Brits take an average of five selfies before finding one they are happy to keep, with younger adults emerging as the most demanding photographers, new research has found.
A survey of 2,000 adults found that 32 per cent rarely get the right picture on their first attempt, while 35 per cent said their camera roll was filled with near-identical images. Only 18 per cent are usually satisfied with their opening shot.
Gen Z respondents took the longest to settle on a picture, averaging six attempts. That fell to five among Millennials, four for Gen X and three for Baby Boomers.
For group photographs, making sure everyone is visible was the leading priority, cited by 83 per cent. A further 77 per cent said they retake pictures to ensure everyone is looking at the camera, while 75 per cent want to capture a more natural moment.
Finding a flattering angle was important to 65 per cent, and 63 per cent said poor lighting had prompted them to try again.
Small mistakes were among the biggest irritations. Nearly three in ten respondents, or 29 per cent, blamed blinking, while 28 per cent were frustrated when somebody looked away. Another 22 per cent only noticed after pressing the shutter that someone had been partly cut out or hidden behind another person.
The pursuit of the perfect group selfie can also test the patience of those waiting to be photographed. People said they were prepared to stand around for an average of three minutes, with 26 per cent becoming irritated within the first minute.
The typical breaking point came after four attempts, while 29 per cent said they had abandoned a group selfie altogether because they could not fit everyone into the frame.
The research was commissioned by Samsung to coincide with the launch of its Galaxy S26 FE smartphone. The device, announced by the company on August 27, features a 12-megapixel front camera designed to capture more of a group, alongside its Photo Assist editing tool.
Annika Bizon, from Samsung, said: “Our research shows that a top selfie frustration is missing people in the shot. Whether it’s a family gathering, holiday memory, or night out with friends, we’ve all taken endless versions of the same photo just to get everyone in frame.”
