The idea of #YENSelfie was developed by Yorkshire Enterprise Network Director Sheraz Malik, after the May 2014 networking event at the Bradford Bulls Stadium. Many of the attendees were eager to have their photos taken with the prolific Robbie Paul-Hunter or Marc Green (Bradford Bulls Chairman). Sheraz then started the YENSelfie hashtag and produced a selfie banner as a backdrop for these photos, which has been present at every Bradford Means Business networking event since.

We also have a live stream of any Tweets using the YENSelfie hashtag, so be sure to get your business snaps at work or at one of our free monthly events; and most importantly, have fun!


Selfie Facts

Initially popular with young people, selfies gained wider popularity in 2013 across the world for all ages and backgrounds. By the end of 2012, Time magazine considered selfie one of the "top 10 buzzwords" of that year; although selfies had existed long before, it was in 2012 that Time believed the term had "really hit the big time".

A poll commissioned by Samsung found that selfies make up 30% of the photos taken by people aged 18–24. Even more impressive is that according to Google, 93 million selfies are taken every day on Android phones and tablets, which equals about 64,583 selfies every minute. Symon Whitehorn, lead camera design at HTC Corp believes that 90% of all photos taken on smartphones are selfies.

"Selfie" has even been named as 'The Word Of 2013' by Oxford Dictionaries. Research suggested it's frequency in the English language had increased by 17,000% in 2013 compared to 2012.

Selfie is officially defined by Oxford Dictionaries as "a photograph that one has taken of oneself, typically with a smartphone or webcam and uploaded to a social media website".


Selfie Tips

Lighting

Good lighting is key to any photo, not just selfies, and a sensible amount of soft natural light helps any portrait to glow. Artificial lighting can make a good substitute, but be wary of overexposure with camera flash, or underexposure in darkened rooms.

Positioning

Sometimes space is limited when you're all crowded together for a group shot, so be sure to stretch your arm out far and arch it downwards and out of the way of the frame.

Composition

Again, like with any photo, follow the common 'Rule of Thirds'. For example, your eyes should be a third of the way up or your head a third of the way into the picture - ideally from the top or side. Make sure there's also a space between you and the background, to achieve a depth of field with the image.

Get your good side

Moving the camera slightly above your eye line and pointing it downwards at yourself tends to be the most flattering way to take a selfie. It helps to put focus on the eyes and make your jawline seem more slender and defined. Some people also angle their face or body to one side. to highlight certain features

Confidence

You might feel silly, especially when your taking a selfie at a business networking event, but relax and feel confident in the informal surrounding that YEN provide at every 'Bradford Means Business' event.



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