How to take a mirror selfie in lingerie

The mirror selfie is the most forgiving shot there is. You see the frame before you press the button, you control every second of it and you need nothing but a phone. It is also easy to get wrong in small ways that add up: a dirty mirror, a window behind you, a phone covering your face at the wrong moment. Here is how to fix each of those, step by step.

Prepare the mirror and the room

Wipe the mirror with glass cleaner and a lint free cloth, then check it at an angle for streaks. Every smudge shows up once the camera focuses. Wipe the phone lens too, since a fingerprint softens the whole image.

Clear what the mirror reflects. Look at the background, not at yourself: a laundry pile or an open closet pulls attention. A plain wall, a made bed or a curtain is enough. If you have a long floor mirror, lean it slightly back against the wall. The tilt makes legs look longer and keeps the floor in a nicer proportion.

Where the light should come from

The single most common mistake is standing with your back to a window. The camera exposes for the bright glass and you turn into a dark shape. Turn around so the window or lamp is in front of you and slightly to one side, with the mirror between you and the wall.

• Daylight. A window to your side gives soft shadows that show shape. Midday sun through sheer curtains is ideal.
• Evening. Two lamps beat one ceiling light. Put one in front of you and one lower to the side.
• Flash. Flash in a mirror bounces straight back and blows out the middle of the frame. Angle yourself so the flash hits the mirror off center, or tape a small piece of paper over it to soften it. In low light, a burst of flash off lace trim can look striking.

Phone settings worth changing

1. Use the rear camera. It is sharper than the front camera, and in a mirror you can see the screen anyway.
2. Tap to focus on your body, not the phone. Then drag the exposure slider down a step so skin and fabric keep detail.
3. Turn on the grid. Line up the mirror edge with a vertical line so the frame does not lean.
4. Use the 2x lens if you have one. Step back and zoom slightly. Wide lenses stretch whatever is closest to them.
5. Shoot in burst or short video. Pull the best frame later. Small movements look more natural than a frozen pose.
6. Use a timer and a stand for full body shots. Prop the phone on a shelf facing the mirror and you get both hands free.

Angles that flatter in a mirror

Front on, phone at chest height

Hold the phone at the center of your chest and slightly to one side, so the screen does not cover your face or your neckline. Shift your weight to one hip and bend the opposite knee. This is the angle for plunge necklines and front details.

Three quarter turn

Turn your body about 45 degrees from the mirror and keep your face toward it. The waist reads narrower and the curve of the hip shows. Lift the elbow holding the phone so your arm does not press against your side.

Over the shoulder

Turn your back to the mirror and look over your shoulder, phone at waist height and angled up. This is where the back of a piece matters: open backs, ties, thong backs and lace panels. It is also the angle most people forget to plan an outfit for.

Low angle from the hip

Lower the phone to hip height and tilt it up slightly. Legs get longer, and the room behind you shrinks. Keep your chin a touch forward so the jaw stays defined.

Posing without looking posed

Stiff shots usually come from holding one position too long. Move between frames instead. Shift your weight from hip to hip, run a hand through your hair, adjust a strap, look down and then back at the screen. Shoot in burst through the whole movement and the in between frames will be the natural ones.

Give your free hand a job. Resting it on the hip, the edge of the mirror, a door frame or the back of the neck stops it from hanging flat at your side. Keep your shoulders down and slightly back, and breathe out just before you shoot, which relaxes the face and the stomach at the same time.

Your expression can change the whole image. Looking at the phone screen gives a direct, confident shot. Looking away from the mirror, toward the window, makes it feel candid. Try both in the same set and decide later which mood fits the outfit.

Outfits that work in the mirror

Because the camera sees outline and back view, pick pieces with a strong silhouette and something going on at the back.

• The Lace Plunge Bodysuit has a V to the waist that lengthens the body from the front.
• The Open Back Mesh Teddy is designed around the over the shoulder shot.
• The Mirror Check Balconette Set has a lace back on the brief, so the turn is as good as the front.
• The Flash Plunge Set has narrow lace trim that phone flash picks out in a dark room.

All three of the first looks above come together in the Mirror Selfie Kit, one size for all three, with a shot card of angles for each. Browse more silhouettes on the bodysuits page.

Small fixes before you post

Straighten the frame so the mirror edge is vertical. Crop out the phone if it covers too much, or keep it if the phone is part of the look. Warm the color slightly in evening shots and leave daylight shots almost untouched. If your phone case is loud, swap it for a plain one before the shoot; it sits in the middle of every frame.

Fit matters in a mirror more than anywhere, because nothing hides a strap that digs in. If you are between sizes, check the size guide before you order.

Questions

Should I use flash for a mirror selfie in lingerie?

Only at an angle. Flash fired straight at the mirror bounces back as a white spot. Turn so it hits the glass off center, or use lamps instead.

Front or rear camera for mirror selfies?

The rear camera. It is sharper and handles low light better, and in a mirror you can still see the screen.

How do I make my legs look longer in a mirror selfie?

Tilt a floor mirror slightly back, hold the phone at hip height angled up and point one foot toward the mirror with the knee softly bent.

What lingerie looks best in a mirror?

Pieces with a strong outline and back detail, like plunge bodysuits, open back teddies and sets with lace on the back.