Selfie-takers everywhere, rejoice. As the world becomes more obsessed with the art of perfect selfie-taking, it’s also getting more efficient at helping you nail the perfect photo. More and more companies are starting to create products and accessories with one important goal — to help you take a better selfie without having to worry about your arm awkwardly sneaking into the photo or shaky hands.
There are all sorts of helpful resources for people who take selfies (so basically, everyone), from creative apps to tips from pro photographers, and even detailed histories of the selfie dating as far back as the 1500s. As for actual selfie accessories? Those are a relatively new phenomena, and they aren’t always ideal (you may have heard of the selfie hat, a glittery pink development by the folks over at Acer that seems, well, a little awkward). That’s not to say there aren’t any helpful tools out there. Here are five items that, while still slightly embarrassing, are designed to help you finally take the perfect selfie. Now all you have to do is decide which Instagram filter looks best.
1. The Telescoping Selfie Arm Stick
10 in 1 Monopod Selfie Stick, $35, Amazon
This little number looks like a fancy contraption that'll help you summit peaks with your best friends (who somehow don't seem at all exhausted by the trek they just made). In reality, it's just an extension of your arm with a mirror so you can see what you're doing as you try to find the perfect angle for your photo. The cool thing about this contraption is that it's fully waterproof, meaning there really is no place left on this earth where a selfie can't be taken. It also accommodates any kind of camera, from a D-SLR to your smartphone.
2. The Cellfy Stic from Cellfy
Smartphone Suction Cup Mount, $10, Amazon
For those who prefer a slightly more subtle selfie supplement to the selfie stick, Cellfy has created a double-sided smartphone mount that you can stick onto smooth surfaces like, say, a bathroom mirror as you're trying to take your daily morning selfie. Though there are fewer places where you can actually use this mount compared to the Telescoping Selfie Arm Stick, it's a great tool for people who spend a lot of time staring out windows, into mirrors, through windshields, or at generally shiny surfaces and want to document themselves doing so.
3. The Selfie from Urban Outfitters
Selfie Remote, $30, Urban Outfitters
Though this device doesn't actually hold your phone, it does give you the ability to place your phone down at a distance and still get a picture of yourself. The folks at Urban Outfitters boast that this "innovative design" will help you achieve "the best shot possible," and there's history to support this. This gadget is actually called a cable release, and photographers have been using it since the days of film to achieve some complex photographic techniques, like shooting long exposures and capturing dimly lit landscapes. But hey, if Urban seems to think it's innovative, who am I to correct them?
4. The Selfie Ring from Glam Screen
Glam Screen Selfie Ring & Stand, $20, Amazon
For those who love selfies and stylish jewelry, there is the ever-so-subtle selfie ring. Just fit your phone onto the platform, slip your fingers through the rings, and voila! Oh, wait. Turns out you are still using your hand to take a selfie in the same way you would have without the ring. But Glam Screen promises that with this brilliant device, you'll never have to worry about losing your grip mid-selfie ever again. Because honestly, that's the worst.
5. PowerShot G7X cameras from Canon
Canon PowerShot G7X Camera, $679, Amazon
For the truly high-tech selfie enthusiasts, Cannon has released a line of cameras called the PowerShot G7X. Though the cameras have some impressive technical specs, the reality is that the flip-up LCD screen seems like it was designed solely for the purpose of selfie-taking. Not that there's anything wrong with that. If you, like me, feel slightly shy when taking a selfie in public, at least this device is high-tech enough to impress any passersby.
Images: Sharper Image; Cellfy; Urban Outfitters; Glam Screen; Cannon
