The Art Of Selfie Taking

The Art Of Selfie Taking

Note: this is probably the most serious-unserious post ever. But whatever. And also, I literally did my make up in 45 seconds. So just. Yeah.

As the self-proclaimed Selfie Queen (a suitable title, seeing as taking selfies is all I do, be it for this blog [I usually take all the photos myself] or for my Instagram or for a new Facebook profile picture), I sometimes get a bit frazzled when I see people take bad selfies. Maybe I am just rather shallow, but if you’re going to put a picture of yourself onto the internet for all the world to see, why would you choose a bad one? 
So, for the amateurs or 12 year olds who have just gotten their iPhones and haven’t a clue on how to take advantage of the front camera, this post is for you:
 6 Tips On How To Take A Good Selfie
1) Know Your Good Side
Everyone has a preferred or good side, so to speak. Not all of us were blessed with the perfect enough genetics to look good from every single angle. Maybe your left side has a dimple that makes you look good? And for sure, we all have that good eyebrow. Use that to your advantage! 
2) It Is Not 2008. Let Go Of The ‘Peace Out A Town’
Who am I to lie? I did this pose throughout my entire prep school career. It was easy, and it allowed me to do something with my hands. Why get rid of a good thing? Well maybe it’s because it’s 2013. It’s time to let it go. Shh, don’t worry. You’ll find a new go-to pose soon.
3) You’re Allowed To Look At The Camera
Most people have gone through an emo/scene phase (don’t you dare lie you know you did too) and in that, we learnt that we must always hide our faces or avoid direct eye contact with the camera, in hopes that people will never look into our eyes, see our soul and realise we’re not as deep and tormented as we think we are. Whatever the case shall be, though, hopefully that phase died in this new decade, which also makes it okay to sometimes, I don’t know, actually look at the camera when someone takes a photo of you. I know. Shock horror. Let it sink in. It’ll be okay.
4) Beware Of Your Arms
Sometimes, holding a camera can be tedious and strenuous on your arms. With a DSLR, I know the struggle. But whilst taking a selfie, always be conscious of your arms. Sometimes they just get in the way and make things awkward. 
5) You Don’t Always Have To Pout

Seriously though. There are other things to do with your face. I used to be infamous for having the exact same smile in every single picture ever taken of me, but even that, too, can be a bit overboard. Yes, your smile works for you, but there is such a thing as too much of a good thing. Shake it up a little. For example:

6) Good Lighting Is Your Friend
I am an avid believer and advocate for natural lighting. With good lighting, you seldom have to edit your photos because all your blemishes and bags under your eyes seem to be lessened by the lack of flash and the abundance of natural lighting. And always remember the age old photographers motto: The lighting must be behind the camera, not you. It does wonders.

So, that is it from me! Hopefully these ‘tips’ haven’t been completely useless, and if I offended you because you do one/all of these things, ooooops. Another school week up ahead, and hopefully I can blog in between it. Have a blessed week, friends!

I Have An Eye For DIY

I Have An Eye For DIY

Once again, boredom rolled in, a pair of shorts were in my line of view and a bottle bleach was within reach, and I got a little creative… Welcome to the land of Foyin’s Experimentations With Things She’s Seen On Tumblr (its a long name but it’ll catch on). Today, we take a look into the world of ombre denim.

What You Need:

  • A pair of shorts (mine are from Mr Price)
  • Bleach (I used JIK)
  • A bucket
  • Patience

    What You Do:

    • Wet the area of the jeans that you want to ombre, and then fold them.
    • Put your jeans in the bucket (or wherever you’re going to dye them)
    • Put the shorts in the bucket – try make the wet area be on the ground and the area you don’t want to dye rest on the side.
    • I suggest you read the instructions on the bottle of the bleach that you’re using – with JIK (and other strong bleaches, I suppose), I poured the bleach directly onto the area of the jeans, and pour enough bleach so that the jeans are soaked.
    • And then you wait! 
    • Keep checking on your shorts and turning them over so that they dye evenly.
    • When you’re satisfied, take the jeans out of the bleach, rinse them and then wash them.
    • Then enjoy your hiptastic new shorts! 🙂

    Tweet me pictures if you’ve tried your own DIY 🙂

    xo, Foyin Og

    Something For The Hipsters

    Something For The Hipsters

    This right here is a little post about some DIY-ing I did over the long weekend. Everyone is into the custom high-waisted jeans trend, so I tried to customize a pair of my own instead of paying $40 for a pair from an online boutique.

    What You Need:

    • A pair of high waisted shorts (or jeans, but then you’d have to cut them)
    • A piece of material (I got some from my mom but you can get off-cuts from a fabric store)
    • A pair of scissors
    • A marker
    • A sewing machine/needle and thread (I’ve made a pair using a machine and another hand sewing – it all depends on what you’re able to do/more comfortable doing)
    • Pins (to keep the fabric in place)

    What To Do:
    • Open up your shorts – make sure they’re flat and smooth because you’ll need to trace the shape of the front half onto your material. You need to try and be as accurate as you can.
    • Once you’ve traced it onto your fabric, cut it out oh so very carefully.
    • Use the pins to secure the fabric onto your jeans – once you start sewing, the last thing you want is for your jeans to shirt. Trust me.
    • I did these jeans by hand sewing – I stitched it along the seams of the jeans to make sure the thread can’t be easily seen. 
    • If you’re using a sewing machine, always be aware that there is the back side of the jeans and the pocket. I made the mistake of accidentally sewing my pockets together. Always keep that in mind when you’re sewing, so I suggest that you sew slowly.
    • When you’re finished, ensure the last stitch with a back stitch with your sewing machine or a double knot by hand.
    • Voila! You’re hiptastic.

    If you have any further questions, feel free to comment/tweet me 🙂
    xo, Foyin Og