You do not need a tripod to get a straight, full-length photo. You need something stable, the right height and a bit of patience.
1. Find something stable
Lean the phone against a stack of books, a water bottle, a shoe box or a window sill. Check that it cannot slide when you walk away. If you use a chair, put the phone on the back and wedge it with a rolled-up towel.
2. Set the height
- Put the camera around chest height for a natural look.
- Too low makes legs look long but can look strange up close. Too high shortens the legs.
- Keep the phone upright and level so lines do not lean.
3. Work out the distance
Stand where you want to pose and look at the screen first: leave a little space above your head and below your feet. Most people need to be further back than they expect, around two to three metres for a full-length shot, but it depends on the room and the lens.
4. Use the timer
Set a 10 second timer, take a burst if your camera offers one, and walk to your mark. Take more than one shot, because the first is usually stiff.
5. Check the light
Face a window rather than standing with it behind you. A bright background makes you dark.
Where an app could help
The app we are building is planned to include guides for full-outfit framing, a distance helper and a head-and-feet warning. These are still in development, so for now the steps above work with any phone.