Selfie posing in a group causes a whole set of problems. We can guarantee that in any group photo where you look awesome, someone else has their eyes closed, or their hair is doing something wacky, or they're pulling a face. Not to mention that everyone has their own angles, which means you'll switch positions nine times and someone will still say, "But this isn't my good side."
So, next time World War III is about to break out in your friendship group because you can't get a nice photo, follow these tips.
1) Divide by side
Some people prefer the left side of their face, some the right, and some really don't care. Start by making sure people are showing their best side; those that don't mind can be in the middle. If everyone tilts in the same direction, it'll look a bit too coordinated, so as long as everyone is on the right side, make sure you've all got a slightly different head tilt. Everyone is happy, and you won't look staged.
2) Just the two of us
If it's just you and one other friend, it's ideal if you both like taking photos from different sides. The problem comes when you both want the same side; who gives in? Well, how about no one? Stand behind your friend, or have them stand behind you. Throw an arm over their shoulder and have them take the photo.
Alternatively, stand next to each other but have one of you facing away from the camera. Look sideways at the person taking the picture to capture a cute moment that is all about each other.
3) Use your heights
It's unlikely that everyone in the photo is exactly the same height. Instead of standing next to each other, have the tall people stand behind the others and put their faces in the gaps. Not only does this make you closer together, but you'll also get a more interesting picture with some people closer and some farther away. Alternatively, you could have one person standing while the others sit.
4) From below
If you want an unusual selfie, get everyone to stand in a circle facing inwards. If everyone leans forwards and looks down, take a photo from below. You can all link arms behind your back to avoid awkward limbs hanging down. It's a cute way to show your whole friendship group without worrying about who needs to stand where.
5) From the middle
We always think the selfie-taker has to be on the end of the line, but actually, if the person taking the photo is in the middle, you can end up with a really cute effect with lots of focus on the person in the middle. This is great for celebrations and achievements as it really shows off one person — and all the love and support that surrounds them. Use both hands to hold the phone as your arms will act as lines drawing the eye to the person in the center.
6) Take a candid shot
Want a cute selfie pose for three friends or more while you’re hanging out? The next time you’re out at a restaurant, snap a quick selfie with the table in the background. But this part's crucial: Don’t tell anyone you’re taking a picture!
You’ll be able to capture the genuine interactions (and reactions!) of everyone around the table at that moment. If you’re out and about and people are getting ready to take a group photo, try taking a shot when people aren’t expecting it—before everyone strikes their go-to poses. Sometimes the “Oh, I didn’t see you there” candid pose looks better than posed shots.
7) Focus on the face
Selfie poses with friends don’t have to showcase your entire body. When people pose for a group selfie, they tend to get their bodies as close as they can to each other ... but that may not be enough! If you have a lot of people to squeeze into the shot, tell everyone to get their heads together.
If only Bradley's arm was longer. Best photo ever. #oscars pic.twitter.com/C9U5NOtGap
— Ellen DeGeneres (@TheEllenShow) March 3, 2014
Think Ellen DeGeneres and that group selfie at the Oscars. Just remember to hold the camera slightly above everyone’s head—this is by far the most universally flattering angle, and your friends will thank you for it.
8) Split up
Selfie poses with four friends won’t always look great. Sometimes you just can’t squeeze everybody into the picture.
One way to fit everyone in is by having the person taking the selfie stand in the foreground. The rest of the group should stand a little farther back, so they fill out the background.
This one can be tricky, because if you’re too far apart you may not be able to keep everyone in focus. A little separation can be the difference between getting everyone in the frame and cutting off half of Marcy’s face.
9) Use your phone's burst feature
The larger your group selfie pose, the harder it is to make sure everyone is looking at the camera. This is where the burst feature on your phone can come in handy.
A post shared by Khloé Kardashian (@khloekardashian)
No one wants to stand around while you take 10 different pictures individually. With burst mode, you’ll get a bunch of pictures in a short amount of time, and afterward you can look through them and pick the best one(s). Easy!
10) Choose someone to take the lead
Whether it's you taking the picture or the person in your group with the longest arms, choose someone to take on the role of "director" and coordinate your group selfie pose. Having one person decide where everyone should go and how they should stand is much easier than having eight people scurrying around trying to figure out who they want to stand next to.
Bonus: Even more ideas for selfie poses with friends
Looking for more group photo poses? We've got what the doctor ordered. Try these creative selfie poses with friends and you’ll be the envy of your Instagram feed:
- Get silly: Honestly, some group selfies look a little too rehearsed. The most authentic selfies happen when you’re having fun with your friends—which probably means clowning around. Use burst mode to take tons of silly pics with your friend group and pick your fave at the end of the shoot.
- Mimic each other: There’s nothing cuter than a group of besties mimicking each other. Each of you could try a silly face or a yoga pose for a group photo pose that stops thumbs.
- Focus on objects instead of your faces: I mean, are you even a friend group if you haven’t taken a selfie of all your shoes in a circle yet? Whether it’s your phones, purses, cars, or pets, snap a group selfie that says a little about your group’s personality or interests.
- Get a candid shot: If you want to snap a candid shot of your best friends at the club, nicely ask the bartender or bouncer to snap a candid photo of you partying the night away. You could also ask your parents (or a third-wheel friend) to snap a pic of you and your friend group interacting at the table for Friendsgiving.
- Food and friends: Go out for pizza, drinks, or coffee with your friend group for this creative selfie pose idea. Snap a group selfie where everyone is eating/drinking for a cute photo that shows off your adventures.
- Get matching tattoos: Don’t worry, you can go with a temporary tat for this selfie pose with friends. Get matching henna tattoos and snap a cute selfie of your group #twinning it up. If you want to get even more creative, everyone can get a different "piece" of the tattoo on their skin, so when you come together, it makes one complete image. It’s one of the best group photo poses for raking in more comments!
- Jump!: Okay, this is a hard one to coordinate, but if everyone pays attention, you can jump at the same time to give the illusion that you’re floating. This looks really cool if you do it at the beach during sunrise, too.
- Reenact an old photo: Have you been besties since birth? Take a stroll down memory lane by reenacting an old photo. This is perfect for reuniting with your old friend group in your hometown! Try to nail the poses and outfits to get a more realistic (and hilarious) result.
The bottom line for group selfie poses
You love your squad, but finding the right selfie poses with friends can be a lot harder than you think. Use these 10 tips to experiment and find the best group selfie poses for your friend group. You’ll be posing like a bunch of pros in no time. Oh, and if you want a little more horsepower, check out Facetune, the best selfie editor app for even the pickiest of your friends.
