In all of the years that I've been a professional photographer, I have never met anyone who didn't have some concern about their body and how they would look in a photograph.
I wouldn't call it vanity so much as I would call it anxiety. It is no wonder we feel inadequate with our looks.We are bombarded every day with images of the 'beautiful people' that have been airbrushed and Photoshopped to perfection, and sometimes beyond. How can the average person measure up to that standard when even the models and actors are not perfect enough?
Each culture and each period in history has its own standard of beauty. Did you know that? During the late 1800's and early 1900's, fatter women were considered more attractive.
I think it's time we stopped being so freaked out about our appearance. Let's love our own bodies. Let's embrace our differences and celebrate our uniqueness. Sure, we have things we'd like to emphasize or de-emphasize in our portraits so we can look our best, but let's remember that each of us has our own beauty.
I know, that's easier said than done, but I can help you look your best. Lots of people have told me that they don't photograph well. My answer is always the same, "You just haven't had the right photographer yet."
Let's look at today's images. They are all cropped at or near
mid-thigh. This is known as the 3/4 length crop.
First my favorite
There is lots to like about this image. I like my expression, the way my hair is covering my double chin, the light filtering through the leaves and highlighting my hair,
the 'good' side of my face is showing, and the way I'm standing is pretty flattering for most women.(Hip pushed back away from the camera, torso twisted.
In addition, I've utilized the shoot-through technique that I adore. Having something leafy in the foreground adds depth and dimension, and can cover critical areas that we don't want showing, like my plus-sized hiney for example.
Are there improvements that could be made to the background and my pose? Sure, but I still like this image.
I did do a few quick Photoshop changes to this picture; I created a slight vignette, blurred the edges a little, and increased the contrast. If I were preparing this for a client, I'd spend more time perfecting the image, but this is good for a quick edit.
Next let's look at another pose in this series that shows what NOT to do.
My torso isn't angled away from the camera as much as the first image, and my hip is pointing toward the camera. This pose adds the appearance of weight rather than subtracting as in the first image. This pose isn't as flattering for my breasts, my stomach, or my face. I do like the way my left eye looks, my hand, and my smile.
No Photoshop changes were made to this image.
Finally, let's look at the third image from today:
The tummy pose is flattering for just about everyone. Sure, you can still tell that I'm a larger woman. However, the camera perspective, the light adding definition to the shape of my back, and the relaxing nature of this pose make it a favorite.
I like my smile, the light in my hair, and how happy and relaxed I look here.
I like my smile, the light in my hair, and how happy and relaxed I look here.
As we've previously discussed, my hair is helping to disguise my weaker left jawline, and my smaller left eye.
I could have brushed my hair away from my eyes and still looked good though. This camera angle forces the subject to look up, and that opens up the eyes very nicely in most cases.
I could have brushed my hair away from my eyes and still looked good though. This camera angle forces the subject to look up, and that opens up the eyes very nicely in most cases.
I could make a few changes to the hand posing for a more graceful look, and could slim myself a bit with Photoshop if I wanted to. Overall though, the pose is flattering and the image is pleasing.
What do you think?
Do you agree with my comments?
Tech info:
Canon EOS 60D
F9
1/250
ISO 200
Lens
Sigma 28-300mm zoom
Flash
Canon Speedlight 430EXII
1/1 power
Flash modifier Sto-Fen Omni-Bounce
