Here are some pro tips for photographing overweight people and getting stunning photographs. How long can fashion lead you? The covers are full of skinny young ladies with an embittered, hungry look, while natural beauties sit at home in front of the mirror and endlessly measure their volumes. Absolutely everyone can take a beautiful photo of a girl with long legs and a chiseled figure. After all, absolutely nothing has to be done, and you try to photograph a person who is not quite ideal flawlessly.
Overweight girls are much more critical of themselves than others. On this basis, various complexes often arise and then excuses from any filming. And anyone who has ever tried to photograph fat girls knows that they never like pictures with their image: the wrong pose, the wrong angle, or something else.
However, the problem is not always with the models themselves. There are such “professionals” who will even make a real hippopotamus from a skeleton, and they have no idea how to photograph fat people properly. How to take pictures of fat girls if they are initially ill-disposed for this business? For many, the camera is one of the main fears, and you, as a professional, need to help her overcome it.
How to Photograph Full Girls?
First, you need to win over the model. If you don’t know the person at all, then you can even drink tea and chat a little before shooting. So you will establish contact with each other, and you, in turn, will be able to learn more about your preferences and wishes.
You will also need to clearly explain that during the photo session, you will try to hide all the model’s flaws and make her advantages even more vivid. During the conversation, try to highlight the benefits of the model: full lips, cute freckles, dimples on her cheeks when she smiles, beautiful eyes. Immediately note what you will focus on during the shooting.
1. Correct Angles
You should start a photo session with a portrait. For close-up photographs, the ideal angle is to position the photographer just above the subject. Thus, we can quickly get rid of a double chin, if any. Moreover, the photo will show the model’s neckline, and the round face will appear more elongated. This technique looks like a win-win, and in 99% of cases, the model ends up liking.
Another good way to hide the roundness of your face is with a hairstyle. Straight long hair is best. It is better to shoot in half-turn: try not to photograph full-face girls at all. If your idea requires this angle, ask the model to cover part of her face with her hair.
The most important thing to learn is that the object that is closer to the camera visually looks much more extensive. If you have small hips in the photo, you would like to see something more significant, then turn them to the camera. But in our case, we will do the opposite.
2. Cloth Selection
And here, the eternal magic wand of all fat people is triggered – a vertical strip. And even if you use a striped background, the girl will still look slimmer. Also, the stripes can be of different colors; it is unnecessary to give preference to only two-color ones.
A beautiful long scarf is perfect for a winter photoshoot. Ask to wrap it so that it hangs down to your knees: it will contribute to the creation of the effect of a toned body and add a slim model.
It is worth warning the model against all kinds of leggings because such clothes can play a cruel joke with a girl. Things with elastic bands and all sorts of constrictions should also be excluded.
Retro Style. Clothes in this style can favorably emphasize the model’s dignity; it is possible that after such a photoset, the girl will look at herself from a completely different side.
Long Sleeves. For the pictures to be successful, and the model seemed more slender, advise choosing clothes with long sleeves.
3. Best Poses for Overweight People
An even posture in a standing position will help the model look visually slimmer. Also, ask the girl to stretch up a little, stand on her toes.
Chest forward, shoulders back, stomach pulled in – this “position” is familiar to everyone since school physical education. The main thing is to make sure that the model does not look like a soldier’s information.
The sitting position will only look good if you ask the girl to pull her socks. It lengthens the shin and makes it look more graceful. In this position, folds can form on the stomach, and therefore it is better to cover it with your hands or, for example, a pillow.
If you have a studio, it would be nice to use a fan or hairdryer: this will give the model a lack of lightness.
Take pictures at full height, sit down slightly, but do not overdo it: it is impossible to photograph fat girls from the lower angle because it further emphasizes their figure.
The top angle is best for taking pictures of fat people to reiterate. You don’t have to come up with an intricate pose: it can be expected. Models need to raise their heads and look up into the camera slightly.
This shooting method will avoid the appearance of wrinkles in the neck, and a close-up of the face will hide figure flaws. True, the technique is so good that one might think that only it is used. So get creative and experiment with framing and backgrounds to get something unique.
Follow your body line. Various S-curves and other intricate lines work great on the camera. If you shoot several people, then position the slimmer so that he slightly covers the entire model.
4. Light Arrangement
Shooting in the studio is an excellent option for overweight girls. With the right light, you can mask anything you want. For example, a part of the body can be hidden with the help of a shadow, thus adjusting the shape. Taking pictures of fat girls in the open air is incredibly difficult, and therefore, natural light is the last thing we will use.
You only need to darken the outline of the model’s figure. It is not worth highlighting the face from below – the second chin will appear again, which we have been hiding for so long with the help of different tricks.
Apply painting light. To successfully hide the extra weight in the photo, the model will need to turn away from the primary light source slightly. Firstly, we have already discussed that half-turn is the most advantageous angle for overweight girls. Secondly, in this situation, the central part of the body will be in the shade, which will also favorably affect the final result.
Also, the shadow half-turn is excellent for portraits.
Taking Pictures of Fat Brides
On the wedding day, even girls with a model appearance are worried about their photos, and even a fat bride has much more reasons for worry. A long-focus lens will help to solve this difficult task. To avoid distortion of body proportions, use a telephoto lens with an 85 mm or more focal length.
If the focal length is shorter, then it is likely that the model will look much fuller. Also, in this case, you can apply all of the above techniques. We think that this knowledge is enough for a wave to photograph fat brides.
Finally, remember to treat the model with care and courtesy. A lot depends on the photographer’s behavior: in his actions and words, there should not be any hint that the proportions of the model do not suit him. Also, if you notice that the girl is timid about her figure, try to tell her something sincere and encouraging.
You may also like to read: Boudoir Photography: A Fashionable and Wonderful Gift for Your Beloved
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