Photography Friday {Looking Cute and Skinny}
April 13, 2012 by Aimee • 41 Comments
I’m one of four girls! Growing up, my sisters and I learned every trick in the book to photograph each other looking our very best: Cute and Skinny! We are all married now and combined have eleven babies! We put our younger year “How to Look Photogenic” research to good practice these days! I’m excited to share our camera tricks with you!
- Relax and know you are beautiful all the way from the inside-out! Focus on the people around you and don’t worry too much about the camera.
- Straighten Up. Picture yourself a tall and lanky model with great posture! Stand up real tall and suck in your gut. THEN take a deep breath so you aren’t stiff.
- Turn a Bit. Be a ballerina, placing your feet in third position- one foot in front of the other then turn your body 45 degrees away from the camera, leaving your head and shoulders facing the camera! Sounds complicated, but it’s really not…stand up right now and give it a try!
- Weight on Back Foot. Modeling 101. Put your weight on your back foot and bend the knee of your front foot slightly. This will make your legs appear long and your hips slim! This is a great posture for everyday life!
- Angle Your Face. Leaning slightly towards the camera will give you the appearance of a long neck and tilting your chin down just a bit will help you avoid too much chin in the picture!
- Hand on Hip. Take your hand and place it right above the pelvic bone or right about there. Keep your fingers natural and pointed slightly upward….bring your elbow forward and call yourself a model! This pose helps underarms less prominent, broadens your shoulders and narrows your waist!!!
- Below the Camera. Speaking of chins, get the camera above you! Find someone taller or have someone stand on a chair! The best way to hide double chins is to have someone shoot your face from a few inches above your head. You will be looking up just slightly which will improve your neck line and make your eyes more open. This is my favorite tip!
- If it MUST Be Done. If you’re taking pictures with your family or of an awesome landmark and the camera has to be shot from a low angle, use your legs! Point one leg into the center of the frame and get the photographer to shoot looking up your body…this works sitting down or standing up. Trust me, it really is flattering!
- Smile FOR REAL! Fake smiles stink! Don’t paint on a forever frozen smile! Instead, when the camera is pointing your way, give a little giggle and then freeze it for a brief moment…another giggle…freeze! It’s so much more natural that way…and it always makes me laugh FOR REAL hearing myself giggle at absolutely nothing!
- Beware of Shadows! And if you’re behind the camera, be sure to avoid shadows on the faces of those you’re photographing. Shoot in great lighting and when needed use a Reflector Pro
or a large white poster board to bounce the light!
Did you try the position yet!??! Here’s how your feet should be positioned!!!
Great tips!
~Jamie
Thanks Jamie!!! XO, Aimee
Awesome advice Aimee!! I’ve also discovered the joys of the photo tool “insta-thin”. LOL!
Vanessa
Great advice…thanks Aimee!
XO,
Jane
I tried this today when I was trying to get a picture of all five of us. 5 months into a family of 5 and we have maybe 2 picture sof all of us together. So I put my feet int eh right position, smiled for real, everything was great. Until my husband handed me the baby and for some reason I stuck my stomach out like a ledge to rest her on! Honestly, what was I thinking? I’m *not* pregnant anymore, my stomach should be a smooth(ish) plane straight down, not a seat for children:)
FIVE YEARS Later I still catch myself doing that! LOL! At five months I think it’s still sorta acceptable!!! I wish I were around the corner, I’d LOVE to come over and drive your family crazy and take tons of fun pics for you!!! XO, Aimee
Such good tips Aimee! I will be using these
Thanks Kelley!!! I hope you have a FABULOUS weekend! XO, Aimee
Some great advice but nothing I do makes me look good in photos……..
Oh Jo-Anne…I totally doubt that!!! One thing I know for sure…you’re a GREAT bloggy friend!
Love these tips! I find there’s a certain energy I channel when I have my picture taken. It’s hard to explain other than to say you need to have complete belief in your own fabulosity (no matter your age, weight, etc) and just let it shine. I’m so glad to be following you Aimee – you are terrific.
Great tips! I don’t really like having my picture taken…I’ll have to try some of these the next time someone wants to take my picture!
Oh my gosh Aimee, I am going to print this! I hate getting my picture taken, and after reading this, I so totally do every pose wrong! I’m going to practice, with this in hand. Thank you so much! Little Bit
I always think about that Friends episode where Chandler has the awkward contorted picture face!
Everybody is always trying to look good in pictures–this is a great combination of tips! I just posted portraits of my daughter and her boyfriend today..at their age every angle looks good:)
Wow! Thanks for sharing these Aimee.
Great tips! I am sooo un-photogenic, so I need all the help I can get. And I’m usually the one behind the camera, so I rarely have photos of me anyway, and my hubby isn’t so great at capturing candid moments. Maybe I need to have him read this post so he will be able to remind me of how to pose when it’s time for him to turn the camera on me.
Thanks for sharing these great tips!!
http://moiselfandi.blogspot.ca/
My daughter and her friends have these tips down to a science (the facebook generation always has to be camera ready!). Another tip they use is put your hands on your hips to make your arms look better (it works!) Thanks for sharing!
Robin
Robin Flies South
These are such great tips; thanks for sharing!
Allyson
http://cupcakescandycanes.blogspot.com
I love these tips! I’m pinning this so I will remember them. Thanks, Aimee!
Thanks for these Aimee! i have had many of those “Chandler engagement photos” from Friends!
I just stiffin up as soon as the camera comes out! Will try these!!
Best.Post.Ever.
You are amazing.
That is all.
Michelle
http://www.delicateconstruction.com
Great tips! I need all the help I can get when looking great in photos. I’m going to try these!
What fantastic tips and a gorgeous blog! Found you from Six Sisters – new follower
O my goodness, I love it! These are great tips. I’m getting to an age where I feel like I take terrible photos. I’m definitely going to keep these tips in mind. I’d love it if you’d share this at Whimsy Wednesdays! We go live Tuesday night at 8 EST.
I’m thinking you’re going to get a lot of hits on this post! Great, great ideas. I still have little people (children) in my house that take my picture. Sometimes I make them stand on a chair. Such vanity!
Fun post that will have thousands of hits because this is what we all yearn to be in photographs and in real life. Note to self: travel with a tall person who will take the pictures. My feet will never leave the position. Thanks for posting. ~CJ
Lol, I’m 5 months pregnant, so I need all the help I can get.:) Unfortunately, my hubby is about my height. I guess he’ll be standing on a chair most of the time that i need pics.:)
These are such great tips! I had to get up to practice! We’re having family pictures taken soon, so I’m glad you shared these!
Great tips!
These are great tips!! We’re so glad that you linked up to our “Strut Your Stuff Saturday.” We hope you’ll be back soon. -The Sisters
Thank you, thank you! Great tips!
Karee
Great tips! Thanks! I need all the help I can get!
This is fantastic! I HATE having my picture taken even AFTER losing weight! I’ll try to remember these tips!
I have 20 pounds to lose, then I will use these tips ( giggle) xo
Great tips! I need to use even single one…then maybe I won’t hate seeing myself in pictures:)
Awesome tips – thanks!
Great tips, will be using these, thanks
Awesome tips!