Portrait Selfies in iPhone X

Lovers of fabulous portrait selfies will have so many reasons to fall in love with the new iPhone X which is currently the best smart phone from Apple and has many features that make it a “must have” for selfie lovers.

A selfie is often a great way of showing off something awesome which you just bump into or screen grabbing facial expressions that comes with the moment. With superb front-facing camera of iPhone X you can take portrait selfies that depict true depth embellished with different bokeh styled effects.

Portrait mode feature of iPhone X makes it the perfect phone for portrait selfies. This feature uses 52mm-equivalent telephoto lens kit to shoot images in portrait or landscape orientation with bokeh patterned backgrounds and foregrounds.

Portrait lighting is another feature that comes with the device. Combination of machine learning and portrait mode’s depth map, add special lighting of photos in real time.

This feature helps frame an image seen by an iPhone X twice the telephoto lens. The wide angle is able to differentiate the distance between what is seen by telephoto lens, thereby reproducing a multi-point depth map. Depth map further recreates an artificial depth field that blurs foreground and background adding special bokeh and finally churn out an image that looks like a DSLR camera image.

Just like in professional photography where different lighting system is used to focus different parts of the subject, the portrait lighting feature recreates this system by allowing users choose one out of the five available non-destructive lighting settings. Non-destructive means it can be added or removed at any time depending on user’s preference.

Features of Portrait Light

• Studio light
• Natural light
• Contour light
• Stage light
• Stage light mono

Natural light is the basic lighting used by portrait mode. It keeps the face in focus and blurs the background creating contrast.

Studio light helps bring the subject’s face in focus, allowing more details to be seen on the face while blurring the background for contrast.

Stage light helps cast the background of the photo into a deep black and brightens light on the subject; the result is a dramatic high quality contrast.

Contour light delineates a dramatic difference between the surroundings and the subject’s face.

Stage light mono brightly illuminates the subject by cutting out the back ground of the photo. It also adds a monochrome filter with a black and white photo.

Now that we know the unique features that makes iPhone X a great choice for portrait selfies; I will walk you further through how to take portrait selfies using this device.

 
How to take Portrait Selfies:

Taking those lovely portrait selfies is quite simple; just follow these steps:

1. Launch the camera app
2. Go to portrait settings
3. Switch on the front facing camera by taping the camera swap.
4. Choose one out of the five portrait lighting effects
5. Observe the camera prompt to know if more light is required or if a flash light will be needed.
6. Subject should be within 8 feet or further away observing keenly the instructions so the shot can line properly.
7. Take your photos by taping the shutter button.

How to shoot better Portrait Selfies in iPhone X:

Proper use of the front facing camera of your device can do the magic when it comes to taking selfies. The following steps will help you get the best selfies out of your device. Just like any sphere of life, getting the best requires skill and proper techniques.

a) Make use of Portrait mode
The iPhone X by defaults, shoots with its 12 mega pixel front camera that adds no extra depth magic. This can get you a nice selfie but trust me it won’t look as perfect as when you are in portrait mode.

So you have the ultimate secret, make sure your portrait mode is turned on while taking that beautiful selfie.

b) Take shots slightly upward and angled
If your aim is to look like an alien on your selfie you’d probably skip this step. Shooting from below only projects and puts your nostrils, chin and eyelids on display. This isn’t good enough; you’ll end up getting a froglike image of yourself. Aiming too high isn’t good enough either. Trust me you don’t want to look like a murderer or overtly surprised with your projected forehead full of wrinkles.

The trick for a magic selfie is to hold arm with phone making a 90 degree angle between your torsos. Align your hands with your shoulder by doing a 15 degree tilt to the side and 5-10 degree upward tilt. This helps shift the background a little and catches a glimpse of the top of your head. This works well with left or right depending on what works best for you.

c) Make use of correct selfie angle
When it comes to taking selfies with multiple people, a selfie stick maybe all that is required for angling about 25 degrees out from your torso to include other persons next to you.

d) Brightness adjustment
Taking good selfies in over-exposed scenes requires one of two manoeuvres to get the best.

1. Dim overall brightness by adjusting the brightness slider.
2. Reset portrait mode light metering by switching modes to photo and back.

e) Use volume button or remote shutter to take photos
The up volume can also serve as a shutter button. Its position favours the use of thumb or index finger with an extended arm. The up volume was created perfecting for creating awesome selfie moments.

f) Achieve better look with retina Flash and Portrait lighting
The screen retina flash can help you achieve an expert shot by brightening your front facing camera. This can also be achieved by adding a portrait lighting feature. Enabling retina flash is quite easy; simply put on the flash button and take your selfie just the normal way. Portrait lighting can be included live or after the fact.

g) Be at the same plane while shooting with friends
Your phone shouldn’t be angled too high while taking group selfie. Persons standing behind you rather than next to you will be subject to some bokeh blurring effect; this is so because the true depth camera measures solely vertical depth. This can be corrected by entirely removing the blur by doing the following:

1. Open focus.
2. Choose the photo to be adjusted and tap on the rearmost person , this may correct the issue.
3. If not corrected, see the depth map by tapping on the effect pane.
4. Angle the depth map using degree slider.
5. Remove the effect of the radius by using the back bokeh slider to drag the second person backwards.
6. Preview and save the updated image.

Finally, if you’re selfie obsessed just like me; you’d be delighted to know iPhone X is a whole new world of possibilities. It has top notch technology and very easy to master. It also has depth of field technology that allows capturing talking, grimacing and smiling that you can share with friends and loved one.

Are you going for any colourful event that would require taking adorable portrait selfies? Would you be spending your honeymoon at a beautiful place? If yes, then there is a great need to capture the moment. For all your occasions, I will recommend that you go along with an iPhone X as your selfie partner.