Silly as it may seem, thirst traps (and their 100+ outtakes) are essential to your phone's camera roll. No matter who the recipient is (an ex? Your followers? Your own ego?), these pics serve as crucial cultural documentation. If not for future history class DBQs, then for bad days when you need hot photos to refer back to for a confidence boost.
However, a lot of effort and careful creative decisions must be made to secure that final masterpiece. If you've ever contorted your back for insufferable amounts of time in the name of landing an unforgettable pose, then you understand the very real struggle of capturing a hot selfie.
I'm due to step in with a reminder here that our social media presence is often just a highlight reel, and in no way do our feeds present an accurate reflection of the good days and bad ones that we all have. And the posing in social posts specifically really does create an illusion. These pics are two-dimensional; rarely do we ever see poses from all sides of a person, and this can easily distort your idea of what real bodies look like. There's nothing wrong with putting your best foot forward on the timeline (which we plan to help you do down below) but just remain mindful that your page provides a limited look at you, my dears—not the gorgeous full package.
That being said, no matter how well-versed you are in turning that front camera around, there’s always room for improvement. We consulted with some Instagram content creators to grab their top thirst trap tips. Trust, you’re gorgeous without photographic evidence, but if you're looking for guidance on how to memorialize said beauty, or if you need some assistance finding your best angles, then look no further. For the sake of your social feed (and your spine health), you'll want to peep these photo pointers and hot selfie ideas before your next solo photoshoot.
First, let’s start with some selfie inspo:
Now, for some thirst trap tips:
1. Clean that front camera.
First things first: A blurry pic is the exact opposite of what you want. Make sure that there's no dust or grime getting in the way of your perfect shot. A microfiber cloth will do the trick, and to avoid issues, try not to touch your front cam with your fingertips.
2. Utilize the focus tool.
Fun fact: Smartphones are pretty, well, smart. That's why the camera app features dozens of ways to fiddle around with lighting and focus. Play around with these options by simply tapping the center of the screen before you snap a pic. After all, *you* should be the focus, not your unmade bed.
3. Don't overthink things.
In the wise words of Tate McRae, "Live now, think later." Hesitation is only going to hold you back. Take as many shots at once and assess the best later, rather than stopping and checking to make sure you hit the right pose after each one. If you've employed an IG assistant to help take your pics, make sure that they stay committed to their photography duties.
4. Shoot from an angle.
Instagram influencer Stephanie Yeboah recommends taking photos at an angle as opposed to face-on to create a sense of intimacy. “I prefer a high-above angle, as it’s easier to fit in the silhouette of your body,” she says.
5. Your legs are way more powerful than you’d think.
Jessica Wu, a stylist, producer, and model, explains that switching up your leg positioning in different shots can help your odds of finding the perfect snap in your camera roll upon review. “I tend to alternate my leg stances a few different times to get multiple angles—having a wider stance, putting one leg out to the side or in front of the other, and standing with your feet together are usually flattering,” she explains.
6. Arch! That! Back!
This simple move makes your booty pop while accentuating your waist, explains Sam Feher, Summer House star and Instagram influencer. “In photos, [I'll] angle my upper body away from the camera too, so it makes my butt/thighs look thicker than my waist, which I think is fuay [ed note: this means hot].”
7. Utilize windows and mirrors.
Windows and mirrors are your best friends! “I find posing in front of—or on the side of—a window with the sun streaming in creates an ethereal-like glow that promotes an innocent-yet-sexy aesthetic," says Yeboah.
8. Stand on your tiptoes.
“It makes your legs look ridiculously long,” says Feher. Another way of elongating your gams? Tilt the photo forward from the bottom. Wearing shoes that are the same color as your legs or pants also helps with the illusion that your legs are miles longer.
9. Shoot from below.
Seriously: It makes you look taller! While common sense might seem like it’s better to shoot from above, Feher says that photos angled above can turn out wonky. Yeboah agrees, saying that she prefers to shoot from below to give the illusion of added height.
10. Take selfies from under your face to accentuate your jawline.
While this might’ve previously been thought of as the unserious Snapchat angle, if you jut your chin out dramatically, it makes your jawline look ridiculously sharp. How 'bout them angles?
11. Natural lighting is always best.
The only thing that compares is a quality ring light, says Feher. If you don’t feel like traveling with a whole other tech accessory, natural lighting is your BFF.
12. Golden-hour shots are a lot easier when you plan ahead.
The best lighting is just as the sun is rising or during “golden hour” right before the sun sets, explains influencer Shaunda Necole. She recommends the Golden Hour app, which allows you to input your location to find the exact window of time for optimal photo-taking.
Download Golden Hour One for iOS and Golden Hour Calculator for Android.
13. Put one hand in your pocket.
If you're unsure of what to do with your hands, Wu recommends placing one on your waist or in your pocket. Not feeling that? Run your fingers lightly through your hair, another foolproof way to occupy the arms.
14. Posture is everything.
Sorry to sound like a school marm for a sec, but you’re here for a crash course in thirst-trap photography, so bear with me. Stick your collarbones out for any photos so your spine is aligned as straight as possible for the best pic.
15. When it comes to sexy poses, it’s all about the hip tilt.
Putting one foot in front of the other makes your hips tilt and can make you look curvier while also elongating your legs, says Feher. “That’s my go-to because it’s fast, looks natural, and you can pull it off in public places without getting anyone else in your photo.”
16. Hype up your photographer, especially if you’re feeling any insecurity or embarrassment for asking them to take 30 billion photos.
“My tip for getting over the embarrassment is to always hype up my friend first and say like, ‘You look like sex, lemme get a pic.’ They’re so embarrassed that they then make me take pictures instead, even if that was my original goal all along,” says Feher. You get to boost someone else’s self-esteem, take cool photos of your friends, and get the photos you wanted all along.
When you've secured a photo-taker, make sure to pay attention to them and only them. Wu says, “If you focus on the person taking your photo and don’t get distracted by people walking by, you’ll definitely get better photos! I usually ignore people who snoop or take photos and just focus on the camera.”
17. Give your pics an edit.
If you'd like to brighten your photos, try out the C1 setting on VSCO. Feher also suggests trying out the Lightroom presets from your favorite influencers. What better way to skip right to the finish line than by using an influencer-approved filter? You can also just rely on the classic iPhone photo app edit settings to tweak your pic's exposure and brilliance.
Download VSCO for iOS and Android.
18. Don’t bother importing your DSLR pics into your phone just to edit with VSCO.
“Lightroom is better for camera/DSLR photos,” says Feher, whereas she prefers editing in VSCO for iPhone photos.
Try Lightroom desktop for free here.
Download Lightroom for iOS and Android.
19. Chipped mani?
No problem. There’s no need to spend money getting a new manicure or taking the time to remove all your polish when there’s an easy, free fix. Feher says to use the color picker/airbrush tool on Facetune to fill in the spots where you’re missing color.
Download Facetune for iOS and Android.
20. Find the right framing.
Feher says one of her rules for photos is that she won’t zoom or crop. “It makes the picture look weird and f*cks with the quality,” she explains. So it’s worth taking the time to figure out the perfect framing before shooting, so you don’t have to do too much work fixing/editing/cropping afterward.
