. Harsh or uneven lighting, such as that created by lamps, can create unflattering shadows. While natural lighting is best, a ring light can help diffuse the lighting when you're taking photos in artificial light.
Practice your poses.
A good pose goes a long way with nude selfies. Don't forget you can use props like sheets, chairs, and mirrors to give you something to work with.
If you're not sure where to start, scroll through boudoir pages on Instagram and TikTok for inspiration.
Utilize photo editing apps.
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Photo editing apps get a bad reputation for changing the way people look completely. However, there are ways to use them responsibly to up the quality of your photos without ever editing your body or face.
For example, you can use Adobe Lightroom to create preset filters for your photos. You can even find free presets online or purchase them on Etsy.
Take multiple photos.
You know all of those perfect pictures your favorite influencer posts? I can guarantee it's not the only photo they took! Even professional photographers take hundreds of shots to get the "perfect" one.
And remember that while you may notice what you perceive as flaws or imperfections in the photo, chances are whoever you're sending the picture to won't notice that at all!
Casey Mullins is a professional photographer and writer based in Indiana. Follow her on Instagram for more.