How to take a selfie on Xiaomi Redmi Note 8: a complete guide with camera settings and life hacks

Selfies on Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 can turn out no worse than on flagship smartphones – if you know how to properly use the 13-megapixel front camera of this device. Many owners are unaware that their budget apparatus is capable of professional self-portraits with blurred backgrounds, natural colors and good detail. In this article, we will examine not only basic settings, but also hidden functions. MIUI, This will help you get the most out of the Redmi Note 8 camera.

The problem with most users is that they just open the camera app, press a button, and get dim, noisy, or overlit shots, and in fact, even without the extra accessories, you can get great results when you consider three key factors: lighting, angle and camera settings, and considering that the Redmi Note 8 supports HDR, Portrait mode and manual adjustment of white balance – the possibilities for creativity are almost limitless.

In this article you will find:

• 🔧 Step-by-step setting up the front camera for selfies
• 🌟 Secrets of lighting in different conditions (at home, on the street, in the dark)
• 📱 Hidden functions MIUI, which are not written in the official instructions
• 🎨 Retouch and process directly on your phone without installing third-party apps
• ⚡ Top.-5 Mistakes that make selfies fail

1. Preparation of the smartphone: software update and camera cleaning

Before you take a selfie, make sure your Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 runs on the latest version. MIUI. The manufacturer regularly releases updates that improve image processing, add new filters and fix camera bugs. MIUI 12.5+ There is an improved noise reduction algorithm for the front camera, which is especially important when shooting indoors.

To check the relevance of the firmware:

1. Go to Settings → About the phone → System update.
2. Click Check Updates and install the latest version if necessary.
3. After the update, restart the device – this will help to avoid failures in the camera.

Also, before shooting, clean the camera lens of dust and fingerprints. Even subtle contamination can lead to blurry or glare in photos. Use a microfiber wipe (for example, for glasses) and avoid aggressive cleaning products. If the lens is left with greasy stains, gently wipe it with a wet wipe for equipment, and then dry.

⚠️ Warning: Do not use alcohol solutions or rough fabrics - they can damage the protective coating of the lens. Also do not blow on the camera before rubbing: saliva contains enzymes that leave stains when drying.

If the camera still gives blurry images after cleaning, check if Macro is on (it automatically activates when shooting from close range).

2. front camera setup: understand the modes

The Redmi Note 8 front camera supports multiple shooting modes, each suitable for different situations.

The most universal mode for selfies - Photos with enabled HDR. It automatically balances light and shadow, which is especially useful in bright sun or contrast light. HDR:

1. Open the Camera app and switch to the front camera.
2. Tap the HDR icon in the top panel (or go to Settings → HDR).
3. Choose Auto or On (when manually configured).

Important nuance: on the Redmi Note 8 HDR It works better when shooting in 4:3 rather than 16:9, in which case the camera uses more pixels to process. If you want photos for social media (like Instagram stories), shoot at 4:3, and then trim.

You should use Beauty Mode carefully, and at maximum settings, your face may look non-natural, so we recommend:

• 👁️ Skin smoothing for 20-30%.
• 👃 Correction of the nose and lips should be left at 0-10%.
• 🌟 Turn on natural makeup (if you need to slightly emphasize the eyes or lips).

3. Lighting: How to make selfies bright and clear

Even the most advanced camera won’t save a selfie if the lighting is not properly selected. Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 does a good job of shooting in daylight, but indoors or in the evening, there can be problems with noise and lack of detail.

Natural light is the best friend of selfies. If you're shooting at home, stand next to the window, but not opposite it (or it will be a silhouette). The best option is when the light falls at an angle of 45 degrees. Avoid direct sun at noon, it creates hard shadows under the eyes and nose. The best time for street selfies is the "golden time" (the first hour after sunrise or before sunset), when the light is soft and warm.

If natural light is not enough, use artificial sources.

• 💡 Ring lamp - evenly illuminates the face, removes shadows, even a budget model for 500-1000 rubles will do.
• 🔦 Desk lamp with white light (2700–4000K). Point it at the ceiling or wall for diffuse light.
• 📱 Screen of another smartphone with a white background (you can use the flashlight app at maximum brightness).

When shooting in the dark, turn on Night Mode, but remember:

• 🕒 Hold your phone still 2-3 seconds after you press the descent.
• 🔋 Battery charge must be at least 20% – otherwise the camera can automatically turn off the mode.
• 🌃 Avoid shooting against bright light sources (for example, lights) – this will lead to a relight.

⚠️ Note: When using Night Mode on Redmi Note 8, photos are delayed. Do not close the camera app immediately after shooting, otherwise the picture may not be saved!

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If you don't have a ring lamp, make a light diffuser yourself: cover the desk lamp with a thin white cloth or paper bag, which will soften the shadows and make the lighting more natural.

4. Sights and composition: how to look natural in the photo

The right angle can hide flaws and highlight merits, and the inept composition can ruin even a perfectly lit selfie.

The most versatile angle is an eye-level camera or a little bit higher, which visually lengthens the neck and makes the face more symmetrical, avoiding the bottom (double chin effect) and the angles that are too high (the eyes seem small).

Rule of thirds: Enable the grid in the camera settings (Settings) → Grids, and place your eyes on the upper horizontal line, which makes the composition more dynamic, and then leave the space to the side of your eyes, which creates a sense of movement.

So that the selfie doesn't look static.

• 😊 Open your mouth a little (as if you were saying the letter “o”) – it will add naturalness.
• 👀 Direct your gaze not to the lens, but slightly to the side - you will get a more vivid look.
• 🤳 Slightly tilt your head (15-20 degrees) – this will add volume to the hairstyle.
• 🙅 Avoid “serial” poses (for example, a sign of peace at the temple) – they look cliché.

For a group selfie, use a timer (3 or 10 seconds) to get everyone ready. On the Redmi Note 8, the timer is switched on by a button at the top of the camera. You can also use voice control - say "Cheese" or "Smile" and the phone will automatically take a picture (setting in Settings). → Voice descent).

Cleared the camera lens.|Selected mode (Photos)/HDR/Pdress-up)|Adjusted lighting (natural/artificial)|Checked the angle)|Set a timer or voice descent-->

5. Hidden functions MIUI selfie-driven

Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 based on the MIUI It has a few hidden features that are rarely mentioned in official instructions, but can significantly improve the quality of selfies:

Manual white balance settings: If automatic settings distort colors (e.g. in a room with yellow light), switch to Professional Mode (swipe left in the camera app) and manually set the light temperature. For natural daylight, the value of 5000 is suitable–5500K.

Filming in format RAW. In professional mode, you can save photos in format RAW (setting → This will allow the slott to edit the image more flexibly (e.g., restore over-lit areas). RAW-Files take up a lot of space (about 20 MB each).

Double press the volume button. By default, this feature is disabled, but it can be activated in Settings. → Additionally. → Quick descent. You can then take a selfie by pressing the volume button twice, which is convenient when the phone is attached to a tripod or holding it with one hand.

Secret Mirror Mode: If you need to take a selfie but your phone screen is dirty or cracked, turn on Mirror Preview in the camera settings to allow you to see yourself as if you were looking in a mirror (without inversion).

Autofocus setting: The camera focuses on the nearest object by default, but sometimes it clings to the background to capture the focus on the face:

1. Touch the screen in the face area and hold your finger for 1-2 seconds until the inscription appears. AF Lock.
2. Release your finger – now the focus is fixed, and you can change the position without fear of blurring.

⚠️ Warning: When shooting in Professional mode, automatic processing is turned off HDR And beauty. If you want these effects, you'll have to manually edit the photo in the editor.

6. Selfie processing: built-in tools MIUI

You do not need to install third-party applications for retouching - in the Gallery MIUI There are powerful editing tools:

1. Select a photo in the Gallery.
2. Click Edit (pencil icon).
3. Choose the Beauty or Effects tab.

Here’s what you can do with built-in tools:

• 🎨 Color correction: Brightness, Contrast, Saturation and Warm/Cold tone settings.
• 👗 Removal of defects: the Magic Retouch tool removes pimples, wrinkles and even hair that fell into the frame.
• 🖼️ Cutting and turning: You can change the proportions (like making a square for Instagram) or straighten the horizon.
• 🌄 Filters: in MIUI There are more than 20 pre-installed filters, including Portrait, Wintag and C/B.

For fine-tuning, use Curves (Professional tab) which allows you to adjust shadows, lights and middle tones separately, which is useful for restoring details in over-lit or darkened areas.

If you want to add text or stickers, go to the Stickers tab, there are dynamic stickers that respond to gestures (like hearts or stars around your face), but don't overload the photos - 1-2 elements will be enough.

Important life hack: If you edit selfies often, save your set of settings as a preset. To do this, after editing, click on the three dots in the upper right corner and select Save as a style.

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Built-in editor MIUI It is almost equal to third-party applications like Lightroom or Snapseed. The main advantage is that it is optimized for the Redmi Note 8 camera and retains image quality when exported.

7. Frequent mistakes and how to avoid them

Even experienced users sometimes make mistakes that ruin selfies, and here are the most common ones and ways to fix them:

Another common problem is the fish-eye effect, where the nose or forehead looks unnaturally large, because of the wide-angle lens of the front camera, to avoid distortion.

• 📏 Keep your phone at a distance of 30 to 50 cm from your face.
• 🔄 Don’t use zoom – come closer or cut the photo later.
• 🔍 In camera settings, turn off Auto-Perspective Correction (if enabled).

If you get a dull selfie, check if the power saving mode is on, and when you activate this mode, the camera automatically lowers the quality of the shots to save battery power. → Battery → Energy saving regime.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions