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How to be an IG boyfriend: Tips in taking proper Instagram photos

You’re welcome!

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It’s happened one too many times: Girl finds a great spot to take an IG photo, she poses the winning pose, wears the biggest smile — and the photo comes out, well, unsuitable for IG. The girl then gets mad at well-meaning (but completely lacking in the photo department) boyfriend and the rest goes down in history as another couple spat due to unpresentable #OOTD photos.

This being a recurring problem in this Instagram generation, I’ve rounded up a number of things that can help any boyfriend unleash the amazing, great photo-taking IG boyfriend he could be.

So to all the guys, listen up:

Know what type of shot she wants

Any photo, no matter how nice it is, won’t make it to your girlfriend’s feed, if it’s not the type of photo she asked you to take. If she wants to capture her nice #OOTD but you keep on taking portraits, no matter how nice they look and how amazing her smile is in the photo, it still isn’t what she needs for her Insta-feed. Of course, not saying that you shouldn’t try to help with shots, but we’re getting ahead of ourselves; that’s discussed later on in this list.

Take more than one photo

Think about it this way: The more shots you take, the more options your girlfriend has to choose from. Posing is honestly a tricky thing. Sometimes the best shot happens a split second after you’ve actually pressed the shutter button and then it’s gone forever. The only solution? Resolve to take more than one photo. Just keep tapping at that shutter and let your girl decide which one looks best for her. After all, it’s easy to delete shots, but it’s way harder to pose and shoot more.

Lucky for you, there are some phones which have built-in features that allow you to do this with one tap. The Pixel 3’s Top Shot function is perfect for this. The iPhone’s Live Photos is also great at this because it allows you to pick the best still from a series of photos saved from one shot.

Find a flattering angle

I get it, you think your girlfriend looks great at any angle and that’s sweet. But, that sentiment doesn’t automatically mean amazing photos (even if you think so). Now, before you get your panties up in a bunch, I know that no one is perfect and I agree that unrealistic standards on women based on edited social media photos may be harmful. However, there’s a difference between enhancing what you already have with flattering poses or angles, and completely faking a photo. I’m talking about the former.

Bottom line is that you have to make sure that you take photos from non-weird angles and in the best-possible conditions: This includes good lighting, flattering poses, and your girlfriend being comfortable.

Find out what flattering is to your girlfriend!

There are certain aesthetics to photo taking and even though you think that candid photo of her dancing awkwardly is cute, it might not cut it for her feed. It would help your photo taking if you knew what she thinks looks good on her. If you always keep her preference in mind, it assures better chances at shooting photos she’ll love.

Suggest poses and shots

Since you’re taking them, you’re the one who can see the photo preview. It helps so much when you try to guide your girl through the process. Suggesting movements and poses that look good with the framing ups your IG boyfriend brownie points significantly.

Be patient

Stop the grumbling; stop acting like it’s a big deal. You’re being asked to take a photo, not climb Mount Everest. Being a sport about the whole thing makes for a stellar IG boyfriend, even without the the best-looking photos. Photo skills you can learn, but being an accomodating BF is a choice.

Remember: Looking your best and always being presentable is a life skill. Looking great in all IG photos, however, is a gift — one that you can give your girlfriend.

Accessories

Dyson Airstrait: Hair straightening with air, not heat

Less heat, less damage

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People may now straighten hair without worrying about heat damage. Dyson has launched the new Dyson Airstrait hair straightener, ushering a new era in hair straightening. As the product name suggests, this innovative tool introduces a new way to straighten hair using just air.

The Airstrait has a simple wet-to-dry straightening process. Airflow is accelerated through the two arms’ 1.5mm openings, creating a high-velocity downward blade of air at a specific angle. This creates a controlled downward force to straighten hair simultaneously as it dries.

With the tool, stylers can achieve a naturally straight and shiny finish that maintains the hair’s strength and healthy look. The Airstrait also speeds the process up by about 25%. What’s best is there is no heat damage, unlike traditional straighteners.

Designed for multiple hair types

The Airstrait runs on a specifically-engineered Hyperdymium motor, a 13-blade impeller that spins up to 106,000rpm and generates 3.5kPa of pressure. Like Dyson’s hair care range, the Airstrait features intelligent heat control that measures the airflow’s temperature to ensure there is no damage.

Users may switch between two styling modes: Wet and Dry. The Wet and Dry modes are pre-set with specific heat and airflow combinations for the best results. A Cool mode is also available to set the style. Moreover, the airflow control has two speed settings, low and high. Drying, meanwhile, can be set to cold shot or root drying.

The science

Dyson has constantly invested a lot financially in research and technology development to craft innovative products in its specific industry. In creating the Airstrait, Dyson engineers studied every detail, from airflow dynamics to hair structure. They also considered thermal, mechanical, and chemical damage and their effects to hair health.

In the end, the Airstrait works based on one key principle. In styling hair to a new shape, hydrogen bonds from each hair strand are broken down. Traditionally, this is done through heat or moisture. But Dyson came up with a tool that just lets water weaken the hydrogen bonds, and then style hair with the optimum level of heat and controlled airflow.

Price, availability

The Dyson Airstrait is available starting April 16 in two colorways: Bright Nickel/Rich Copper and Prussian Blue/Rich Copper. It is priced at PhP 33,900.

Those interested in preordering may already do using this link: Dyson Airstrait

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Filipina who created Window Garden joins Google Play program

More indie games to come?

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Filipina-owned CLOVER-FI Games is taking the next step to build more accessible mobile games through Google Play. One-woman developer and publisher Camilla Santiago is representing the country at Google Play’s Indie Games Accelerator (IGA) program this year.

Her CLOVER-FI Games studio is behind hit local game Window Garden. The idle game lets players plant and decorate their own virtual indoor garden while relaxing in chill vibes, lo-fi music, and a cottagecore aesthetic. It was released in October 2021, back when Santiago learned app development amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.

Windows Garden has since amassed a million downloads. In almost three years, it has been received well by gamers with a 4.7 rating based on more than 8,200 reviews.

Google Play IGA

The Google Play IGA is a 10-week course designed for high-potential indie game studios. The program allows these startups to access the best of Google’s programs, products, people, and technology to be able to build and improve a successful organization.

The last Philippine representative in the program was Ranida Games, which had created one-on-one fighting game Vita Fighters. Through IGA, the title received benefits, allowing the developers to improve it.

Like Ranida Games, Santiago’s CLOVER-FI Games is just getting started. Her studio’s goal is to ultimately create more cozy-themed games that are accessible to everyone through mobile platforms.

With the help of the IGA, Santiago will be equipped with the necessary skills and experience needed to create another potentially successful title just like Window Garden. We can only wait as she empowers Filipinas through her craft.

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Dyson unveils ‘most intelligent hair dryer’ yet

The Supersonic Nural

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During its global launch event in Seoul, South Korea, Dyson has unveiled its “most intelligent hair dryer” yet: The Dyson Supersonic Nural.

The styling tool harnesses Dyson’s new automatic Nural sensor technology to protect scalp health and enhance hair’s natural shine.

One of the Dyson Supersonic Nural’s key features is a Scalp protect mode which is activated by the Nural sensors.

This automatically reduces the dryer’s heat as it nears a person’s head, protecting the scalp from damage. The process is done by having the sensors recognize when the dryer is already nearing the person’s head.

In addition, the Supersonic Nural’s LED light automatically changes under Scalp mode, depending on the distance from the head. Users will see yellow for low heat, orange for medium heat, and red for high heat, for convenient usage.

Moreover, the tool intelligently remembers your last used heat and airflow settings and will apply them the next time it is in use.

Price, availability

The Dyson Supersonic Nural comes in two color palettes: Ceramic Patina and Topaz or Vinca Blue and Topaz.

The entire package will come with five attachments, including two new ones:

  • Gentle Air Attachment
  • Styling Concentrator
  • Smoothing Nozzle
  • Diffuser
  • Flyaway Smoother

However, the technology has not been made available in the Philippines yet as of writing time. To be the first to know when it arrives, sign up here.

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