Firstly, I want to address the title of this article. I chose it specifically because of the amount of times this question is asked on Google. A LOT of people are looking for an answer to this question. Any legitimate boudoir photographer will tell you the same thing. Looking good in photos is not about being skinny. Obviously we don’t want see unflattering photos of ourselves, but I have plenty of clients who wear a size 0-2 and feel like they aren’t curvy enough to be beautiful. The real concern is about having a positive relationship with our bodies and not associating our value and worth with a dress size. This is why I do what I do. I want to help as many women as possible learn to love their bodies unconditionally. We can strive to live healthy lifestyles AND feel good in our skin at the same time. Achieving one won’t magically make the other one happen.
All that being said, there are a few strategies you can try to take flattering boudoir photos:
- Choose clothing that flatters your body: Look for pieces that are fitted but not too tight, and that highlight your best features. Avoid clothing that is too baggy or loose.
- Use poses that elongate your body: Poses that elongate the body, such as standing with one leg in front of the other or lying down with your arms above your head, can help to create long smooth curves.
- Use proper lighting: Proper lighting can do wonders to enhance your features and create a slimming effect. Harsh lighting will also show more detail in your skin. Soft, diffused light will make the skin look smoother.
- Play with angles: Experiment with different camera angles to find the most flattering ones for your body. For example, shooting from above can help to elongate your body and use perspective to hide certain body parts. Shooting from below will make you look taller and more powerful.
- Edit your photos: I honestly HATE the editing apps that are available for our phones. I hate them because of how much they change our bodies and encourage us look like completely different people. I can promise you that by altering your body in these programs to make you look like someone else, you will fall even farther from building a positive relationship with your body. These apps reinforce our struggle to love ourselves. I’m not saying that editing images is bad. The healthy way to edit images is to think of it like adding makeup rather than performing plastic surgery.
Remember, the most important thing is to feel confident and comfortable in your own skin. Boudoir photography is about celebrating your body and your unique beauty, so try to embrace and celebrate your natural body shape and size. We only get one body in this life, and while we may treat it more like an amusement park than a temple 😂 it’s time to start appreciating everything it does for us.
Curious about what to wear for your boudoir photoshoot that isn’t lingerie? Check out 7 Things To Wear For Your Boudoir Shoot That Are Not Lingerie
