Everyone needs to know how to take a good selfie. With the rise in popularity of social media apps as well as job search platforms with custom profiles and resumes, it is really important that you know how to take a proper professional-looking picture for your profile(s).
We, at Caring Support, have put together a guide for you to follow to help you make the perfect, professional-looking selfie all by yourself (ie). <- Ha. See what we did there! Ok, jokes aside, let’s get started.
**Note: For the purpose of this tutorial, we are going to assume that you are going to be taking your selfie with your phone.
We’re not saying that you need to take it to dinner first, but before you take any pictures, you need to make sure you know how to use the camera.
The front-facing cameras on some phones do not take the best pictures. They may come out grainy or blurry, so you may need to use the back camera on your phone, and this means learning how to set the timer so you have time to get into place before the picture is taken.
You will want to take your picture with your phone in a vertical position, not a horizontal one.
Do not zoom in. Leave your camera zoomed out as far as it can go. Having your camera zoomed in will result in a lower quality (lower resolution) picture. If your phone has a portrait setting feel free to use it!
Natural light is the best, but if you don’t have natural light use a ring light. If you don’t have a ring light, that’s ok. Just set yourself up in a room in a house with a couple of lamps with the shades off (if possible).
If you are using a ring light or a lamp setup, then you will want to raise the light so that it is slightly above your eye level and to one side of your face (being careful not to create a shadow on the other side).
If you are outside in the wild, ensure that you are positioned so that the sunlight is not causing you to squint your eyes. You may need to try different angles to find a spot that is comfortable for you, but the best practice is to look for an area not in direct sunlight and make sure the sun is in front of you (behind the camera) when you take your picture. For best outdoor results, choose a slightly overcast day when the sun won't directly hit you.
If you are going to use natural light from a window inside a building to take your picture, make sure the window is behind the camera and you are ‘looking out the window’ (but really at the camera because the camera will be between you and the window). Keeping the window behind you will cause a distracting halo effect around your head.
Where you take your picture is just as important as the lighting and what you wear (we will get to that next). If you are inside your home or office/workplace, pick a background that is clear of clutter and preferably a wall that is one solid non-distracting colour.
If you are outside, again make sure that the background is free from clutter or other things that might take away from you. We want YOU to be the focal point!
It probably goes without saying, but make sure that what you are wearing in your photo complements the background that you have. If you want to wear your scrubs in your picture, do that! Otherwise, dress in your Sunday best or something that you feel most confident in.
Ready to take that picture now? It can be tempting to stand right in front of the camera and say cheese and be done with it. Try this instead: stand at a 45-degree angle to the camera, relax your shoulders (it helps to take a few deep breaths) put your hand closest to the camera on your hip or in your pocket, lean slightly forward and look over to the camera. Now take your picture.
Don’t be afraid to make adjustments to your pose as you see fit. If you’re worried about a double chin effect, you will want to raise your camera and your lighting slightly (if using a ring light or lamps). Remember, we aren’t going for a whole body shot here, just your upper body.
Be comfortable. Be you.
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Make sure you allow yourself lots of time to do this project. Trying to cram it into 10 or 15 minutes may not be enough depending on your skill level. You can always ask a friend or family member to help you take the pictures as well.
Always remember, you are beautiful just the way you are. They are hiring you for your skills, not your headshot, but the headshot will help them to put a face to your resume and be able to pick you out of the lineup during interviews. Make a lasting first impression and you’ll be sure to secure the job of your dreams.
That’s a great question and it’s easy to answer: Caring Support. When you create your free Caring Support account you will be guided to fill out your profile with all your healthcare work experience. Then, using that profile (with the amazing professional headshot that you took yourself) you can use our new resume builder tool to create a fresh and professional resume to send to potential employers and to take with you to your job interviews. Caring Support is the easy, quick, and convenient way to start looking for your dream healthcare job.
Read More: How To Create Your Healthcare Resume Online for Free
Get started on your profile today. Good luck with your job search!
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