How to Take the Perfect Nude Selfie for Your Valentine

Don't take nude photos of yourself. This isn't just sound advice for members of Congress with unfortunate last names or Hollywood starlets who might be subject to the unwanted attention of the tech-savvy creep mob?this is good advice for just about ev-er-y-one.

Even if you have your digital world on security lock-down, that doesn't mean the person on the other side of that text or that email does. And even if you trust that person, can you say beyond a shadow of the doubt that you always will? Once you send a compromising photo out into the world, it's no longer under your control. And even if you and the recipient do everything "right," just know that if they really wanted to, the NSA or any hacker will probably be able to see your thingers on full display.

But that being said, let us acknowledge one other truth: receiving (and sending) n00dz is kinda fun! Especially when it's from that special someone. In fact, it might be a perfect little Valentine's Day extra to spice up their day.

There are things you might do to mitigate your exposure (pun intended) such as not including your face in the image or only showing the image to your significant other on your own device. (And no, self-destructing messaging apps like Snapchat are not secure.) Just know that no digital system is 100 perecnt secure.

But if you're still willing to take the risk, you might as well do it right. We didn't really know what advice to give you in that realm so we asked someone who did. Joanna Angel is an award-winning adult video star, director, musician, and entrepreneur behind the popular alt-porn website BurningAngel.com (which you would be correct to assume is completely NSFW). When it comes to being naked in front of a camera, there are few out there with as much experience or success.

Here's what advice she had to say about sending that sultry selfie to your Valentine.

Should people use a dedicated digital camera or a smartphone?
Just use a smartphone. Part of the hotness of a selfie is that it's raw and personal. Once it starts to look too professional, it's just creepy and weird.

Would you recommend people use any particular photo apps?
I use the "timer cam" to take picture of my booty and they are always the most popular thing I ever post. And they have been quite well received in my personal life as well. I'm pretty sure some of those photos helped reel in my current boyfriend!

But generally, I don't use any apps. I will mess with the brightness or sometimes crop it, just whatever is available in the photo app on my phone. I mean, if you hate the photo you took, just take another one! It's not going to cost you anything!

If one was concerned about privacy, are there things they should consider?
If you are concerned about privacy then you probably should never send someone a nude photo of yourself. Once you do that, it's fair game. If that's a big deal to you, then you will just have to get naked for that person the old fashioned way: in real life.

When it comes to angles and lighting, what should people consider?
I think natural light is always the best. It always makes everything look soft and pretty. My favorite selfie spot is in front of my mirror in my bedroom and there is a giant window to my left, and then to my right a little natural light comes through from my window in my bathroom. Also, I think if you have a lot of light in back of you, things turn out good, too.

I think the most flattering angle is either straight on or when you have your phone above your head so it's looking down on you. If the phone is too low then you're looking up your nostrils and it just doesn't look good.

In general, do you recommend using a mirror as opposed to a direct shot?
I like using a mirror better. That's just me! It's a way for you to get your entire body and not just certain parts of it.

If you have the ability to shoot anywhere in your house, are there locations that offer particular advantages (lighting, ambiance or anything else)?
In my opinion, my bedroom in the morning is the best place.

When it comes to lighting, should people use their phone's flash or try for ambient or natural lighting?
Most phones don't even have the ability to use flash when it's in selfie mode. But Flash photos I think look good if you're in like a nightclub or a bar, something like that.

Would you recommend people err on the side of playful/silly or sultry/sexy?
I mean, it really depends on your chemistry with someone and what mood you're in. But if you can pull off a sexy selfie, you should go ahead and do it. But really, it's a selfie! Take a bunch of them and see which one you like the best!

When giving them to your valentine, would you recommend printing them out or sending digitally? What is a better gift package?
Send it in a text message. Do not print your selfie out!

What's better to send: one perfect one or hundreds from all different angles?
Just send one that you are proud of. If you blow up someone's phone with 20 selfies the receiver will think you are crazy.

At this point in history, hundreds of celebrity nude selfies have leaked onto the Internet. Are there any of these famous images that you can highlight as someone doing nude selfies right or wrong? Let us learn from these celebrities' mistakes and triumphs!
I am sorry, I really pay no attention to celebrities' selfies. But celebrities spend lots and lots of money on surgery, and trainers, and personal chefs, and exfoliating facials that have diamonds inside of them. You can't compare yourself to them. A "selfie" is supposed to be a photo of yourself. I know US Weekly likes to pretend we are "just like them," but we're not! Just show off your favorite assets and have some fun with it! If you don't like a photo, delete it and just try again.