Nowadays, everyone knows how to take a selfie. Even your pet does, too! But the question is: how do you make one striking selfie? Chances are your gallery already has dozens of shots, and yet there's not a single photo that can even launch a rowboat, save a thousand ships.

To upgrade your selfie game to the next level, be sure to follow these easy tricks!

Master the Art of the Selfie

If you want to know how to take a good selfie like the Selfie Queen, Kim Kardashian West, learn these tricks first, and be sure to thank us later as you're about to become a pro!

1. Good lighting is paramount

The first trick is to make sure that you have good lighting. Natural light is your best ally, and it's free! It fades away dark undereye circles and reduces the double chin effect, all the while illuminating your face.

If you're shooting inside, just turn towards the window or take a piece of aluminum foil and hold it underneath your chin to create a natural bounce of light.

2. Find the right angle

Kim Kardashian West advises to keep your chin down and the camera up. The purpose is fairly obvious: to avoid looking like Jabba the Hutt from Star Wars.

When taking a selfie, the bottommost part of your phone should be on eye-level. Look toward the camera, but don't necessarily stare directly into it. Don't hold your phone in front of you. Turn it to the side a little bit. Or better yet, use a selfie stick and hold it up high, so you'll look svelte.

Lastly, don't forget to stretch your neck slightly to create the look of a sharper jawline and a longer neck. So, if you want to know how to take a good selfie like the Selfie Queen, be sure to take her own advice.

3. Stop doing cliche selfies

If you find yourself wanting to do a peace sign, a faux gang sign, or a duck face...please don't.

Likewise, don't let yourself near your camera when you are itching to do a sleeping selfie or a this-is-how-I-wake-up selfie with full makeup on. You aren't fooling anyone.

4. Use genuine expressions

If you want to know how to take a good selfie without looking oh-so-fake, then smile as you mean it! Natural smiles are the best, as they tend to overshadow some selfie mistakes such as a dull-looking background.

So, before you snap a selfie, think about something that makes you leap with joy. This will create the look of true happiness that will shine through your eyes. If you can't flash a real smile, opt for Tyra Banks' smize and try smiling with your eyes. Or imagine saying "Oh, yes!" if you're feeling a little cheeky.

But if all fails, you can always resort to the "resting bitch face" and look like an edgy supermodel. Keep a relaxed expression, gently part your lips, and blow air through your lips. Easy peasy!

5. Use photo editing apps

Editing tools allow you to enhance the quality of your photo with just a few taps on your phone. You have the option to increase its brightness, reduce shadows, add some contrast, and so on.

And with filter effects, you can transform bland and lifeless photos, making them strikingly vivid. It also enhances the mood of your photos. For instance, the Valencia filter in Instagram adds a dreamy vibe to your selfie.

However, be sure not to use the filter at its max level. Choose filter apps that allow you to adjust the severity of the filter, so the effect looks less edited.

6. Don't over-retouch your selfie

Nowadays, it's a child's play to alter your photos with incredible precision using selfie editing apps such as Perfect365 and FaceTune. As a result, you get easily carried away. It's not a crime to retouch your selfies, but please exercise restraint. I've seen so many people edit their photos to the extent that they no longer look human!

So, be sure to use a subtle touch when editing your portrait pics. For instance, you can whiten your teeth but don't opt for placid white. You can also fade away blemishes and dark undereye circles without erasing your nose. The aim is to enhance your natural features, not to make it look different.

Lastly, avoid morphing your photos at all cost.

7. Be wary of your backdrop

Photobombers are inevitable while your snapping selfies in a public area. That's quite understandable. While you can't avoid photobombers, you can get rid of piles of trash, dirty laundry, and other unpleasant things looming behind you.

The Bottom Line

When it comes to taking selfies, the secret is just to keep it looking as natural as possible. Don't overthink it. Don't make a wide grin that will only make you look constipated. You can always sport different expressions as long as they look genuine. Now that you know the tricks on how to take good selfies, grab your phone and snap away!