And if you have a friend who's handy with a camera, don't be afraid to ask them to help! Also, YouTube has hundreds of helpful and easy to follow tutorials for taking photos. https://twitter.com/sj_fennell/status/1341582677854597121

While I'm at it...

Natural light is your best friend. Find a window or go outside. Don't stand with the light source behind you. For my self-portraits, I typically stand next to and a little away from a window. You can also angle your face toward the window to lighten shadows.

If you're outside on a sunny day, find shade under a tree or awning. You'll still get the benefits of the sunlight but without the harshness.

Either way, make sure your background is either artfully busy (lots of texture, etc) or bare. You don't want too much "crap" behind you. Also, use portrait mode or a similar camera mode. My aperture rarely goes above 2.8.

If you plan on adding a filter or applying any other aesthetic edits, slightly underexpose your shot when taking it. You can change the exposure even on a smartphone, so be sure to Google how beforehand.

Don't have a clean background? Hang a plain bed sheet behind you!

If you feel awkward in front of the camera, turn on some music or have a friend around to chat with as you pose and whatnot.

Not sure where to look? Either look right into the camera or slightly above it.