Selfies are the equivalent to stalking people on Facebook - everyone does it and pretends that they don’t. You and your friends have probably had at least one conversation making fun of them, but odds are that at least one could be found on your Instagram feed.

I’ll take a step forward and admit that yes, I am an avid selfie-taker (the first step is admitting it right?). For those of you who have yet to join the dark side and are tempted to try it out, here are a few tips that may help you on your journey.

Basics…

Okay, so a selfie is typically a close up picture (unless you have selfie-stick length arms), meaning that you have to at least be groomed properly. This means grab a Schick razor and clean up that beard boys, and ladies make sure that those eyebrows are on fleek.

The best times to take…

There isn’t really a specific time that you need to take a selfie at, you just need to have good lighting. If you are going to take it outside, then you will want to be in direct sunlight – not the shadowy sunlight that happens around noon when the sun is right above you. If you take it then, you’ll have weird shadows on your face unless you’re legit looking straight up into the sun and burning off your retinas (it’s not a good time, trust me). Aside from the lighting, maybe make sure that you are taking them at an appropriate time. For those who do not know, you should probably skip taking them if you are on your way to get your sister out of jail.

The best angles…

Everyone has different angles, but the angle that the majority of people look good from is taking the pic a little above eye level. It slims the face and, if you’re in good lighting, will highlight all the right places on your face. It’s a gem of an angle.

The best times to post…

The best times that I have found to post is anywhere from 6 – 8 p.m. However, everyone’s friends/followers are different. This time usually works for me because it’s when everyone is winding down from their day, getting done with classes and starting to relax.

Misconceptions of the selfie…

Just because it is called a “selfie” does not mean that you have to be the only one in it! Bring in your boyfriend/girlfriend and do one of those really cute cuddling pictures that I’ll secretly hate you for being too cute of a couple in. Bring in a few friends for a silly, care-free picture. Selfies do not have to be the equivalent of "Selfish," Kim Kardashian’s book of selfies (yes, this does actually exist). They are just a quick snap into your life when you do not have a DP (designated photographer- I just made that up, but I think that should become a coined term). Look, if the POTUS can own a selfie, then we can, too.

So the next time you take a selfie – which you will, whether it’s on snapchat to that really hot person that you try to look semi-decent for, or it’s a full on selfie photoshoot for Instagram – try out a few of these tips.

What do you think about selfies? Comment below and let us know.