Here are some quick pointers for photographs that accentuate the positive and minimize physical flaws, leaving the subject feeling like you have captured their best side.
Do pay attention to the details. Check to make sure that there are no bra straps showing or hems that have flipped up. While you are at it, check for lipstick on the teeth, pocket linings that are hanging out, and jewelry clasps that have turned the wrong way. If you are photographing a man, ask him to remove his cell phone and keys from his pockets.
Dont allow your subjects thighs be the closest thing to the camera. Whatever is closest to the camera will appear larger. If you are photographing someone who is self-conscious of his or her weight, make sure that the subjects face is closer to the camera than his or her thighs. Better yet, grab a chair or a stepstool and take a photo of the person from a high angle to ensure that the face takes center stage and the body recedes into the background. When I am in a group photo, I make sure that I'm never the closest person to the camera. My sister is also a professional photographer and you should see the two of us jockey for the best position in family photographs.
Do twist, turn and tilt any body part that you can! I never thought that I would need to remember high school geometry, but the concept of planes and angles are quite handy in photography. When photographing a woman, position her body, her legs, and her face on different planes for the most flattering photos. A photo that has the shoulders and face on the same plane as the camera ends up looking like a drivers license photo or, worse, a mug shot! Instead turn her shoulders to about a 45-degree angle to the camera for the most slimming effect. Turn her face more toward the lens, but ask her to tilt her chin down slightly to open up the eyes. A slight tilt in body parts offers a more dynamic and interesting imageneither eyes nor shoulders should be horizontally placed. If you are taking a picture of a man who could benefit from a little beefing up, angle his shoulders square to the camera to capture a broader view.
Dont let your subject stand there like a stiff. Loosen up those joints and let them bend. Have you ever seen the typical celebrity pose? One foot is about six inches in front of the other with the weight shifted to the back leg and knees slightly bent. Their arms will have a slight bend to them and the wrists will be bent just-so in another direction. Their shoulders are rolled back and the head is held high. This gives the female form an S-shaped curve that flatters a womans body. Men will look much more relaxed when they have a bit of a bend to their bodies as well.
Do imitate a turkey to deal with a double chin. Try this Hollywood trick for camouflaging the extra skin: Ask the subject to drop her shoulders and stretch the neck upward. Then ask her to jut her head forward just a bit and drop her chin down creating a large space for a shadow under the jaw line that will help to diminish any extra rolls of skin. The photographer should be standing slightly higher than the subject. The arrangement will leave the subject looking and feeling like she is doing an impression of a turkey, but the resulting two-dimensional final image will be well worth the silliness.
Dont ever crop a photograph so that a person is visually cut at the joints or the neck. Place the edges of your frame between joints so that they dont appear to be missing limbs.
Do wear the right clothing for pictures. Clothing that is too baggy adds weight and ought to be avoided for photographs. The same goes for bulky sweaters and loud patterns. Clothing that matches the tone of the background tends to slim the subject and distract the viewers eye from the edges of the subjects hips. White and khaki for beach portraits and rich jewel tones for woodsy settings flatter people because their clothing goes with the backgrounds.
Dont double the size of the thighs! Heres an exercise for you. Get on your knees with your upper legs perpendicular to the floor. Take a look at your thighs. Now, sit back on your heels and take another look at your thighs. Notice how they seem to double in size? Never take a picture of anyone sitting like this unless you really dont like them. This pose adds insult to injury by positioning the thighs closer to the camera and compounding the problem. When sitting for a picture, lift the legs up slightly or position the legs to the side to avoid the squashed thigh effect.
Do find something to use as a hip-hider. If your subject has a little extra padding in the hips, use something to hide that area. A chair works well as does the strategic placement of an arm to conceal the outer inch or two of a hip. Some kind of prop or even another person can act as hip concealment. My personal favorite hip-hiders are my boys. They have learned over the years just where I want them to stand so that their skinny little bodies are placed between my not-so-skinny self and the camera.
Dont cross your subjects legs in a photo. Crossed legs leave the subject looking a little like a contortionist. Crossed ankles are just fine though.
Do volumize sparse hair. Taking pictures of someone with thinning hair? Match the background as closely as possible to the color of the persons hair to maximize hair volume. Avoid positioning your light source behind the subject because this will obliterate thinning hair. If your subject is totally bald, have them dab at their pate with a tissue to decrease shine.
Dont photograph in harsh light. To diminish wrinkles and imperfections, find some nice, even light. Late in the day works well, but you can also move to a covered porch or under a shady tree. Midday sun is likely to leave your subject squinting and their eyes in dark shadow while emphasizing every little line.
Do try a filter. If your camera accepts filters, try a soft-focus filter on close-up shots. If your camera doesnt accept filters, you can attempt a few photographs with a layer of black panty hose stretched tightly across the lens for a softening effect.
Dont forget about the power of image-editing software! A Photoshop whiz can make my grandmother look like a supermodel. While there are a lot of changes possible, using the software judiciously will keep the person recognizable to the people who love them.
Having a few tricks up your sleeve will help you to take photos that flatter your subjects. Then maybe you will get the ultimate compliment when your share the photos, Hey, I really like that picture of me!
