The Secret to Flawless iPhone Selfies Is Hiding in Your Office Desk Setup
For those who have mastered the art of the selfie, from finding the ideal angles to perfecting the 'smize,' one element remains non-negotiable: lighting. Harsh office strip lights, unflattering bathroom spotlights, and dim corners in small apartments often fail to deliver the desired results. Yet, not everyone has access to professional studio lighting in their shared living spaces. Fortunately, a TikTok creator has shared a brilliant hack that transforms your ordinary workspace into a selfie studio, all from the comfort of your desk.
TikTok's Viral Lighting Formula: Excel and Outlook to the Rescue
TikTok user @kale_hz has gone viral with a simple yet effective method for achieving 'premium selfie lighting.' In a video viewed over 76,000 times, Kale demonstrates her work-from-home office setup, featuring two monitors and a laptop. She explains that the key is to open two blank Excel sheets and pair them with an empty Outlook email. This combination creates a ring light-style effect, brightening under-eye areas and enhancing natural lip pigmentation.
To test this hack, lifestyle writer Ellie Noyce gave it a try. She reported, 'There's no denying that the lighting was indeed much better with this hack. I think my skin looks a lot clearer, and my eyes are brighter. By comparison, the sneaky bathroom selfies I took are much darker.' However, she noted that not everyone has access to three monitors, so adjustments might be necessary.
Commenters on TikTok offered alternative solutions for those with limited screens. @ForeverSalty suggested using a Word document or notepad, while @charlotte recommended Googling 'orange light' for a sun-kissed glow in office selfies.
The Ultimate iPhone Photo Editing Formula for a Professional Look
Beyond lighting, editing plays a crucial role in perfecting selfies. Here is a step-by-step formula to enhance your iPhone photos, resulting in a sun-kissed, summery appearance that rivals professional shots:
- Start by setting brilliance and exposure to 100 for a dramatic effect, then reset them to 0 at the end.
- Adjust the following settings in order: exposure to 100, brilliance to 100, highlights to -35, shadows to -28, contrast to -30, brightness to -15, black point to 10, saturation to 10, vibrancy to 8, warmth to 10, tint to 39, sharpness to 14, and vignette to 23.
- Finally, set exposure and brilliance back to 0 to complete the edit.
Can Better Lighting Boost Your Productivity at Work?
This lighting hack isn't just about aesthetics; it may also improve work performance. TikTok user @nikkiandnico shared that using a small selfie light on her laptop led to an immediate boost in productivity. She said, 'It has made me feel a lot more awake and energetic on my team call, meaning I felt like I was able to lead a lot better.'
Research supports the idea that light impacts cognitive function. Some companies are investing in technology that syncs overhead lighting with employees' natural biological clocks. For instance, LinkedIn's offices in California and Nebraska feature private side rooms with remote controls, allowing workers to adjust light intensity and color to suit their needs.
As remote and hybrid work models become more common, such simple hacks can enhance both personal well-being and professional output. Whether you're aiming for the perfect selfie or a more productive workday, leveraging everyday tools like Excel and Outlook might just be the game-changer you need.
