How to properly photograph full-figured people
Published: 08.12.2020
Anyone can look cool in a photo! Our tips and photo ideas for plus-size individuals will help photograph full-figured friends who will look amazing in the photos. And it doesn't matter what size they are!
Problems with photogenicity are the same for everyone. But people who are overweight often feel like they will never get a good picture. We will tell you how to photograph full-figured people, give ideas for photos of full-figured women and men. Read our tips, practice in a few poses, and any photo of a full-figured person will look great!
How do plus-size individuals pose to look perfect in photos?
An important part of a photographer's work is to convince the model that she looks great. This can and should be done through posing. Posing is an art that requires practice.
But there are typical mistakes that everyone makes when taking photos, regardless of body shape. We will talk about them and show life hacks on how to pose in photos.
Choosing the wrong clothes for a photoshoot is a classic mistake that all women make, regardless of their shape and size. For a photo, we put on the latest and greatest trends that we believe we should follow to look cool or trendy. This is absolutely not the case! Companies push this clothing on us because they need to make money.
Everyone has clothes that suit them. This applies to both slim and full-figured women. Take off the rose-colored glasses and see what suits your figure best.
Find photos of celebrities with a similar body shape to yours, and see what their stylist recommends wearing.
This is free advice that you have just received. Celebrities have professional stylists whom they pay thousands of dollars to.
Look at the patterns and colors you wear. As a rule, horizontal stripes really do make you look wider.
To be honest, low-rise pants don't look good on anyone. Wear pants that reach your hips instead. Plus-size girls look stunning in them, as this clothing accentuates the right curves in all the right places.
From the great photos that you will definitely get, create a Light album. You don't need to print the photos separately for this. We will print your photos directly on the pages of the Light album. Upload images to the free editor Mapi7 and create a themed Light album. You can upload photos from your phone.
Any clothing that accentuates the waist, or any accessories that highlight the waist or create the illusion of a waist, are really great! This can be belts or high-waisted pants, shirts, dresses that hug the waist.
Avoid baggy clothes. Be careful with oversized. If you have a baggy top, make sure your pants are fitted. And if you have beautiful loose flowing pants, wear a tight top.
Wear fitted tops with flared edges to slim the waist. Similarly, wear shirts that are cinched just below the chest. Button up the jacket with a few buttons in the middle.
Give preference to darker shades. They make full-bodied people look slimmer in photographs. Wear clothing in matching shades from top to bottom.
Full men should also pay attention to choosing their clothes. The shirt sleeves should reach the wrists, and the pants should reach the ankles. Never wear clothes that are too big. It is especially important to avoid baggy and wrinkled clothing.
Full-figured people should avoid complex patterns on clothing and opt for darker colors.
Take into account the proportions of your body. If you have less on top and more on the bottom, wear dark bottoms and a light top to balance your body.
All of these rules can absolutely be broken! If you have broad shoulders and are told that you can't wear thin straps, you can break the rule. But only if you like your shoulders and tops with straps :)
How to pose for full-figured people
Everything closer to the camera appears larger. If you are self-conscious about your size, simply move further back into the frame.
Full-figured people are concerned that their hands are too large. Therefore, move them back. If you lean towards the camera, your chest will appear larger. When you straighten your back, the size of your bust will visually decrease.
A double chin can be removed from a photo in two ways:
1) Extend your chin forward, and then slightly lower it. By the way, this is how celebrities do it.
2) Lift your tongue to the roof of your mouth. Keep your mouth closed. The muscles in your neck will tighten and your second chin will decrease in size.
Don't just point your chin at the camera, it looks unnatural. Slightly tilt your head to the left or right while posing. Don't forget to keep your back straight during the shoot. Otherwise, you will look like a turtle with a stretched neck.
Full men should consider growing a beard, which will help accentuate the jawline.
Stop shrinking! If you think that by shrinking you reduce in volume, you are mistaken.
Everything that you press against your body (hands to your sides, legs together) - appears larger.
Therefore, remove your hands from your body and take your legs out from under the chair.
How to pose for a full body shot
Let's go back to the free, yet important tips for plus-size women and men.
Look at how the full stars pose. Want to look the same in photos? Then remember these amazing poses.
- Roll your shoulders back. And breathe. Don't hold your breath. This way you will appear taller, and therefore slimmer.
- Relax. Don't stand too stiffly, especially if you're leaning against a wall. This can make people look fuller in photos. Use the wall as support to create beautiful body curves.
- If you are taking a seated photo, sit on the edge of the seat. The winning sitting pose is half-turned towards the camera. Also, make sure you sit up straight, lifting your shoulders. If you slouch, you will have a big belly in the photo, even if you don't actually have one.
Do you want to show a smooth line of the hips, but there is no difference between your waist and buttocks? Stand on tiptoe and push your hips back.
To make your hips look beautiful, step one leg forward and place it on tiptoe. The hip will lift up and look round. Don't stand straight in front of the camera. Turn your body 45 degrees. This way you will emphasize the soft curves.
- Pose with a partner. Turn your body away from the camera towards your partner. Shift your weight onto your back leg and lower your hips, relaxing your front leg. Place your other hand on your partner's shoulder. If you want to appear very slim, stand slightly behind your partner.
Full-figured women can place the hand closest to the camera on the lowered hip and move the elbows back.
It is better for full-grown men to put their hand in their pocket and push with their elbow.
- Pose with a group. Never approach the camera first. This will make you appear larger than anyone else in the photo. Place your hands on your hips or on the shoulders of your partners. If you can choose who you stand between, choose people with a similar body type to your own. This will reduce the contrast between you in the photos.
If you feel self-conscious about your hands, wrap them around the waist of the people standing next to you. They won't be visible in the photo.
To appear slimmer, full-figured women can cross one leg in front of the other.
When it comes to a thoughtful gift, Mapi7 offers a great idea - a personalized photo calendar. It's the perfect gift or a beautiful way to showcase favorite photos - all the more reason to order a photo calendar.
How to photograph full-bodied people
Take a photo from above. Photos taken from above usually make the model look slimmer. Raise the camera so that it is about 30cm above eye level. Look into the lens and take a test shot. Raise and lower the camera, taking photos to find the perfect angle.
Men who are self-conscious about their fullness should stick out their chin when taking photos from above. This adds masculinity to the photo.
Choose a place for a selfie. Find a part of the room or a location outside where the light falls from behind. The light will filter around you and give a soft glow. If you are wearing dark clothing, pose against a light background for a slimming effect. If you are wearing light clothing, pose against a darker or lighter background.
If the background is too dark, you will appear even larger than you actually are. Find natural sources of light. Avoid fluorescent lamps at all costs.
General recommendations for any body type and weight
Be like a fashion model! Find time to style your hair. Curl long hair to add volume and make your face look slimmer. Style short hair with volume for a similar effect. Apply your favorite makeup. Not only will you look great in photos, but you will also gain a huge boost in confidence.
Smile! A genuine smile looks great in photos. However, for some people, a sincere smile in a photo can be a problem. If that's the case, laugh in your mind and squint your eyes slightly. This will help your smile look more genuine, even if it's not.
Photographing full-figured people is no more difficult than athletes in the gym. Approach the shoot as an exciting event. Enjoy the process. Even if you don't like something, you can always delete it. But from the right shots taken according to our advice, make something amazing.Light Portfolio.
