What's the best way to take a photo with a girl? Some secrets to a beautiful passport photo
If you are very plump (or large) and often like to be photographed, then you need to know a few important rules, thanks to which you will look like a skinny model in the pictures.
We are ready to introduce you to the seven main rules from plus size model Katya Zharkova.
The first time I really felt my body was at 30 years old. No, I’m not talking about physiology or the fact that before this I had no idea what kind of body I had. But it was at that moment that I learned to own and manage it. How singers control their voices, like artists use a brush. I am a model and constantly pose for photographers, but this was a breakthrough; control over my body became absolute. I know how to proudly show off my plus size, but at the same time, friends often tell me that I look so thin that I risk being classified as a regular model. And all because now I understand who I am. And when they say to me: “You are beautiful!”, I easily answer: “Thank you, I know.” And I insert all new successful photographs into my portfolio.
Well, a column about proper posing in front of the camera cannot do without such an introduction. I'm lucky, my mother is a photographer. She was the one who taught me to be beautiful. Even when I was little, we practiced poses and smiles. Maybe that’s why the smile has become a trademark for me? Of course, in my modeling career there are designers who don’t want the girl to smile in the frame. But if they give you the opportunity to remain yourself...
My advice is to accept yourself for who you are and don’t let anyone doubt that you are beautiful exactly in the form you are in now. And the right poses will help with this
First rule- you have to smile.
It will be nice to look at the photos later!
Rule two. Never be ashamed of your body. I've always been surprised fat girls who sit down at the table and begin to nervously tug at their dress so that folds do not form on the sides.
Since we've already touched on the topic of hands, let's immediately talk about third rule.
Watch what your favorite models do with their hands. The way they place one on the hip and the other flows down along the body to create an extra line that slightly conceals the body. Take a closer look at how they use pockets and other clothing elements to their advantage, so that when they touch them, they create a very natural movement in the frame. Notice that the models never throw their lifeless arms along the body, but, on the contrary, constantly put their elbows out to take up more space in space and create an effective line between the body and the arms. Looks very nice! But at the same time, you should not lean your hands on all objects around. Let the background remain the background.
Well my personal advice: Never try to make any gestures with your fingers. Let tough guys in the photo they show a “goat” on two hands, or something else indecent. It will remain on their conscience! The coolness of the models lies not in such emancipation, but in elegance.
Rule four, almost the most important thing.
What, exactly, should we do with the body? Finally understand that we have shoulders, chest, waist and hips! And learn, by “breaking the body” at these points, to achieve very beautiful effects. Hands also help a lot with this. For example, I don’t set myself such a task, but I can easily give advice on how to look slimmer. The most advantageous angle is three-quarters, when the free leg looks directly at the photographer with its toe. This makes the entire silhouette look more elongated. Another way is to face the camera, raise one hip higher than the other and bend your body forward slightly. Fantastic, where everything that you don’t want to show disappears! My “thintest” photographs were taken precisely because my whole body is mobile. Just try it in front of the mirror right now so you don’t get confused later!
Fifth rule no more difficult than others.
Learn to control the angle of your head. Again, a very common mistake is when, after each click of the camera shutter, the tilt of the head changes sharply. Excessive bending in itself is an absolutely bad idea - it looks like a broken neck. Too much mobility, as well as too much immobility, has a detrimental effect on good result. My Golden Rule: Keep your head as straight as possible, constantly change its position slightly. But slowly, so that the photographer has time to get his bearings. Look at the first photographs taken, understand which frames are best, evaluate the lighting and continue posing without radically changing the successful pose.
Once the most advantageous angle for you has been found, you can continue experimenting. For example, shake your head sharply to make your hair fly. But here there is one rule: never stand so that the wind blows at your back. It cannot be controlled. It is much more correct to stand facing him. The hair will fly like on the cover. And that's what we need.
I'm a tall girl, so I can't help but share one more of my observations. No matter how much you sympathize with the person next to you, never bow your head towards him, trying to become the same height as him. Don't hug the person. Hug only yourself, keep your head straight and remain yourself in the frame. Complex manipulations will not lead you to a beautiful photograph, and they will not give a compliment to a lesser person. It’s much easier to sit next to each other - the difference will be less noticeable.
If you believe the statistics, about 90% of girls consider themselves unphotogenic, do not know how to be photographed correctly, how to look good in photographs, therefore they do not like themselves in photographs and are like hell afraid to pose in front of the camera. At the same time, real professionals who are fluent in the art of photography know for sure that there are no non-photogenic people, there are only “photographers” who do not know how to capture and convey the individuality of a model.
Common misconceptions about photogenicity
“Oh, you know, I’m not photogenic at all!” – this phrase, immediately following the greeting “hello”, is heard by photographers from 4 out of 5 clients. Photogenicity and beauty are far from identical concepts. People with sharp, expressive facial features, as a rule, are exceptionally photogenic, real life may look rough and even unattractive. From a psychological point of view, the success of a shoot largely depends on the emotional message, self-confidence and ability to present oneself. When a model loves herself and enjoys the shooting process, she relaxes, every gesture and movement takes on meaning, looks organic, and everything in the frame turns out just great. And little make-up tricks will help add expressiveness, correct selection hairstyles, clothes, and most importantly - good angles and light and shade. By the way, even top models prefer to be photographed from only two or three good angles, so if in some position you don’t look very attractive, don’t rush to get upset - there will certainly be a pose for you.
A real photographer is not just a master of his craft, communicating with the camera on a first-name basis, but also good psychologist, who knows how to find an approach to people, showing genuine interest in the most ordinary model. The result of his work is successful, beautiful, and most importantly - meaningful photographs, which reflect not only appearance, but also inner world person. You don't get tired of these photos. You can look at them and look at them, every now and then discovering new facets. When we hear the names of Che Guevara, Ernest Hemingway or Albert Einstein, their most famous photographic portraits immediately appear before our eyes: Che in the famous black beret with a star, Hemingway in a white woolen sweater, Einstein with his tongue hanging out. During their lifetime, they were captured by cameras hundreds of times, but we remember them precisely from these single photographs, in which the presence of spirit is felt. The complete opposite of these masterpieces is the photo on the documents. Frightened, distorted, suspicious individuals look at us from passports, driver's licenses, and student ID cards. And all because of the lack of contact between the photographer and the model, and sometimes even the absence of the photographer himself, because it’s no secret that often such formulaic work is performed by people far from high art photos.
to contentsHow to look good in photographs
to contentsDown with fear!
Usually those who judge themselves only by a few unsuccessful photographs do not like and are afraid to be photographed. It is not right. You need to film more often and more. It's just a photo! Just think, you won't like it! You’ll tear it up, burn it, or in the case of numbers, simply erase it. Analyzing various photos, you will certainly find the most successful poses, interesting facial expressions and will be able to use them in the future. The more you take photographs, the better you get to know yourself, your advantages and disadvantages, your capabilities, your successful and unsuccessful angles. And thanks to our tips, you will quickly learn how to take photographs correctly and will be able to choose interesting photography poses for yourself.
to contentsLet's remain ourselves
Hearing the words “Ready! Now the bird will fly out. Cheeeez..." and other similar nonsense, many seem to be replaced: they freeze in an absurd pose, with an unusual facial expression and a false smile. You can't expect miracles from such a photo. And you just need to remain yourself. Not only a smile can be beautiful and interesting, but also sadness, thoughtfulness, and even recklessness. But only if these emotions are not feigned, but come from within. Naturalness does not exclude playfulness. Play in front of the camera, because you can be so different! Play with elements of clothing, accessories, hair, shyly cover yourself with your hands, imitate walking on a thin rail, play hide and seek, imagine yourself in the form of some animal... loosen up and give free rein to your emotions! A good photographer will definitely catch what he needs. Don't forget that a photograph is only interesting when it has emotion, action and story.
to contentsPhoto makeup
- Less shine. To instead high-quality photo do not get smudged, makeup for shooting should be without shine, matte. You simply can’t do without powder with a mattifying effect! Even if your skin is not oily, it may appear shiny in the photo. A little gloss can be applied only to the middle of the lips to make them fuller. But only a little! You don’t want a photo in which nothing else is visible except your lips. Avoid nail polish with glitter, which will turn into ordinary “dandruff” in the photo.
- We give the face a “sculptural” appearance. To prevent the face from appearing flat and featureless in the photograph, it must be made more expressive and prominent. To do this, use a matte brown-beige blush or dark powder to slightly darken the cheekbones, emphasize the jawline and highlight the wings of the nose.
- You can visually shorten a long nose by darkening its tip using neutral-toned blush or dark powder. And by shading the cheeks, you can visually narrow a face that is too wide.
- Avoid colors that are too dark, bright or toxic. In a photograph, any unnatural shades will look even more unnatural.
- Photography in daylight is the most merciless: the camera will catch all skin imperfections and errors in the use of cosmetics. Therefore, it is better to keep makeup to a minimum, carefully masking all problem areas with concealer. It is advisable to use a palette of warm shades and thoroughly shade the boundaries of applying cosmetics.
- For black and white photography and evening photography, it is important to further emphasize the contours of the face: forehead, cheekbones, nose, chin. Be sure to highlight your eyes and eyebrows, but it’s better to avoid dark shades of lipstick. On black and white photo they will make your lips black and narrow.
- Digital photography enhances pink color. A foundation or powder in yellowish shades will help neutralize possible redness.
Outdoor photo shoot
It is better to take photos on the street before 9 am or after 5 pm. A cloudy day is good for a successful portrait. On a sunny day, you should not stand facing directly towards the scorching sun. You should be especially careful when taking photos in the shade of trees - Sun rays make their way even through a very dense crown, casting uneven shadows on the face. When photographing with a hat on, choose a position in which the shadow from the brim of the hat or cap visor does not fall on your face.
to contentsProper work with a photographer
If you decide to have a photo shoot, trust the photographer completely. Listen to everything he tells you, listen and strictly follow all his instructions - unlike you, he sees how the shot turns out. If he is silent as a fish and doesn’t help you in any way, most likely you made a mistake in choosing a photographer and you can’t expect anything good from such a shoot. The process should be mutually interesting.
Keep in mind that everything in front of the lens needs to be done slowly, so if you are asked to turn your head towards the light, do it at a snail's pace. If you hear the command “Freeze,” freeze until you hear “That’s it.”
Trust, but do not allow images that are uncomfortable for you to be imposed on you. The final decision should always be yours.
to contentsGood poses for photos
- The most advantageous position, which works great for almost everyone, is the half-turn. This is just a godsend for those with round or large faces with chubby cheeks.
- In group photographs, it is better for ladies with a larger body to sit not in the center, but on the side, so they will look slimmer.
- Control your hands. They should not hang like whips. It is best to slightly bend your elbows, pick up something in your hands, or lean on some object.
Our photo selection will also help you “try on” various poses:
Even more interesting photo poses can be found on the website of London photographer Lyn Herrick http://www.herrickphoto.co.uk/poses.html
If, after all the work done, you are still not satisfied with the end result, Photoshop can help you! 🙂
Studio photography is superior to home photography in many ways, but the latter also has its advantages. First of all, you don't have to go anywhere and you can save money by doing your photography yourself, without the help of a professional photographer. And secondly, and more importantly, you will feel relaxed at home, and the pictures will turn out natural. After all, you’ve probably often noticed that photographs in which the model smiles tightly, clearly embarrassed, do not look particularly attractive. But how can you take a beautiful picture at home, adding quality and atmosphere to the already listed advantages of this photography? Let's look at this issue in more detail.
How can you take a photo at home?
Even if you are photographed at home, you must not forget about clothes and makeup, since it does not matter where the photo was taken - you must look perfect in it. But when choosing, you don’t need to give in too much to your imagination. Better choose something simple and effective. For example, put on White dress, high-heeled shoes, make-up expressive, e.g. smoky eyes, and leave your hair loose or braid it in two braids. A spectacular, yet simple look is ready. Although, if you live in an old one, interesting house, and not in a high-rise building, then you can choose some Victorian or Gothic image. Here you need to choose what is more congenial to you.
How to take pictures at home - poses
In general, you can choose as you go along. But it’s a good idea to get acquainted with the most basic of them first, so that you can experiment on your own:
- Chairs, armchairs and sofas. You can take pictures on these pieces of furniture, sitting, lying down, and so on. Play with unusual poses that look interesting in your photos.
- Window. Interesting photos are taken near the window. You can stand directly under the sun's rays, or from the side. In the first case, only your silhouette will be visible.
- Doors. Here you can come up with no less interesting poses. For example, lean on doorjamb or make an image of a girl leaving or entering the door.
- Bed. Since this part of the furniture is the most personal, the photographs on it will turn out to be a little more seductive and erotic. For example, you can take a photo on a bed surrounded by rose petals.
How can you take a photo at home yourself?
If you decide to take pictures yourself, without the help of a photographer, friends or relatives, then do not forget that it is much better to take pictures using a timer, while placing the camera on a tripod or other comfortable spot for lack of it. Photos taken with an outstretched arm are not nearly as interesting as they might seem.
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What's good about photography? Because it preserves the events of our lives and allows us to remember them from time to time and relive joyful moments. You can forget even very much bright emotions, but if they are captured in the photo, looking at it, you seem to be returning to a happy time for you.
And looking at beautiful photographs is one of the most pleasant pleasures. Especially if these are pictures in which you turned out very well. But, you must admit, among all the variety of images available in your archive, the successful ones can be counted on one hand.
Exceptions, as a rule, are only for children. Therefore, quite often you can hear the following question: “How to look good in photographs?” Many are surprised and do not understand: how is this so, it seems that in life a person is beautiful and charming, but in the photo he looks different from himself... So, let's Let's talk about what you need to do (or what, on the contrary, you don't need to do) so as not to spoil your own portrait?
Reasons for unsuccessful photography
Remember how often you have heard the following phrase from friends or acquaintances: “I don’t look good in photographs...”. What follows is a series of comments about what they were doing, how they were photographed, but... the result remains the same. Of course, you can shift all the blame to insufficient photogenicity. But, as it turned out, this is out of the question. Any professional photographer will tell you that there are no ugly people. And bad photographs are obtained either because the “photographer’s” abilities leave much to be desired, or because the subject of the photo does not understand very well what is required of him, and there is no one to explain.
Well, let’s take this responsibility upon ourselves and try to give an intelligible answer to the question that interests, if not everyone, then very, very many: “How to look beautiful in photographs?”
Rules for Great Photography
One of the first conditions required for fulfillment is the presence of an aesthetic appearance. This may seem strange to some, but this is actually true. Get good photo much easier if your appearance is in in perfect order. And the face, and the hair, and the clothes.
The second rule concerns your naturalness. But there are a number of nuances here too. I would like to note that naturalness does not mean the absence of makeup and rather, we are talking about the look, posture, facial expressions, and gestures. There is no need to deliberately open your eyes wider if they are not large enough, or pout your lips, thereby trying to express your sexuality. All these tricks will look unnatural, and therefore stupid and ridiculous. Learn from children - these are the exemplary models for shooting. Children never pretend, and that is why almost all babies look great in photographs.
Poses for good photography
How to look good in photographs? In addition to the above rules, you should very carefully monitor your body position during a photo shoot. Please pay Special attention on your posture, since a positive result will depend on it. It goes without saying that not everyone is able to maintain the position of a taut string all the time, but this is not required. Just remember to stand as straight as possible and straighten your shoulders while shooting. Remember: even when your back is slightly bent, the photo will look like a wheel. Straight posture is the key to beauty and femininity. But do not forget that if you are concerned about the alignment of the spine, you can also work on the stomach and other parts of the body. Remember the actress famous film“Office Romance,” and the way she taught the main character to walk: “All in!” We can say that this rule also applies to photography. By completing it, you will not be disappointed when you see the finished photos.
Now about the legs. No matter how you take photos, standing or sitting, don't space them wide apart. It is better if your knees are closed as much as possible and your feet point in the same direction. Do you think this is not that important? In vain! Even seemingly small things have a negative impact.
And one more important point. All your limbs (both arms and legs) must be present in the photo in their entirety. Don't try to hide them behind other parts of your body. In the photo it looks as if you are disabled. Agree that there is nothing good in this.
Watch the position of your head and neck. Especially in those moments when you are in a sitting position. While thinking, you can lower your head too low, and the result will be a photo with no neck - head and shoulders at once. Not very pretty.
All of the above rules are general, but they will also help you understand how to look beautiful in photographs. In order to find your winning poses, it is recommended to practice in front of the mirror in advance. It may take you more than one hour, but believe me, it's worth it!
Clothes for shooting
TO general recommendations, which determine the requirements for clothing for shooting, include the following: the absence of too loose, knitted, multi-colored and fluffy items, turtlenecks and other options with a high collar. And now in more detail about how to look good in photographs and what clothes to wear.
So, tights. It is better if they are very thin and natural in color. Do not under any circumstances use the option with lurex.
Sportswear also looks rather ridiculous, unless, of course, it is some kind of event related to physical education.
A dress is the most suitable clothing for photography. And if it also has a neckline, then it’s a fairy tale! If you have a classic-style dress in your wardrobe, and exquisite jewelry in your jewelry box, consider that the question of “how to look beautiful in a photo” is half solved.
Concerning color range clothes, then it is important not to blend into the background. Photographs outdoors (in the summer) mean the opportunity to wear things of various shades, with the exception of green.
Shoes must have heels. Well, even if the shoes are not visible in the photo, but they give your appearance grace and elegance. Try taking a photo with low shoes and then with heeled sandals... Do you feel the difference? That's it!
Another significant element is accessories. They can be anything, but don't overdo it. A beautiful hat, matching beads, and gloves always look very good in photographs. Or, for example, a ripe bright fruit (apple, peach, etc.) in your hands will also only do you good. Just make sure that this detail matches the overall theme and direction of the photo.
When choosing clothes for shooting and asking the question: “How to look beautiful in a photo?”, stick to the golden rule: the main thing is that the suit fits! Constrictions formed as a result of wearing things that are not the right size can even turn Thumbelina into a fat toad.
Professional photography. How to prepare properly?
If you decide to spend money on professional photographs, then it is advisable to prepare thoroughly so that later you do not worry about wasted money and do not cry to your friends in your vest: they say, I look bad in photographs... Professional photographer can give you a number useful tips about what to pay special attention to before the upcoming shooting. And if you follow them, your photos will be successful and will delight you. Let's look at some of the recommendations. After all, the question of how to look better in photographs worries many representatives of the fair sex.
Makeup
Let's start with makeup. It’s best if you use the services of a makeup artist - he knows exactly how to make the model’s face the most attractive. But if you decide to cope on your own, at home, then do not forget that makeup for a professional photo shoot is significantly different from everyday makeup. Here you can apply everything you have cosmetical tools on a much larger scale. For example, carefully even out your skin tone using foundation, use false eyelashes, do not skimp on blush. No, no one is calling for you to make an artificial mask out of your face and apply tons of makeup, God forbid! Just add some brightness.
Don’t think when you look at yourself in the mirror that you look like a monster; in the photo your war paint will look much more natural. But if you, on the contrary, do not take our advice and go to a professional shoot with light makeup, or no makeup at all, relying on natural beauty, then it is unknown what cruel joke the camera and light will play on you. You cannot rely only on the professionalism of the photographer and processing of images on a computer; it is better to make every effort to achieve a positive result. Do you doubt your abilities? In principle, correct. The art of applying makeup takes years to learn. Then go to the makeup artist!
Hair
It is better to do your hair in advance. A few days before the photo shoot, try to do exactly the hairstyle with which you plan to be photographed. What if the finished result doesn’t suit you very much? You shouldn’t delve into creating masterpieces on your head, using all kinds of hairpins, ribbons, jewelry, and so on. The best option there will be loose hair. Curly, slightly wavy, straight - not so important, the main thing is that they are clean and look natural. It is worth paying attention to their condition. For example, damaged hair with split ends or undyed roots is, of course, not suitable for a professional photo shoot. And they don’t look very good in regular pictures...
A photographer performs the same role as a doctor in a clinic. This means that there can be no question of being ashamed of him or arguing with him. Don’t be embarrassed, behave naturally, listen to his advice, don’t hide your emotions - all this will allow you to achieve mutual understanding and get beautiful photographs as a result.
Believe me, all those feelings that you give vent to during a photo shoot will bring the desired result. Even if you made a mistake with your choice of wardrobe, or the photographer’s lighting or camera is bad, you will still turn out well. Because sincere emotions - laughter, surprise, joy - always enliven the image. This is why there are no bad baby photos. After all, the child does not think about how he should look in the photo, and behaves as if ordinary life- smiles, gets angry, gets mad, laughs. As a result, we have great photos and wonderful memories.
And one more thing: do not argue with the photographer under any circumstances, because he knows better how you look in the photo, he is the one looking into the lens, not you. If you know for sure that a profile shot is not for you, simply ask not to be photographed from this angle. It is your right. You didn’t sign a contract, right? Or voice other problems that concern you, but do it in advance, and not during the photo shoot.
Warm up before shooting
It's good if you have time to warm up a little before taking photos. This will help you feel better about your body during the photo shoot. There is no need to perform any special complex exercises. Just move your head from side to side, raise and lower your arms, legs, and so on. You can tense your whole body and then suddenly relax it. This exercise will also help you get rid of moral stress.
How to look good in photographs? This question includes quite a lot of rules, now you know some of them and by following them you will surely achieve a good result.
Dark photos
And now about why dark photographs are obtained when shooting independently. The most common reason is either using a camera without a flash or low light sensitivity.
But there are a number of other reasons, for example:
Incorrect selection of shutter speed-aperture-sensitivity indicators;
The wrong point was used when metering exposure;
Problems with the camera.
Causes of blurry photos
Another frequently asked question is: “Why do my photos turn out blurry?” Defects of this kind can be explained by a number of reasons. Namely:
Wrong focus;
Camera shaking;
Error in choosing shutter speed when shooting a moving object.
Everyone should know how to pose correctly in photographs. Even if he or she absolutely does not like to be photographed, there are times in life when you really want to get good pictures, but this is not so easy to do.
There it is, a group shot with friends in nature, everyone is so good and only one person is in an unnatural pose with a smile that looks more like a grin and half-closed eyes. If you recognize yourself in him, or simply feel insecure while posing for a photo, then this article is for you.
How to pose correctly for a girl in a photo?
There are many good and bad photography poses in the world. Take a look at the photo below; on the left there will be unsuccessful photography poses, and on the right - successful ones, with detailed comments. It is best to practice poses in front of a mirror, carefully recording each one you like best in your memory.
Mistake number 1. Bend both knees. When taking photos, bend only one knee, leaving the other leg straight. Why reduce your height? Women's photographic poses should be as graceful as possible. Remember, a girl is a graceful creature.
Mistake number 2. You should also not stand at attention. The pose should be relaxed. Bend the leg that is farthest from the camera lens at the knee.
Mistake number 3. Do not press your hands into your stomach, but just gently hug yourself around the waist, do not slouch, keep your back straight.
Mistake number 4. Spread your legs symmetrically. It's better to slightly arch one hip. In general, poses where you need to look directly into the lens are most often not very successful and pose the greatest difficulty for girls: where to put your hands, how to place your feet?
Mistake number 5. Do not point your elbows into the frame; it is better to spread them to the sides. Remember that the part of the body that is closer to the lens will appear larger in photographs. If you have large hips, you should not push them to the fore.
Mistake number 6. When taking photographs, always keep an invisible frame in mind. You don't want your photos to end up with your fingers and wrists cut off, do you?
These were just the most common posing poses, also avoid the “I got sciatica” poses and your photos will look amazing!