Selfies are a style of photography wherein

1) the photographer's own face is included in the photograph,

2) and the camera is held by the photographer when the photo is taken.

Other optional elements are often associated with selfies. Use of a mirror is common, especially mirrors found in dirty, unphotogenic bathrooms. Bathrooms are a popular location for selfies since so many believe that the worse everything around them looks in the photo, the better they will appear by comparison.

Immediate upload of the photo to social media is also optional, but generally not recommended. By reviewing the photo on a large computer monitor one has a better chance to find and remove unintended, possibly embarrassing elements from the photo before others see it. Upload of the photo after reviewing it on a large screen is also not recommended, since most selfies suck anyway and are rarely actually worth sharing.

Having selfies be poor quality for other reasons (such as being out of focus or having motion blur due to using too slow a shutter speed in low light) is also a popular technique. Having the photo further ruined by application of bizarre and ugly filters and special effects, in order to try to conceal how poor quality the photo was in the first place, is also popular.

The term selfie is often misused. Selfies are a subgenre of self-photography. It is wrong to use "selfie" to refer to self-photographs in general.

The following methods of self-photography are NOT selfies:
1. Photographing just one's own penis does not constitute a selfie. (Even if the camera is handheld, it doesn't qualify to be called a selfie unless the photographer's face is in the photo. Putting your other "head" in the photo doesn't count.)

2. Mounting the camera on a tripod, or resting it securely on a table, and using a timer to take the photo is not a selfie. (Camera must be held by the person for it to be a selfie.)

3. Using a throwable camera that automatically snaps at panoramic photo when at the top of the throw is not a selfie.

4. Dropping your camera on the ground and being lucky enough that instead of breaking it accidentally takes a photo of you is not a selfie.

5. Mounting your camera on a wild goat and having it take many photos while it charges at you is not a selfie.
by Otisepote March 3, 2014
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The beginning of the end of intelligent civilization
Future sociologists use the selfie as an artifact for the end of times
by Future Sociologist November 27, 2013
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Stupid photos that 14 year old girls take of themselves. They take these photos to let people know what they look like when no body else is around. Tags are also used after the taking of a selfie when posted on a website of some sort. Some examples of these are: #nomakeup #twerk and other stupid words that girls think make themselves sound cool.
Girl: I'm gonna take a selfie!

*Takes 400 selfies and posts one online*

Girl: #cute #follow #nomakeup #whatever
Girl: I look so good

*flicks hair*
by thefartinator March 14, 2014
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A picture taken of yourself that is planned to be uploaded to Facebook, Myspace or any other sort of social networking website. You can usually see the person's arm holding out the camera in which case you can clearly tell that this person does not have any friends to take pictures of them so they resort to Myspace to find internet friends and post pictures of themselves, taken by themselves. A selfie is usually accompanied by a kissy face or the individual looking in a direction that is not towards the camera.
by SaRAWRR July 29, 2009
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Proof that the human genome is gradually degrading. This Bieber generation term is used to describe a photo taken by a person wielding a smartphone, with their pre-teen friend twerking in the background.
Not really considered an actual word by anyone with an IQ higher than 5, Selfie/Selfy is really more of a sound. A fucking horrible sound.
Jess: I'm'a take a selfie
John: Somebody take this bitch's phone.
by Chainsaw 0352 June 27, 2014
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A photograph of one's self taken by one's self...a self portrait, if you will. Such photos are typically taken using the camera function on a cell phone or holding a camera. Many people will resort to taking the photo using a mirror so they can see the picture they are about to take. In some instances other people will be in the photo additionally to the one taking the photo (who is also in the photo). Selfies are often taken alone and are popular across social media.
Marissa: Hey Abby, let's take a selfie in front of this statue!
Abby: Sure, make sure you tag me when you post it on instagram!
Marissa: For sure. I'll post it to facebook too!

or
Joe: I feel hot today, I think I'll take a selfie!
*Goes into bathroom and takes a picture of himself using mirror*
by UrbanKay March 8, 2014
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Girl: Taking pics in bathroom mirror. Sends it to guy
Guy: Gets pic of girl in "selfie"..oh brother
Girl: :
Guy: Stop sending me selfies!
by Nicole1016 November 17, 2013
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